Comments on: Planting Virtual Churches?

By: flameofyahweh

flameofyahweh — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 22:12:11 +0000

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.

By: RC of strangeculture

RC of strangeculture — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 09:34:04 +0000

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.

By: Phil Gons

Phil Gons — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 20:20:04 +0000

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

By: Brad

Brad — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 18:02:15 +0000

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.

By: Phil Gons

Phil Gons — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 17:45:05 +0000

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

By: Tom E. Snyder

Tom E. Snyder — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 17:33:29 +0000

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.