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• Releasing new potential for personal life change. The internet provides new personal space, where individuals may learn and explore with greater privacy. The internet's privacy allows spiritual seekers in closed societies to learn about Jesus as never before. Our internet alliance partners in France call this trend the "Nicodemus effect." The measure of how much we at ct are helping to change lives provides a durable indicator of our true priorities. We join Billy Graham in asking, "Are we really being used to change people?" (See "A Greater Vision," p. 86.)

Technology's blessings have unexpected side effects. Technology accelerates change in ways that are difficult to handle.

Even as the internet can bring the gospel into the privacy of seekers' homes, it can also create a "virtual Christianity," unconnected to a living, breathing body of believers. Just as it can deliver information rapidly and efficiently, it can also fracture church and society into niche groups pursuing their special interests.

The future is uncertain, yet the biblical Christian's mission is constant. Scholars project the world of 2025 will have 7.8 billion souls, including 2.6 billion Christians—just 250 million in North America. Which Christians in the coming decades will embrace the challenge of speaking the Good News to 5.2 billion people?

To survive and thrive through the next 50 years, the evangelical movement must benefit the whole church and the entire world for God's glory. Whatever new technology develops, we must use it to further God's mission. Whatever the future holds, we pray that under God's providence, we at Christianity Today can play a part in bringing believers together in a united sense of identity and in facilitating the work of the living, non-virtual church.

Copyright © 2006 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Earlier Christianity Today coverage of evangelicals' early adoption of communications technology includes:

No Luddites Here | Evangelicals have (almost) always been quick to adopt communications technologies. (Feb. 22, 2001)

The Wireless Gospel | Sixty-two years ago, Back to the Bible joined the radio revolution; now it is finding new media for its old message. A case study in evangelicals' love affair with communications technology (Feb. 22, 2001)

Maura McCarthy has studied evangelicals and technology. Her online papers include A History of Evangelism and Mass Media and E-vangelism: Redefining evangelical Identity in On-line Global Culture.

The University of Virginia's Jeffrey K. Hadden has a website with much research on religious broadcasting.

The Billy Graham Center Archives offers an online exhibit on Percy & Ruth Crawford and the Birth of Televangelism.

Christianity Today's other articles on its 50th anniversary include:

Where We Are and How We Got Here | 50 years ago, evangelicals were a sideshow of American culture. Since then, it's been a long, strange trip. Here's a look at the influences that shaped the movement. By Mark A. Noll (Sept. 29, 2006)

Sidebar: 'Truth from the Evangelical Viewpoint' | What Christianity Today meant to the movement 50 years ago. (Sept. 29, 2006)

Evangelism Plus | John Stott reflects on where we've been and where we're going.

Sidebar: Legacy of a Global Leader | Less known than Stott's earlier work is his ministry with Langham Partnership International.

One Reader's Thoughts on Christianity Today's 50th Anniversary | After five decades of reading, I've clipped far too many articles. (Oct. 12, 2006)

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October 2006, Vol. 50, No. 10