Evangelism, exploration, or something else?
Today I wanted to write something for Internet Evangelism Day, truly I did. The trouble is, I’m more of an internet explorer than an internet evangelist. I spend a lot of time online, and devote considerable creativity to what I do there. The thing is, for me it is more of an exploration than a mission. In this virtual space I want to meet, greet, listen discuss and speak. If I share my faith online it is because I share myself online, and the one flows from the other.
That is not to say that I don’t honour those with a clear sense of mission about it. It has been my privilege to encounter many whose life and work is devoted to internet mission. Through their time, efforts, creativity and skills they enter the digital space with all the clear missionary zeal of a Carey or a Graham. Today is a good day to honour their work.
As I thought about today, I looked up again the Latin meaning of ie as used in written text. I use it often, but couldn’t remember it’s exact meaning. It means “that is”, which seems very appropriate. When I asked people earlier this year what their three golden rules were for a Christian presence online, they were dominated by being, rather than doing. In other words, the quality of our presence online – in terms of honesty, integrity and generosity, may mean more than anything. I reproduce below the wordle made from their golden rules – and it makes interesting reading on this Internet Evangelism day.
Thank you Richard for an interesting & timely piece!
I think the issue I have with anyone talking about ‘the Internet’ as if it is a separate territory – as in ‘Internet Evangelism Day’ is that being online is increasingly a part of people’s everyday lives, not a separate and extraordinary place they go to.
It seems to me that ‘Internet Evangelism’ is just the same as ‘Non-Internet Evangelism’ – we can easily put off doing it by talking about how important it is and admiring what other people are doing, and in doing this we create a false mystique around it and create a false ‘expertise’ which then becomes a barrier to involvement – because I have not got that expertise I can’t possibly do the thing that requires it.
There may well be people who are particularly gifted to work online, whether as pastors, teachers, evangelists, bloggers, tweeters…. and it’s good to look at what they’re doing and learn from it.
The main advantage I find of working online is that it’s incredibly easy to be in touch with non-Christians and to discuss with them on equal terms the events of the day, whether it’s Osama Bin Laden or Eurovision. But I will still be judged on who I am – the ‘being’ – than on specific comments. Am I argumentative? Do I attempt to impose my views without listening? Am I able to listen to what people say and answer their concerns? These are not skills specific to the Internet, but without them I don’t think we’ll get very far online or offline.
Pam. Yes yes yes. Those qualities which make us good offline people to be around apply online too.
Beautifully summed up. Think it’s great to encourage people online, the free books are great, etc, but in all circumstances am a bit uncomfortable that the idea that this is all about ‘evangelising’… and your phrase ‘it’s all about being’ just sums it up: http://bigbible.org.uk/2011/05/today-is-ieway-what-does-alantlwilson-have-to-say/!
Maybe it is the fact that I also pastor a real-life ‘warts-n-all’ congregation…but the touchstone with me always come down to the quality of our being. Maybe it should be Ii day – internet incarnational. The kingdom is incarnational or it is nothing, it seems to me