Planting Virtual Churches?
In the last couple of years the internet has spawned numerous virtual worlds or metaverses. Second Life (more at Wikipedia) is one of the most popular. Others include Active Worlds, There, Entropia Universe, Dotsoul Cyberpark, and Red Light Center. In a metaverse an individual creates an identity, chooses what he wants to look like, goes where he wants to go, does what he wants to do, and interacts with other virtual people in the ultimate social networking experience—all in a 3D environment similar to a video game. You can even pay real money to get virtual money that can be spent on virtual land and other virtual things. In the last 24 hours over $1.5 million in real money was spent on Second Life! That’s truly astounding!
These metaverses are rapidly growing communities of millions of people. I think it’s a sad testimony of human misery and discontentment. If your real life stinks, why not escape and make a better one—one without moral consequences. Unfortunately, the God-given desire for something better is misdirected. These metaverses will ultimately fail to satisfy man’s deepest longings and needs. Everything in the universe under the sun is emptiness apart from God, and that includes everything in the metaverse under the virtual sun as well.
What I find particularly interesting is the response of some Christians to this growing trend. LifeChurch.tv, the church of Craig Groeschel, which already has ten real campuses, has just planted a virtual campus in Second Life. Their hope is to be a positive influence and reach people for Christ.
We purchased an island (16 virtual acres of real estate) and have worked with both in-house and outside developers to develop the property. There are still several areas of the island that we have not developed, but we are opening the island for a “beta test” this week.
. . .
Also, on the island you will see an area dedicated to content from our friends at xxxchurch.com. I need to warn you that there is a huge problem on Second Life with porn and “virtual sex.” It is one of several reasons we are there, but it is also something that you need to be on guard about.
Read more at LifeChurch.tv’s Swerve blog.
I commend creative ways to reach the lost, but I’m not so sure what I think of this. Are there not better ways to spend our time and money to reach people with the gospel? What are your thoughts?
HT: Terry Storch
Updates:
- Check out this LA Times writeup on Second Life.
- See this follow-up post: Come as you are, just put some clothes on!
- In Second Life, nobody knows you’re a lapsed Catholic (LA Times)
- Is God in Second Life? (GetReligion.org)
Last Updated 04/12/07
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Tom E. Snyder
In the traditional church that I grew up in we used to sing a song with this line: “Where sin has gone must go his grace, The gospel is for all.” Behind each virtual personality in Second Life is a real person who might not hear the gospel otherwise.
Mar 13th, 2007 6:33 pm
Phil Gons
Thanks for the comment, Tom. That’s a good text. I’m not familiar with it, but I agree with its theology. You are probably right that some may not otherwise be exposed to the gospel in the real universe—possibly because Christian neighbors and coworkers aren’t living out the gospel.
One of my concerns is the “huge problem on Second Life with porn and ‘virtual sex.’” Few if any would suggest that men should go into a strip club to reach women with the gospel. I realize that that analogy is different. I’m just wondering where the line is.
Thanks for the thoughts.
Phil
Mar 13th, 2007 6:45 pm
Brad
In virtual worlds people can be whoever they want to be, say what they want to say, and do what they want to do. What better place to speak “truth” than in a make believe world that is just an extension of the lives of the people wrapped up in them.
Media is media. I see it as no different than TV evangelism or radio evangelism. Or even this post.
People are just as engrossed in TV in my opinion… at least in virtual worlds there is the possibility of dialogue.
Mar 13th, 2007 7:02 pm
Phil Gons
Brad,
I wonder how real people are willing to get in a make-believe world. It’s hard enough to get people to face reality in the real world. Wouldn’t it possibly be even harder in a virtual world? It seems to me that ministry in a metaverse may raise additional barriers rather than breaking them down. I don’t speak as one who has experience here. So I may be totally wrong.
Yes all media forms share some commonality, but there are also differences. We use radio, TV, music, movies, email, blogs, forums, websites, etc., and rightly so. But the question I’m raising is whether there are some forms of media that we should say no to. I raise that question not because I think I have the answers, but to stimulate discussion like this.
Thanks for your thoughts, Brad.
Phil
Mar 13th, 2007 9:20 pm
RC of strangeculture
This is an interesting concept for sure.
I’ve been thinking about it for a couple of days since i first heard about it.
if i were going to “get involved in ministry” it would not be through second life PERSONALLY, but I imagine who ever is managing the virtual church and the work that needs to go into it IS passionate about reaching the lost through Second Life.
Why not try to be salt and light…even in virtual worlds.
Mar 16th, 2007 10:34 am
flameofyahweh
The Holy Spirit has used me in an online chess playing site to bring conviction through God’s words, most specifically direct quotes of Christ.
I think the “in season and out of season” principle may apply here. Is it a favorable time to share the gospel when second lifers are having sex on a couch? Maybe so.
It could be the Spirit telling a husband that an affair is not worth it.
We can be sure, this evangelism tool is lacking, like televangelism, program evangelism, crusade evangelism.
Let the Holy Spirit work where He may.
Oct 24th, 2007 6:12 pm