When radio first began, the Church had the resources to own the major networks and dominate the airwaves. The same was true with television, the Church could have owned the major networks and changed the wayward course of society, sparing millions from eternity in hell.

But while some of us were too busy preaching against the horrible evils of television and radio, the rest of us simply didn't see where these technologies would take us.

Such is the case with the Internet, and specifically Virtual Reality. (see the CNet Video)

This technology is already being used for purposes such as teaching life skills to those with Asperger's, a form of autism (read MSNBC story)

It is also being used as a therapudic tool for abused children, and an invaluable financial learning tool for students. (read Wired.com story)


MORE THAN A GAME

Virtual realty, specifically the quality found in Second Life, is much more than just a game.

Let me ask you a question: what makes something "real"? Is it the physical building blocks out of which it's made? If so, thought is not real. And God is not real. No, there is something besides the physical that defines something as real.

Is it spirit? Does having a spirit make something real? If so, then your house, your car, and the earth itself is not real. No, there is something besides the spiritual that makes something real.

Something that is "real" is something that "exists." And our reality, think about this, is anything that is touched by our awareness.

While some of us can have great friendships with inanimate objects, most of us find real people the best friends of all. It is because our awareness extends to them, and their awareness extends to us.

Perhaps then it is our awareness that makes us alive, and perhaps wherever our awareness goes, that place is indeed real.


WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT???

Okay, my point? Second Life (SL) is more than just an inconsequential game. It is real. The people in there who "inhabit" virtual bodies are real. Their awareness is directed into the digital environment and they interact with other people wearing digital bodies.

It is not the body that decides a person's eternal destiny, but their awareness - what they choose to do with their will and their life.

We lost out on using radio television to the extent we could have if we had only seen it for what it was and glimpsed its future.

The same could be true (and is already so to a disturbing extent) with the Internet and, specifically with Virtual Realty.

There are real people living real lives, having real relationships with other real people, interacting in a world that, although completely digital, is REAL.


WHERE IS JESUS IN CYBERSPACE?

Take a walk around Second Life (actually, flying would be faster and easier). You probably won't find a single Christian establishment, and likely not another Christian.

Once again, we are keeping silent. We are shutting our mouths and just letting hundreds of thousands, even millions, walk right past us in the virtual world, and into the very real lake of fire.

Since we seem to think being salt and light only applies to the physical world, we do not bring the loving awareness of Jesus and his sacrifice into the digital world.

The result? Satan has free reign to further darken the lives of those who, because of our inactivity, see only more darkness.


IT'S TIME TO SHINE THE VIRTUAL LIGHT!

Our vision begins with creating a place in SL where netizens will WANT to go, because it's fun. From games to rides and everything in between, they will want to come back.

Throughout the "theme park" if you will, will be various "seeds", whether they are signs, streaming video, or streaming audio that plants the seeds that there IS a need in their life (which they already know deep down) and there IS an answer (and we know His name).

We will also play Christian music in the background, in a musical style that the average visitor will enjoy, but with lyrics that will plant even more seeds of life.

There will be not only digital resources which can lead a hungry soul to Jesus, but there will also be Christians who are there to non-obtrusively help seekers find the One they've been seeking for.


YOUR TURN!

We need your feedback. And we need your help. Are you a Christian? Or a SL programmer/scripter? We need games, rides, and other creative hooks and witnessing tools. We also need people who love the world and know how to witness without shoving something down any virtual throats.

Reply to this post with any thoughts, ideas, and offers to help.


P.S.

Buying land can get a bit expensive with just one couple trying to do it all. We are endeavoring to purchase all the land from the CyberChurch to the road to place the things I mentioned in this post. Each parcel (and there are 10 of them) cost around L$4990. If you'd be willing to help with this, you can send donations to Benjamin Psaltery. Be sure to include a note saying what it's for. We will then deposit it into a virtual account, and will buy the parcels piece by piece as the funds become available.

Please note this is time-sensitive, as anyone could buy the land at any time to use it for "any" purpose.

Please proceed to our forum post about Second Life (SL) and post your reply.

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