This Article is printed in the October 2009 edition of the Adventist Messenger.
It is often said that “all roads lead to Rome,” and in fact, they once did. The Romans built a network of roads that were one of the greatest engineering accomplishments of their time.
The Roman road system spanned more than 400,000 kms including more than 80,000 kms of paved roads.
Although the Roman road system was originally built for the speedy movement and accessibility of the Roman troops throughout the empire, it was also used for many other purposes.
Purpose of Roads
The roads provided an opportunity for trade.
The roads made travel and communication possible that allowed for the spread of the gospel.
Rome’s impressive and enduring transportation network was of such an extent that it stands as a historical example of a connective technology linking together a globalized empire, transforming education, communication and evangelism.
Just as the Roman road system in New Testament times enabled the rapid spread of the Gospel, so also the Internet has become an effective worldwide channel for evangelism.
Let’s look at Matthew 24:14 and explore how God is using the Internet as an evangelistic tool to spread the gospel.
Matthew 24:14, “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
Traditionally, preaching the gospel to the “whole world” has been viewed as one person in front of another person, face to face, or one person in front of a group.
But, we are fast approaching a technological phenomena where preaching the gospel, as Matthew 24 says; “in the whole world”, will soon become a digital reality.
1.6 billion active Internet users
Statistics tell us that there are currently 1.6 billion active Internet users across the world with the potential for about 3.5 billion over the next 2 to 3 years with the increase in mobile Internet devices like the iphone and Blackberry.
Millions are looking for answers about God and a spiritual connection. Since the Internet is a “pull” medium, unlike literature and radio which are linear “push” mediums, the Internet is their front line source for information.
The Internet generation of today may never step foot into a church building or bible presentation but are willing to seek out answers in the quiet hours of their home or during their lunch break at work.
The Internet Church
Walter Wilson, in his book, The Internet Church, says this, “Questions about God can be asked in complete privacy on the internet. The Internet displays no culture, no race, no gender, and no age. It provides a seeker with the ability to navigate his or her way to the foot of Calvary’s Cross. You can explore the internet in search of answers without having to reveal who you are.”
The Internet sees no country borders. Your church website can be viewed by someone living in Vancouver, BC and Hong Kong, China both at the same time.
God is doing something incredible.
As Christians, we must not be afraid of the Internet or see it as just a technology of networked computers.
We must see the Internet as an evangelistic tool that God is using to tell the world about Jesus.
We must recognize that we live in the digital communication age and learn to use the Internet as an effective worldwide channel for evangelism as never before.
“I will be making your church website my online virtual church from now on”
In 2006, while I was pastoring in Aldergrove BC, I inquired about a certain software program that would help in the administration of the computer training classes we were offering to the community.
I sent an email to an unknown person who was located in Australia and after several emails back and forth, I explained who I was, and gave him the website address to our church.
After a few more days, I received an exciting response.
He said this, “I checked out your website and watched a video of one of your sermons. It touched my life in a very powerful way. You see, my wife is a Buddhist and I am a Christian. She doesn’t want me attending church. I want you to know that I will be providing you with 10 licenses of our program for your computer lab free of charge and I will be making your church website my online virtual church from now on.”
From the Roman highways to the information highway, God has been using technology to spread the gospel.
About Troy McQueen