How the internet factors into a Christian worldview

The internet provides amazing opportunities for education and communication. It allows individuals to stay connected and to learn about things never before possible. With this great opportunity comes an even greater danger and responsibility. It has been said who one is in the privacy of their home is who they really are. People can give a false perception in public making themselves appear better/different than they actually are. Internet is no exception. Individuals can portray themselves as they want others to see them not who they truly are.

I see this especially with teenagers. They will "say" things on the internet they would never say in person. They claim to be Christians yet on the net it does not align with the faith they claim. It is the mentality to only do what is right when others are watching. All things, including the internet, must be filtered through one's Christian worldview. Do we really believe what we say we believe. In Matthew 15, Jesus said “the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart.” Do we only guard what we do or say when we think we might get caught? I Corinthians 10: 31 tells us “whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Colossians 3 tells us, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus…” Whatever we do, regardless of what it is, is to be done for God’s glory. We have somehow missed this and think it is about us. We do what is for our glory and not His. Could the issue be not that we have not had enough classes in ethics but that our heart is “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” Somehow we have convinced ourselves that what is done in our homes is our business and does not affect others. We can watch the pornography. No one knows. We can talk in chat rooms or blogs and destroy another’s reputation. They don’t know. We can spend endless hours surfing seeking the world’s comfort instead of seeking the Great Comforter. I can do what I want.

Paul sums it up in Philippians 4:8 what our internet Christian worldview should be, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.” May we choose excellance and worthy of praise instead of our selfish desires!