USER-FRIENDLY FAITH

Luke 9:57-62
57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to Him, "I will follow You wherever You go." 58 Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head." 59 He said to another man, "Follow Me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." 60 Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." 61 Still another said, I will follow You, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family." 62 Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."

Witness the merging of technology and theology: Some churches use the PayPal online payment service to accept tithes.

The PalTalk Internet service allows subscribers to participate in Bible study without going to church.

Churches have started offering Webcasts of their services, so that people can stay home and listen or watch. It's convenient and easy, but is it real church life?

Many ministers, both at these churches and their low-tech counterparts, are concerned that technology is making it too easy for members, requiring them to barely lift a finger to participate in church.

Technology is not inherently evil. The Web has all sorts of cool sites, and if you read Soul Journey online, that's awesome. One of my favorite sites, the Blue Letter Bible (www.blueletterbible.org), has all sorts of great commentaries and recorded sermons by some of my favorite teachers.

But some of these technological shortcuts seem to take away the devotion Jesus taught. When does convenience work against spiritual maturity? Do such features encourage spiritual laziness?

Christians have taken advantage of technological developments for years. First films, then videos made well-known speakers available to churches. Radio and television ministries also have a wide outreach. But there was always the danger that listeners and viewers would skip out on church and look to their favorite Bible teacher like their pastor. Many of these developments stir the Web into that same mix.

So much in the Christian life will cost you. But it's supposed to. Sacrifice is the only path to some of the greatest rewards in following Jesus. The path of least resistance doesn't go very far.

Don't let the Internet's convenience turn you into a World Wide Wimp spiritually. If it provides you with the resources to live all-out for Jesus, wonderful. If it gives you another reason to sit on the couch, log off! --John Carvalho

DESTINATION POINTS

* What feature of the Internet helps my walk with God the most? Why?
*What convenience of the Internet most endangers my discipline? What am I going to do about it?
* Lord, keep me from all forms of laziness. I want to apply my best energies toward serving You and getting to know You better.

LINKS:
Real Church in a Virtual World
http://www.zchurch.com

bottom line: Technology may not lead to better theology.

soul journey