The Internet/Digital Media – Conquering on the Spiritual Battlefield or Gaming with Destiny.

Digital media is the new reality offering revolutionary opportunities – as the printing press once did...with unique advantages of low cost, little skill, almost no barrier to entry, confidentiality, speed, 24*7 availability, privacy and unprecedented reach. No doubt, this is an enlargement for evangelism but offers equally ideal conditions for other less laudable purposes.

I already had some exposure in Information Technology and programming when the Marketing Consultant at the publishers of my second book advised me to key into digital media to spread the word. “Be careful it’s addictive” she simply added. I later discover this to be an understatement. There are seven principal areas of consideration as follows:

1. Source: Matthew 4[4] But he answered (the Devil) and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. There is a gulf of difference between the word of God and that which proceeds out of the mouth of God. Indeed the deceiver has the word of God but God does not speak through him. Absence of discernment plunge many into strange waters – even based on the word of God. Jesus knew the difference so will all who are truly conquerors in Him.

2. Chats/Idle words: Matthew 12[36] But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. Idle words and careless banter find in digital media the optimum vehicle. In seconds, fingers type ahead of deeper thoughts on consequence/accountability. Ecclesiastes 3[7] A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; Media abhors silence. Chats and blogs drag many into what the Bible calls “foolish questions” Titus 3 [9] But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. The Laws of God are like flight instruction manuals to the pilot in mid-air. Would it not scare you to observe pilots debating their flight instruction manuals by their instrument panel?

3. Self-service Academy: We are commissioned to make disciples and not just converts. Discipleship requires accountability ... mentoring by God ordained leaders in an environment where you can learn precept upon precept, line upon line. The internet creates varied curricula in a self-service university that many enrol producing good dabblers but never the skilled surgeon. Hasty or indeed any Christian growth without the Holy Spirit (our teacher) will be cancerous. Isaiah 28[9] Whom shall he (God) teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. [10] For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: Digital media gives a voice to new virtual gurus - phasing off the Elishas patiently ministering under “tough” Elijahs and breeding more Gehazis on their own trip. It is how we finish that counts ... if in doubt ask Gehazi feasting on Naaman’s treasures (access to online donations that are not divinely ordained) .

4. Time: How can we pray without ceasing...if we also must “browse” without ceasing? The adverse impact of digital media on prayer culture is not surprising. I do not recall being warned that prayer could be addictive. Urges that compel action soon create addictive patterns that shut out other habits such as prayer competing for the same time. I suggest you set a time cap for the internet...or else quality time with family, friends and building face-to-face relationships also suffer.

5. Content: Many are untrue when they say – in unheeding private moments - their fingers have never wandered to places where there feet will not venture. What we see is eventually what we become. Images are extremely powerful. Reflect on Jacob and Laban in text below.

Genesis 30[31] “What shall I give you?” he (Laban) asked. “Don't give me anything,” Jacob replied. “But if you will do this one thing for me, I will go on tending your flocks and watching over them: [32] Let me go through all your flocks today and remove from them every speckled or spotted sheep, every dark-colored lamb and every spotted or speckled goat. They will be my wages. [33] And my honesty will testify for me in the future, whenever you check on the wages you have paid me. Any goat in my possession that is not speckled or spotted, or any lamb that is not dark-colored, will be considered stolen.” [34] “Agreed,” said Laban. “Let it be as you have said.” [35] That same day he removed all the male goats that were streaked or spotted, and all the speckled or spotted female goats (all that had white on them) and all the dark-colored lambs, and he placed them in the care of his sons. [36] Then he put a three-day journey between himself and Jacob, while Jacob continued to tend the rest of Laban's flocks.

[37] Jacob, however, took fresh-cut branches from poplar, almond and plane trees and made white stripes on them by peeling the bark and exposing the white inner wood of the branches. [38] Then he placed the peeled branches in all the watering troughs, so that they would be directly in front of the flocks when they came to drink. When the flocks were in heat and came to drink, [39] they mated in front of the branches. And they bore young that were streaked or speckled or spotted. [40] Jacob set apart the young of the flock by themselves, but made the rest face the streaked and dark-colored animals that belonged to Laban. Thus he made separate flocks for himself and did not put them with Laban's animals. [41] Whenever the stronger females were in heat, Jacob would place the branches in the troughs in front of the animals so they would mate near the branches, [42] but if the animals were weak, he would not place them there. So the weak animals went to Laban and the strong ones to Jacob. [43] In this way the man grew exceedingly prosperous and came to own large flocks, and maidservants and menservants, and camels and donkeys. NIV

We birth what we continue to see (whether in privacy or openly) - be it images that give glory to God or violence, perverse filth and occult. There is a battle over the destinies of men simply by manipulating and making available content and images to those targeted. Many have been weakened.

6. User is King: We do not read and meditate on the Bible as we should. Instead we select favourite chapters like buffet items because the flesh is hurt and pained at the wounding truths we sometimes encounter. The Bible was designed for God to reach and rescue man not vice-versa. Digital media perfects the art of man getting what he wants when he wants it and how he wants it....short and straight to the point. Everyone creates his own MyChurch ... MySermon ... MyHymn ... MyBible - the key words “I, Me, My” is the password or identity code of the Rebel. Digital media is designed to ensure we are not exposed to what we do not want or like ... which is often what we need if Jesus must be King.

7. Modus Operandi: The work of God is primarily spiritual work and prospers by spiritual methods – chiefly old fashioned prayer. The true gospel is not advanced through logical arguments and intelligent dialogue. Colossians 2 [8] Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. I Corinthians 2[4] And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: [5] That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

This is where digital media struggles. Paul warns whatever is achieved through wise and seasoned arguments will fall by wiser and new more seasoned arguments. But what is held by the power of God will stand forever. Many threads on Christian sites attempt to reach the unsaved with winning arguments only to produce converts waiting to fall by the superior reasoning of another. Many have been disappointed – much later.

Prayers

I wrote in a previous blog post on Internet Evangelism of fantastic opportunities for enlargement and also many dangers. Evil is being proclaimed at the rooftop and called good and good evil. Darkness is called light and light darkness...Darkening counsel is now more pervasive and seductive becoming a subtle blocker - highly effective in insulating the mind even further against the truths of God. The message that there is no absolute truth may have found the perfect tool to propagate anything and everything. Everyone (including myself) can now be “the angel Gabriel” with a message of conception.

Therefore there must be prayer as Isaiah prayed...to frustrate efforts to obscure God’s light.

Isaiah 5: [20] Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Intercessors must cry out and declare Proverbs 19[21] There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

A battlefield is not a place to run from but to be more than conquerors – advancing to battle like David to Goliath and winning souls, furthering the Kingdom agenda. The internet and digital media are not toys for children and spiritual novices armed with HTML instead of the word. Spiritual leaders who have encountered God need to help us understand the wiles and spiritual terrain and lead intercession and also provide bolder and firmer content and practical dos and don’ts...

Ephesians 6[10] Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. [11] Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. [12] For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places . [13] Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. [14] Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; [15] And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; [16] Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. [17] And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: [18] Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

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The 58th Annual Convention of The Redeemed Christian Church of God Themed "More than Conquerors" holds August 9th - 15th 2010 (Attend online)