Is online chat good for Christians?

Question:

What do you think about Christian chat and about the fact that many young Christians choose this model of interaction (the Internet) to make friends, to date and even to marry?

We have to communicate the most important message

The Internet is a technology that was created exactly for communication. We, Christians, have to communicate to mankind the most important message – the way of salvation through faith in Christ Jesus and chat gives us this opportunity as well. It is also true that I heard too little evidence of young Christians who would share the Gospel by chatting and win souls for the kingdom of heaven. But, there are certainly such young Christians, too.

By chatting we can preach the Gospel where it is forbidden

Another positive aspect of the Internet is that it allows to initiate communication with people from different parts of the world like it was not possible another time. Meaning the countries of the world where preaching the Gospel is prohibited and that today young people know several languages including English, they could use chat to communicate the Gospel message to the people of the oppressed countries.

But, unfortunately, the number of young Christians who are beginning to use chat in the desire to marry is much greater than of those who preach the Gospel and this brings certain dangers.

The high degree of deception

By chatting and other means of communication found on the Internet, young people manage to hide their real identity and present themselves differently than they are. So, it may be the case when a married and divorced man, or one with an experience to seduce, to introduce himself completely different as he is in reality. In this way, he wins and excites the girl’s heart. When she finds out how things are in reality, she either would be very hurt and frustrated, or would accept to stay in this relationship that began with a lie, because she can not give up and her heart is already caught in a trap. That is why, in my opinion, the beginning of dating relationship by chatting or Internet presents great dangers.

The importance of real meeting

But I also know Christian couples who became acquainted by chatting firstly, then, the boy had a long trip to meet and talk with that girl. When they met, they liked each other more and then got married. Now they are happy and fulfilled in their marriage. The part that seems they have made wisely is that they did not start saying words of love by chatting and thus, to set the fire in their hearts, but the boy chose to come from the U.S. to Romania to see this girl, talk to her and only then they decided to marry.

Do not set on fire the flesh

The fact that one can be anonymous or hide his identity on chat, leads some to be naughty and initiate discussions on erotic subject. If it were in reality, a girl or a boy who at least is ashamed of the people who are around her or him, would stop such a discussion and would go aside. But since the discussion started by chatting someone could be detained in such dangerous discussions and be trapped in erotic chat that will set fire on the lust of the flesh and will lead him to worse and more serious things. The Word of God says clearly:

For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God. (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5)(NASB)

What does the reader think about this subject?

Translated by Felicia Rotaru