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Cyberspace Is a Great Place to Hang, But Don't Forget to Practice Some …

Smart Surfing

by Carla Barnhill

You're one of the huge number of people who spend time on the Internet, you already know what a cool place it can be. Not only can the 'Net help you with your homework, it can help you with your social life, too. You can make friends with people who share your interests and get the opinions of people who think differently than you. And there's something really cool about "meeting" people without seeing them. You get to know people for who they are. It doesn't matter what they look like, how they dress or what color their skin is.

You probably also know there are some dangers out there in cyberspace. You've heard the stories of people running away to meet some chat-room buddy, only to find out their "buddy" is a seriously scary person wanting to take advantage of a trusting teenager. And you're probably aware of the pornography and adult material that's pretty easy to find on the 'Net.

But what about your faith?
Maybe you've never really thought about the way your faith and your computer relate to each other. After all, you use your computer for a thousand different things, most of which are pretty neutral on the good-bad scale. And while it's obvious that signing on to a pornographic Web site is just plain wrong, it's not so clear how a Christian's use of the Intern et can be different than that of a non-Christian.

But think about this: As Christians, we know that everything we do, from the big deals to the small stuff, needs to reflect God's glory. The Bible says, "Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). Yes, God even cares about the time we spend on the Internet. So do you need to give up chat rooms, e-mail and cool contests to be a good Christian? Of course not. But what you can do is think through a few issues to make sure your surfing fits in with your faith.

Cyber Friendships
One of the biggest problems with the Internet is the huge amount of time people spend surfing. Sure, all those Web sites are one of the best things about the 'Net. You could easily spend a day, a week, a month clicking around to chat rooms, home pages and newsgroups and still not hit them all. It can be pretty addicting.

Even if you just hang out in chat rooms meeting new friends, it's easy to get hooked. All those interesting people, exchanging ideas, getting to know each other. It's like being at a big party where everyone wants to talk.

The trouble starts when you'd rather spend time on the 'Net than with flesh and blood friends. God wants us to be in relationships with other people. He created us to be together, not alone (Genesis 2:18). And despite the feeling of "community" you might get from a chat room, in reality, you're still sitting in a room, by yourself, typing on a keyboard.

To find out if you're spending an unhealthy amount of time with your cyberfriends, ask yourself a couple of questions: "Do I say no when my friends want to get together, just so I can spend time online?" "During the week, do I spend more time online than doing anything else, like talking to people, being in school or sleeping?" If you said yes to either of these, it's time to talk to your parents, your youth pastor, or a good friend who can help you reduce the amount of time you spend online.

While it's great to meet new people through the Internet, there's no substitute for the friendships God gives us with the real people in our lives.

Your Parents and the Net
It's no secret there's some awful stuff on the Internet. And this stuff is the reason your parents may be worried about your surfing time. You and your folks have probably had more than one conversation about what you're doing online, who you're talking to and which sites you're visiting. And you're maybe a little tired of them bugging you about it. So how can you keep your computer use from being a source of tension between you and your parents?

Talk about it.
As with most things, the best way to keep your parents from worrying about you is to respect them and be honest with them. Talk to your parents about the people you meet online, just like you'd talk to them about your other friends. Let them know when you run across something that bothers you, scares you or offends you. And if your parents don't know much about the Internet, take 'em on a cybertour to show them some of your favorite sites. The more they know, the less likely they are to be worried about you. Finally, be respectful of any limits they might put on your online time. Remember, it's just a computer. It's not worth a major family conflict and it's sure not worth losing the trust your parents have in you.

Your Witness
While there aren't many of us with the confidence to preach the gospel to masses of people, the Internet gives us the chance to share our faith with people we might never meet otherwise. It also offers plenty of sites where you can hang out with other Christians-to chat, to ask for prayer, to wrestle with the tough issues of faith.

But you don't have to stick with Christian sites to share your faith with others. In fact, just like in the "real" world, your attitude in cyberspace can say more about your faith than your words. As you interact with others on the 'Net, remember you are first and foremost God's child. That means everything you do, everything you say, is to be a reflection of God in you. The Bible says, "As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy'"(1 Peter 1:14-16).

When you meet new friends on the Internet, be yourself. Resist the temptation to be someone you're not. Watch what you say in chat rooms and don't be afraid to be bold and speak out when something you read or "hear" in a chat room goes against your Christian beliefs.

Like any new adventure, cyberspace offers both dangers and thrills. But as long as you keep your faith in front of you, your computer can be more than just an entrance into the world of the Internet. It can be another way to share God with a world that needs to hear about him.

Safety Net
Unfortunately, there are a lot of people using the Internet for some not-so-decent purposes. To protect yourself from danger, keep these tips in mind:

— Never give personal information, like your home address or phone number, to anyone you meet online. Even if you've spent a lot of time online with a person, you can't be sure they are who they say they are.
— Never agree to meet a cyberbuddy in person unless you meet in a public place, like the mall or a restaurant. And bring a parent or other trusted adult along. If your cyberbuddy is a person worth knowing, they'll respect your caution.
— Never reply to an e-mail from someone you don't know, or someone who's asking for personal information.
— If you come across anything in a chat room, on a Web site or on e-mail that concerns you or makes you uncomfortable, tell your parents, and report the incident to your online provider (like America Online).

Copyright © 1997 by Christianity Today International/CAMPUS LIFE magazine.
March/April 1997. Page 30

Read more from 'Faith & Values'

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