Internet Dangers - Part 3 of 3

Internet Dangers Awareness

by Tim Demoret

Biblical Steps to Good Surfing: God does not view the Internet any differently than anything else man does. All of his rules apply both online and offline. We can take steps to protect ourselves and those for whom we are responsible.

Step one: Have a clear, Biblical definition of right and wrong. Most of the “questionable” activity would stop if people believed that God punishes those who break his rules (a.k.a. The Ten Commandments-Exodus 20). However, even many of those that claim to believe in God have convinced themselves and many others that certain thoughts, words, and actions are somehow excusable. They are living the lie that Isaiah talks about in Isaiah 5:18-20 “Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope: That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it! Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

Step Two: Make a plan to avoid sin. Limit online activity by limiting the time you spend and the places you visit. Always have a purpose for being online: it is easy to be distracted down the path of sin when you don't know where you are going.

Step Three: Open Accountability. “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12) Be aware that no one is immune from sin. When you enter into something such as the Internet, your exposure to sin greatly increase. The best method of accountability is to regularly humble yourself to people in authority over you and show them your online activities. “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16)

Internet Dangers - Part 2 of 3

Internet Dangers Awareness

by Tim Demoret

The Social Networking Trend: What happens when people get together in an unsupervised environment, believe they have a certain level of anonymity, and are encouraged to share all that is in their hearts? Naturally, they will once again prove that “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked...” (Jeremiah 17:9) This can be easily illustrated on the currently most popular website for teens and twenty-somethings: myspace.com. With literally millions of people a day browsing and “commenting” on the pages of myspace.com, people are overwhelmingly displaying their infatuation with sin.

There are three “big” issues that surface as a result of this social networking trend. Two are identified by parents, school, and even the major news media. The third is ignored by everyone except the Bible. First, it is a concern of many parents and school officials that sites such as myspace.com allow kids to be “too explicit” (Adults question MySpace's safety, USATODAY.com). This is seen in the vast amounts of pornography and foul language as well as the predominance of Satan-driven music culture. Second, there is a great deal of concern about the amount of personal information many of the young people put online. This information, including personal pictures, addresses, phone numbers, schedules, etc., is becoming an ever increasing target for sexual predators. Third, and the point that you won't hear from secular sources, is the division that the a separate “Youth Culture” causes in our families, churches, and country. 2 Timothy 2:22 warns about “youthful lusts.” The time of youth is a time of learning the principles of right and wrong. The longer we allow young people the “right” to decide for for themselves what is right or wrong without the guidance of authoritative “Truth”, the more sinful the “Youth Culture” will become. The more the youth becomes trapped in sin, the more they will resist authority and live in rebellion. Social Networking has been upheld as a way for kids to interact and develop who they are by comparing themselves to their peers (Experts discuss MySpace issues, Sarah H. Wright, Massachusetts Institute of Technology-web.mit.edu). Biblically, we are to compare ourselves to God, not each other (2 Corinthians 10:12-13).

Internet Dangers - Part 1 of 3

Internet Dangers Awareness

by Tim Demoret

In the past year, I have talked with a number of pastors and youth pastor about the increasing activity of young people on the Internet. After attending a Christian Law Association Conference with my own pastor, my pastor asked me to share with our church some of the risks associated specifically with the Internet. After a bit of research and Bible study, I've taken Biblical principles and applied them to the way the Internet is being used by many people, especially the kids, in today's culture.

The Information Superhighway: In just a couple of decades, the Internet has become a global resource for finding and sharing information. The question then is, “Is more knowledge good?” Romans 16:19 says, “...I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.” The Bible is clear that God does not want us ignorant, but there are certain things in our world that we do not need to know, i.e. evil things. The Bible also tells us in Isaiah 47:10, “For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me.” In short, knowledge without morality leads to selfish idolatry. An overabundance of information, especially when much of that information can be categorized as “evil”, leads an already wicked people farther into sin and away from God.

One Night - Three Important Lessons by Tim Demoret

Church: a place of learning. Our church runs a "Patch the Pirate Club" on Wednesday nights. My main roll is to run the bus and pick up the kids. This night was a bit different. Throughout the night, I had the opportunity to be part of three important learning times.

Going Home?!
Visualized Songs for Adults
Putting God First

Going Home?! One of the hardest parts about picking up kids for church is taking them home, especially when they have to go home before church even starts. Two boys went home last night just after we arrived at church with the bus. Both had disgusting stuff coming out of their mouths, but they went home for entirely different reasons. One was regurgitating supper while the other was spewing the filth of this world. One willingly went home to rest and allow his body to recover while the other desperately begged to stay and repeated promises that had been previously broken many times over. Sick of body and sick of heart: one causes the heart to ache while the other causes the blood to boil.

Whenever I have to exercise higher levels of disciple (i.e. taking kids home and talking with their parents), I revisit in my mind the purpose of disciple. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom...” Proverbs 19:23 also explains, “The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.” I have concluded that in the church ministry, the “You're going home!” statement is reserved for those who have exhibited a lack of fear for the authority. The Bible is clear that judgment comes to sinners. When anyone lives with the belief that their actions will go unpunished, it is impossible to teach them anything [and they usually keep many others from learning as well]. Consequently, I have concluded that it is sometimes necessary to take action to help a child understand that there is punishment for sin. When I take a child home, I must remember that I am still teaching the child a lesson: the cause and effect of sin.

Visualized Songs for Adults. We were shorthanded last night as our song leader and both piano players were out of town. As the substitute song leader, I brought along several of the visualized songs I normally sing with the kids. Good songs are full of truth and can be taught as well as sung. Since I normally sing these songs with kids, I naturally teach something from the songs each time we sing them. Last night, the adults got a few lessons during the song service as well: Happiness is the Lord—a relationship with God is the only source of “real joy”, Trust and Obey--”there is no other way to be happy in Jesus”, and Whisper a Prayer in the Morning.

Putting God First. Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Last night, I had the opportunity to revisit this truth. For me, Sundays have become a very special time of growing closer to God while helping others to know Him as well. As more people minimize the importance of this day, I choose to personally lift up this important “Day of the Lord”, and tonight, I had the opportunity to encourage another to do the same. Sometimes, this priority requires making sacrifices, but God promises to take care of all the extra “things” (whether it be the workers I need to faithfully reach kids on Sunday or the money from the job that wants priority control of my schedule).

Another day in the service of the King has brought a few new “things” (new kids at church, new problems to face, and new ideas to ponder) as well as the opportunity to revisit the old truths that ground my faith and practice.

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:57

One Sunday

Working with kids and teens is an exciting ministry. Last Sunday, I had the privilege doing both in my local church. Between the bus route, teen Sunday school class, and children's church program, last Sunday morning was a tiring, yet rewarding experience. Here are four of the many highlights of that morning.

How young is too young?
Remembering the “Great Commission”!
The difference between feeling saved and being saved.
The chocolate bar caper!

Too Young? Our bus route flyer advertises that children under the age of five must be accompanied by an adult to ride the bus. For the last two weeks, two little girls (ages 2 and 3) came as visitors of their cousins. I went by on Saturday to explain to their mom that they were to young to ride the bus only to find out that the family had moved out of state earlier in the week. On Sunday, some other kids brought their younger brother and sister (ages 3 & 4). [I must admit that I have a terrible time saying no to kids that want to bring others to church.] When trouble arose, I was very thankful that someone was not only available, but also willing to spend some special time with troublesome three-year-old and his mischievous older brother. I once again confronted the issue of whether I should be more strict on the age limit. After talking with the teacher of that age of kids (a lady with a wonderful passion for teaching the “little ones”), I once again had to admit that these kids need the truth just as much the rest of them. Even at two and three, they are developing their core values of right and wrong. They need someone in their lives to be a faithful example of living by and teaching God's rules. Teaching a three-year-old that God is good and that he never lies will go a long way in helping that person grow up knowing that God's truth—the Bible—can help them live a purposeful and fulfilling life. As long as God continues to send these little ones my way, I will continue to share with them His Great Truth (with the help of God's willing servants in His church)! They are never too young to begin learning about God.

Great Commission. Last week I came across a unique video on Google video. Basically, it was a commercial for the great commission (Matthew 28:18-20). Using death rate statistics (an average of 1.78 deaths per second = 56 million per year) and someone's computer graphic rendition of a person falling into Hell, this 1 ½ minutes video is a good reminder to tell others about Christ. I decided to use this video in my teen Sunday school class and ended up using it in children's church as well. My lesson for the teens was on the role of authorities in our lives. This video helped me remind them that our main authority—God Almighty—has task we are required to take part in also. We have a “faith which was once delivered” but must be shared many time over.

“I don't feel saved.” During the children's church invitation, a faithful seven-year-old expressed this concern along with bona fide fear of Hell. This little one knew that she had been “saved,” and I knew that her parents spent careful time explaining what salvation truly means. Thankfully, I understand that assurance of salvation often comes some time after a person is truly saved (Ephesians 6:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:8). Having talked with this girl before, I simply explained that salvation occurs when someone expresses belief that Christ paid for their sin when He died on the cross. Salvation doesn't depend on how we feel, but solely on God's promise to forgive our sins by placing them on Jesus. The girl soon realized that she did not need to fear Hell (which she had just seen in the video I showed), she was protected by the promise of a loving God. After later talking with here parents, I praised God that there are still families raising their kids to know God and helping them to grow in wisdom and favor with God and man.

The chocolate bar caper! Boy One receives a large chocolate candy bar in Sunday school as an award. Boy Two takes the large chocolate candy bar during children's church and shares it with friends. After church, the bus captain—i.e. me—discovers Boy Two and friends at the back of the bus with chocolate all over their faces and no end of denying that they had done wrong. Caught? Yes. Repentant? No. Lesson Learned? Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” 1) teach Boy Two and friends that hiding sin doesn't work & 2) visit Boy One at home to deliver a new chocolate bar with an “I care about you” smile.

Even after ten years of working with young people, each day has it's challenges. However, I work for the God who specializes in the impossible. Whether it is teaching that sin has consequences or that salvation is forever, teaching the Word of God to young people is never boring and always rewarding.