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My initial Web Theology Page

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Other questions:

How will offline institutions change if people flock to online activities?

Might the presence of online community cause a re-evaluation of the quality of interaction and intimacy encouraged and nurtured within the church offline?

DLochhead: What response will the church give to online community experience?

Will "great good places" be built in Cyberspace?
Link to story of Potter's House beginnings

In the spring of that long year Gordon and Mary made what might have been a routine trip to a church in New England where Gordon gave the Lenten address. They found the atmosphere in the church cold and the congregation unbending, and they left with a feeling of wanting to put that whole, dark church far behind them. They drove for a long distance, before they stopped at a country inn and were given the last available room, which happened to be above the tavern. The noises from that tavern drifted up to them and disturbed their sleeping, but somewhere in the night Gordon thought, "Christ would be more at home in that tavern than back in the church we just left."

The next morning he and Mary had breakfast in a small restaurant across the street from the inn, and there again the friendliness and warmth made him think, "Christ would be more at home in this restaurant than in the church." They went home to tell the class in Christian Vocation that a way should be found to take the church to the restaurants of the city. Out of the discussion that followed emerged the idea of a coffee house and, in the naming of it, call was heard. Gordon and Mary and several others knew that they were called. Some felt that it was not for them, but encouraged the sounding of the call in the larger congregation. Twelve people responded, and the mission was under way.

From Servant Leaders, Servant Structures by Elizabeth O'Connor
Back to Focus Paper

Is there such a thing as "Christian" Computing

Why is something considered "Christian"? Christian Computing Magazine reminds me of what always used to bug me regarding other "Christian" media. It usually implied something which overtly expressed a particular kind of spirituality. When I would use "secular" movies in order to present a particular issue with youth, I would get complaints from some parents that I should use more "Christian" movies.

Is it a "Christian" Web page if Bible verses are used, or pious phrases are used, or there are links to other "Christian sites"? What of the net effect (no pun intended) of the page? Does it provide some form of community? Is this the strategic role of the church on the Internet? What "oasis" can we provide? What do people seek on the Internet (really seek) and how can the church provide it?

I tend to agree with Mike Yaconelli's idea that the word "Christian" is a noun, not an adjective. There are Christians who do movies, who write music, who use computers, but there is not really "Christian movies", "Christian music" or "Christian Computing", or "Christian Web Pages".

But I do think there is an important role to play. We have a unique calling in the world, and it is most simply, to be present and prepared to provide a "place" of community and to help the participants in that community embody the call of God upon their lives. We need to "be" among the people. We need to be the Church in the marketplace.