CHRISTIAN INTERNET EVANGELISM

Some Tips on Christian Internet Evangelism and the Use of Chat Rooms for Evangelism.

By Terence B. Ellard (Internet Evangelist).

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this modest little book is to assist the novice evangelist - that is, one who is new to this aspect of the worldwide web (and is truly called by God to perfom this difficult but important function in the Christian Church) - to successfully negotiate the complexities and spiritual dangers that are involved in internet evangelism. (Equally, it is hoped that all Christians who may feel the call to declare their faith to others through this medium may profit from its contents). Based on three years of daily evangelising ‘on the net’, I have tried to paint an accurate picture of the conditions and personalities I have encountered-paralleling in plain modern language (however feeble and unwitting), the allegorical efforts of that great luminary of the church, John Bunyan, in his classic book, Pilgrim’s progress.

As we move further into the twenty-first century, it is the belief of this writer that the internet will become a major tool in the hand of God in the saving of souls - for as true Bible-believing churches become fewer and fewer and carnal, hedonistic- seeking man ‘waxes worse and worse ‘(2 Timothy 3:13), it will be increasingly necessary to place the gospel-if you will pardon the expression-’under his nose’. ( And there is no better way to do this than entering the privacy of someone’s home or office via their personal computer).

May I first of all express my sincere and heartfelt thanks to the Reverend Irving Steggles,of Ladyfield Evangelical Church,Chippenham,Wiltshire,England for suggesting the idea of this book-and whilst I make no pretensions whatsoever of being a writer, I hope that I have given this idea some communicable ‘clothes’. More importantly, I pray that our beloved Lord and saviour The Lord Jesus Christ, will be honoured and glorified by my weak efforts- which, if realised, is past all recompsense than I can possibly imagine.

Terence B.Ellard.

CHRISTIAN INTERNET EVANGELISM.

A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR BEGINNERS.

Terence B. Ellard

'For such a time as this' (Esther 4:14). ‘He gave...evangelists, pastors, teachers’ (Ephesians 4:10).

‘AND HE SAID TO THEM, GO YOU INTO ALL THE WORLD,AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE’ (Mark 16:15).

Has God called and anointed you to be an ‘Internet evangelist?!

If so-and if you are certain of your ‘call’, then you are indeed a ‘special’ kind of person—a ‘trail-blazer’, showing the way for others who may come after you-possibly for many generations to come! That is, you will be doing something unique in the course of church history to date-and all from the relative comfort of your home computer— why, you don’t even need to possess good mobile health!!

However,be warned!—there are no ‘handbooks’ or ‘experts’ to consult if this be truly your God-given calling—and what you are now reading is believed to be a first attempt to put this right..

So,to help you avoid all the pitfalls ‘out there’-and based on circa three years daily experience of covering sundry ‘chatrooms’- involving around half a million people-if not more-here, for your benefit, are the results of this labour. (May God bless and open your mind to his truth and wisdom as you read on).

First and foremost, identify the area of your calling. (Is it to preach the gospel of salvation per se—or to be a Christian apologist for the gospel?) See footnotes for the definition of the term ‘evangelist’ and a general discussion on this subject.

When you have clearly identified the field of your endeavour then you need to specialize by way of being educated in that field . ( So purchase all the relevant books etc. you can afford –both historical and contemporary).

In short, don’t launch-out on ‘the net’unprepared or you will find yourself in deep trouble!.

On the assumption that you are now well-prepared, you are ready to begin your ministry. On choosing which chatrooms to cover—be they secular or Christian - the next and vital requirement is that you be in ‘tip-top’ spiritual condition!.Therefore,you will need to pray before you enter a room each day and be clothed in ‘the whole armour of God’. The task before you is a spiritual one-which can only be done in ‘God’s might’-or else you will be wasting your time.(See Zechariah 4:6).

DIVISION OF ROOMS/ SECULAR.

‘.......And there were great voices in heaven,saying,The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ;and he shall reign for ever and ever’ (Revelation 7:15).

If God has called you to preach the gospel to the unsaved, then you need to be very selective as to which rooms you cover. You must be careful not to enter rooms in which you may be tempted in a promiscuous way-or rooms which are overly aggressive towards the gospel. (Thankfully,the former can easily, in wisdom, be ‘negotiated’-the latter, relatively speaking,are small in number). I will gladly furnish a list of rooms to avoid -as well as those which can be safely ‘worked’.(But WARNING!-don’t ever operate in a room which may cause you to be ensnared by sin—GOD doesn’t give any ‘points’ for being ‘foolhardy’-no matter how well meant!!). KEEP CLEAR!!(See my other notations in my section dealing with ‘apologetics’ in Christian chat.)

SOME WORKING SUGGESTIONS:

-----On the practical side, I have found that using two ‘posting’ systems to be of great value in counteracting the infamous instability of the internet! (I use one chat system with a facility for ‘direct posting’-namely,Ymlite-and have a ‘back-up’ system either running parallel to my postings or acting as a ‘stand alone’ system when yahoo ‘goes down’).

---(Keep a ‘back-up’copy of your posts—your much prepared ‘labour of love’- on a floppy disc, as an insurance against the day (which happily will never come!) should something untoward happen to your computer (e.g. a ‘hacker’ breaks- in and destroys all your files).I also keep a print-out—but this is perhaps ‘overkill’.

----It is recommended that you use a good anti-virus and firewall system if at all possible.(Unfortunately,my own computer is ‘allergic’ to most of the main brands-specifically Norton-but I have found the free ones available (at Download.com’) to be adequate. Use the free adaware system too-this is invaluable in eliminating those tricky ‘bots’ which cleave like ‘sticklebacks’ to your web explorer and seem impossible to otherwise remove.

----If at all possible use ‘broadband’.(This will prevent you from being rudely cut-off midstream at times-as is the case with cheap dial-up systems).

----Use a type-size that the average person can read (either 12 or 14 times New Roman).I invariably use LARGE PRINT<---thus--I find it dramatises the important message you are preaching in this unique way.(God tells us to SHOUT!-not be ‘meely-mouth’ about his word!-Isaiah 58:1).

----Use Urls (Website addresses) bearing sound orthodox teachings in support of your postings.(e.g ‘Answers From Genesis.com’-which deals with with the creation-evolution debate). However, please note that Yahoo has recently limited the number of these you can display (around 15-20), before it closes you down-for about 4 hours. So be careful!

----Before you commence your postings, choose an appropriate chat system ID to clearly identify yourself as a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ.(e,g, ‘internetevangelist 2005-or variations on the electronically generated name, e.g. internet_evangelist2005 or internetevangelist_2005.) But get in there quickly before someone else grabs your ID!!

(Also,it is a good idea to create a ‘dummy’ ID-however absurd/non-descript,to let you visit and examine a room before enter-on the 'look before you leap’ principle- something like ‘homersimpsonatemyhamster’-or ‘John 43567’will suffice for this purpose).

----At least twice a year seek, if possible, ‘freshen-up’ your posting material with biblical or non-biblical information relative to the area of your speciality.(Never listen to anyone who accuses you of being ‘boringly repetitive’). Point out to them that you take your ‘cudos’ from God-who teaches the value of repetition as a pedagogic (teaching) instrument. Direct them in the first instance to the books of Deuteronomy, Leviticus and Proverbs for clear examples of this principle in action.

---To assist you in this task, keep a notebook to hand at all times (e.g.by your computer,when you go to bed-or for that matter, wherever you are!). Jot down any ideas which you think will help you improve the quality of your posts-be it a Bible passage,a quality quotation-or even if it is a mere rearranging of an existing post which you now deem to be ‘verbose’ or ‘waffle’laden.** (I find that some of my best ideas come just when I am about to ‘drop off’ to sleep). When this happens,I quickly make a’ memo ‘ of them-and sleep even better as a result!.-well, most times!

----Don’t use your computer’s speaker whilst in the rooms as you will hear all kinds of immorality and stupidity coming from them. (In short,be always aware of Satan's ‘drip-drip’ploy, as he seeks to lead your soul into what the Bible calls ‘the hour of temptation’ Revelation 3:10. Study I Samuel:25 in conjunction with 2 Samuel 2:11 and Psalm 51 to see his tactics in action!). That is, he sowed the original thoughts of murder and adultery in David’s mind—and no doubt kept on at it till David succumbed ‘big time’.(You will also have to exercise this discipline at times towards the scripts in some rooms—but as this is a ‘judgment-call’, you will have to’ think on your feet’ as you go along.). But if it becomes a problem for you - get out of there immediately- and go to another room where things are more acceptable.(Next time around, your former room might be fine to work).

----Beware that when you enter an ‘adult’(are they really?-no kidding!!) chatroom,you will be confronted by what is called ‘porn bots’ (i.e. whoremongers and their acolytes advertising their wares). Whilst you might like to ask them to repent of their evil and perverted ways and turn to Jesus Christ-whatever you do,do not confront them!(Many are backed-up by organized crime-some reaching even to the mafia.). I once tried to ‘take them on’ and weird things started happening to my computer! It was ‘scary!! Like a deadly snake you might come across in a jungle, leave them alone and you will find they won't bother you.

If working in this adult area of the internet is not for you, and it is certainly not for everyone, you will readily discover this! But be assured that this forms but a fraction of the opportunities ,worldwide, that lie before you for preaching Christ to the nations! From Alaska to South America - from the West coast of the United States ,though Europe, Africa and Asia and Australia—In short,wherever internet chat facilites exist in the English language - tens of thousands of souls can be brought the Christian message,each day—all from the comfort of your own living room.! I once set out to cover all the chat rooms on the ‘net’—and woking circa 3 hours a day—it took me 42 days to complete my task-but I am NOT recommending that you do the same! (Here is but one regular sample’taster’ page from my journal ( 20-11-01 to 30-11-01), in which I preached to cira 2,000 people): Rooms visited 72. Areas covered:Central chat (which has people from all over America,Canada,Australia,Great Britain, Europe central etc.) Canada chat,Alaska chat,Atlanta chat,Austin chat, Boston chat,Chicago chat,Detroit chat, Miami chat, New York chat,Los Angeles chat, San Francisco chat, Bay area chat,Washington D.C chat,.St Louis chat, Seattle chat, San diego chat, Philadelphia chat, Portland chat, Montreal chat,Toronto chat,Vancouver chat, London chat.The average time posting spent each day was c.3 hours -sometimes spread over morning and afternoons/evenings--depending on the time zone of the area to be covered.

Isn't this marvelous?!!-though we shouldn’t be too surprised-if we have been reading our Bibles and studying prophecy!!(e.g. Daniel 12:4)’And many shall run to and fro’-converying the idea of ‘mobility’-be it physical or technological..

----Occasionally,you will,sadly, come across a few Christians who have-in one degree or another-backslid into this type of promiscuous sin-i.e. visiting such adult chat-rooms for immoral purposes.. By all means, if these come to your attention, try to rescue them—but handle with care!! Point out in love,tenderness,their error-pray for them,encourage them to seek help from their pastor (or, if a woman, the pastor’s wife-as many women will only talk to another woman). But if you must get further involved, always do so by email-thereby eliminating any risk of being tempted yourself.(For none of us are ‘above’ temptation!). In such emails you can direct them, if addicted to their sin, to Christian websites set-up for this very purpose-or to some good Christian books dealing with this subject.(But please note that pornography-due to its ready accessibility- can be as much an addiction are heroin or cocaine-and if truth be told,this epidemic now sweeping the world, has spilt over ‘big-time’ into the church.). So you may have a tough battle on your hands and will need the power and wisdom of God the Holy Spirit to deal with it.(If you feel you can't, pass the problem on to someone who can). There is honour in being circumspect before an event-not shame.

----Equally, you will come across people with differing problems—and, depending on the nature and urgency of these problems, it is most certainly your duty as a Christian-as the gospels clearly show- to assist such people. True holiness doesn’t isolate you from a hurting world - it merely insulates you, enabling you to mix freely with them and become a solution to their problems.Could that be what John meant when he said, 'The word become flesh and lived among us' (John 1:14)?-So wrote a pastor in a recent publication I received.

Let me give you a good example of what I mean. Some years ago, I was ‘working’ one of the ‘teen’.rooms in the plush and fertile wooded hills of central America. Amid all the usual teenage ‘angst’ etc. a lone voice was desperately crying-out for help. I forget who sought out who first-though I suspect It was I who made the first move. In the first moments of our conversation, I soon learned that she was a fourteen year old girl who was pregnant and had been rejected by both the child’s father (a seventeen year old youth) and her natural parents-who were separated.(Her father,a doctor,had left her mother for a homosexual relationship-which caused this child no end of inner torment-to add to the one which she was already experiencing). However,there was a ‘solution’offered to her immediate problem by both her ‘boyfriend’ and mother ,namely that she abort (murder!), the child. To her credit, this idealistic young girl refused to yield to their blackmail and pressure and was refusing to go through with the abortion. (Her wealthy middle class mother-with an attitude as cold as Siberian frost welded to a marble slab- I later covertly ‘tracked down’ and spoke to for over an hour),hated her intensly and gave her an ultimatum ,either to get out of the house by such and such a date—regardless of the fact that she had no place/relatives etc. to go to—or else have the abortion, as having a baby would bring shame on the family. 'You are a failure—looks how well your talented sister has done’ etc.etc..

This poor kid was becoming more and more desperate/hysterical as the severance date drew nearer and nearer—and thoughts of suicide commenced to become dominant in her thinking-as well as the possibility that she should go through with the abortion.. As a Christian evangelist, I could of course in no circumstances countenance either of these options-and for three desperate weeks(probably some of the most traumatic/prayerful in my life),-weeks of many hours talking with her on the internet-in conjunction with trying to find some Christian or secular organization to take her under their wing in the state in which she lived - but all to no avail (because of some legal ‘quirks’-or because state facilities insisted that if she gave birth to her baby she must be prepared to give it up for adoption.-which she wouldn’t countenance). I even offered the hope that I could bring her over to England—if possible-and see if I could help her here in situ with the British authorities.. But this young lady had to have HOPE of some kind—even if what I was offering was merely aspirational on my part. However,because of her firm stand—and the support I gave her—in conjunction with my fervent prayers, at the end of these three weeks, her ‘boyfriend’ decided to take her to live with him and his mother and concluded that ‘it was fine for her to have her baby’.(I should add here that in American law, this is possible-as ‘rape’(which under-aged sex is classed), doesn’t apply until the father is 18. ‘Weird’ etc., I know to us ‘Britishers’.—but there you have it.

Whatever the moral implication/equation in all of this might be - one thing I DO know is that the Lord led me to help this unfortunate young girl.(And who knows, maybe one day her baby will become a member of his family—if not the parents?-after all,as our Bible tells us,’his wisdom is past finding out’-for this world is HIS ‘show’-not ours!!).If so,what a glorious outcome! Praise his holy name!!

So the sum of it all amounts to the fact that my efforts probably saved one life—if not two-and that today, a precious little child owes its existence to these efforts.(A child who may bare my name-or a feminine derivation of it (because she said she would name the baby after me-or a name I chose if it was a girl-a name I decided, if my memory serves me right ,was either to be ‘Terri’ or’ Teresa’). I have no idea of knowing if any of this ever came to pass-because once our task is done, an evangelist must ‘move on’ and address the next problem that may come his way. (Though in some instances, it might be proper to ‘keep in touch’—but never in such cases.) As an evangelist, you must soon learn to become emotionally ‘tough’(but never callous!) - if you are to succeed in your calling.

----Now and then you may come across young Christians of both sexes operating in your rooms who think that God has called them to the task of rescuing the ‘fallen’-be they converted or unconverted. (But on questioning them,you will soon discover that this is patently not the case-rather it is their enthusiasm going ‘overboard’.). Have no hesitation in chasing these people away’!—and sooner or later you will see ‘the penny drop’ and that will be the last you will see of them. It is for their good and you have done a service all-round.

----Resist the temptation in your lonely and oft-times suffering pilgrimage towards’ the celestial city’ to take a ‘helper’ ‘on board’,as in all probability (unless vetted by your local church) they are not fitted by God to the task. We are all ‘our brother’s keeper’ and must not place their souls somewhere they should not be.

----Chase children out of adult chatrooms! They have no business being there in the first place!!(Its’ unbelievable’!,but some parents actually allow their children to come into such rooms and witness the evil that takes place there—even allowing them (some as young as five) to use the microphone. This is grossly irresponsible conduct and it is your duty to ‘show them the door’—in firm language that cannot be misunderstood!.

----If someone cannot abide your postings of God’s truths in a room, feel free, politely, to invite them to go and live in Castro’s cuba—seeing democracy is not ‘his thing’-or theirs (but do tell them not to smoke any cigars--as this is not good for their health!). Equally, you can point out to them (which they probably know already!), that God, courtesy of Yahoo has given them an ignore button which they can use to ‘obliterate’ you off the screen with their index finger.(However, in parting, do remember to inform them that one day they will have to give an account of themselves before God for their action in rejecting his truths and the offer of his beloved son, The Lord Jesus Christ!).

----On the other hand, be sparse in your own use of the ‘ignore’ button facility, for if you do otherwise, you will lose the’ tempo’ and ‘tone’ of the room-not to mention gagging any positive reactions to your posts.

----Don’t be intimidated by those who may accuse you of ‘spamming’ a room (and there are plenty who will—‘count on it’!). Rather, ignore them and just put as much of your gospel message in a room as, say, an efficient typist would-in the circa 7 second ‘window’(on average),the movement of a room allows.(Remember also you are not ‘spamming’ because you have nothing to sell!.).

----Close your ‘pm’(message) box to avoid rude and other sinful influences.(Yahoo gives instructions as to how this may be done). Open it only if someone is genuinely seeking after truth. Conversely, you might like to do what I do and post your email address ‘in room’ and they can contact you this way.(Equally, note that people you have ignored continually change their IDs-so you may have to repeat the same procedure again and again).

---- Keep a daily record of all the rooms you visit and the numbers in those rooms.(This will give you a target to ‘aim at’ each day and will be a source of encouragement as you progress in your generally lonely service for Christ).

----Finally - try to maintain a sense of humour as you go about your business. For whilst working for God is indeed a sober affair, like all things it must be done with a proper balance and perspective.

MAIN PERSONALITY TYPES YOU WILL ENCOUNTER:

What follows is but a brief sketch of the kind of people you are likely to encounter day-by-by day as you go about your business. (But note too, that they also ‘pop-up’ from time to time in specifically Christian chat rooms).

These are as follows:

1. THE INTELLECTUAL . (Practical).

‘The amount falls under two heads - first material damage, total claim £577,93-8s-3d;second,moral or intellectual damage, total of claim, £1,000,000’(Communicated to the House of Commons by Joseph Chamberlain,18 Feb,1897).

‘For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written,’He catches the wise in their own craftiness’ (I Corinthians 3:19).

These, in general, are those who work with their minds for a living-possessing varying degrees of education and ‘mind-power’ on a scale from 5-10. They are much ‘smarter’ than you are-and so they should be-at least in the area of their own particular speciality (medicine,dentistry,law,science,mathematics,engineering,journalism,education, politics. etc. etc.) .Because (unlike many in the following group below), most are too busy working, you will seldom come across them—except, possibly at weekends-and even then, their numbers are relatively low. They form what is known as ‘the middle classess’ and are indeed ‘the backbone ‘ of society’-that is, they keep the whole thing ‘ticking over’(without them,the so-called ‘working –classes’would have no leadership and direction-and so have little to do!)..They are usually conscientious people –albeit, of course,completely ‘fallen in adam’ like we once were.(In law and politics,they form ‘the powers that be’-to whom God commands obedience; Romans 13:1). They tend to be self-righteous in disposition and have a more ‘sophisticated’ view of life and its orgins and purpose than their ‘less talented’ fellows.(Most are’ Darwinians’ and believe that society is somehow evolving from a lesser civilized state to a better one—through education, gene manipulation improved political systems and the like).’Social engineering’ is the broad umbrella term some use for this practice/philosophy.*

However,outside of their particular field of endeavour, their knowledge is often ‘average’—and in your particular area, often non-existent.(See why-in Romans Chapters one and two!). Because the latter is the case, you have a great advantage and can more than match/contrast their secular ‘expertise’ and lack of spiritual insight with your own—even if they ‘laugh you to scorn’ in the process. (Though in the case of dentists, they will probably have whiter teeth than you!!).

So stick rigidly to what you know and believe-for indeed ‘all wisdom is YOURS!').

These people play a large part in keeping society in spiritual darkness.

2. THE INTELLECTUAL (Theoretical).

Without geometry, is life pointless?

‘Man has a natural desire to know,But Th’one half is for interest, th’other show’ (Samuel Butler-Human Learning .p.251).

‘Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun’ (Ecclesiastes 4:7).

I don’t refer here of course to those involved involved in theoretical physics, mathematics etc.- but chiefly to those students, lecturers, academics, writers etc. in the areas of philosophy (such as linguistic analysis, the philosophy of science/politics etc, intellectual history and so on). Having more time on their hands in many cases (and having a more acute interest in matters theological, perhaps, than our practical catergory above), these are found in more numerous gatherings in Chat rooms .They are usually proud of their intellectual abilities and will lose little time in giving you an example or two.(For instance-and depending on their 'maturity’- both emotional and intellectual - they will quote great chunks of Plato/Wittgenstein/einstein/Hawkins* etc.-or come out with ‘mind stoppers’ like those from the works of the modern philosopher, professor Naom Chomsky.(e.g. ‘colourless green ideas sleep furiously’)*-and then proceed to try and 'bamboozle’ you with seemingly ‘smart’‘add-ons’ to Chomsky’s and some other’s cherished ‘brainchilds’ in order to try-as often as not- to trample into the ground with ‘the golden horse shoes’ they have’brilliantly’ forged on the anvils of other progressive rationalists/ illuminati, the gospel message your are preaching. As you most likely will not be able to compete with such ‘towering intellects’-at least in their own sphere of knowledge - you will do well to give them a wide birth - if only to avoid time-wasting!. Recall how the Apostle Paul (who was a powerful intellect in his own right) dealt with this subject of intellectual vanity-if not aggression. (Read again the first and second chapters of Romans). In short,your ‘brief’ is to stick to your brief! - and preach ‘Christ crucified’ come ‘rain or high water’!

To let the character of Christ - the personality of Christ—especially his humilty - shine through your words and actions in the chatroom setting. (Its called being ‘a fool’ for Christ’s sake!). However, be always attentive to the genuine seeker after truth-who will be usually ‘sitting’ quiet on the sidelines-possibly being moved by the Holy Spirit to make enquiry of your messages. * You might like to point out the historically unstable nature of science and the philosophy on which it is based. (Recently Hawkins has admitted that his ‘black hole’ theory no longer holds. Also, lightning-called ‘sprites’ is now shown to go up as well as down! What Chomsky means, I assume, is that ideas don't have colour, even if they appear green as you ‘sleep furiously’ - possibly as a result of reading some other of his writings?!. His philosophical proposition is of course wholly theoretical-and quite meaningless - unless,of course you like doing ‘ethereal’ surgery in the intellectual abstract?).You might like to read my ‘Analysis of the Human Mind - A Theological Perspective’ towards the end of this book and discover science in action on this subject of ‘colourless green ideas’etc.-as opposed to ‘doing conjuring tricks’ with words and concepts-to borrow part of a line from an erstwhile ‘bishop’!

3. THE NIHILIST.

‘Then black despair, the shadow of a starless night, was thrown over the world in which I moved’ (Percy B.Shelly).

‘Without hope and without God in the world’(Ephesians 2:12).

‘However sad man’s lot, despair should enter not into the heart of man. God, by one single stroke, can heal the heart he broke, so carrying out his plan’ (G.Barlow-pageant of life,bk 5).

Seeing no hope either in this world -or any other possible world for that matter, these sad lonely and depressed souls have the worst of all possible deals. To be sure, most of us go through a silmilar state in one degree or another (as depicted in the account that follows), but through the providence of God-either by way of salvation through Christ -or ‘adjustments’ to relatively acceptable psychological compromises etc., we retain some form of life-continuing equilibrium. Many sadly do not and proceed to take their own lives (though the outcome below is unknown-but I suspect he survived!). In dealing with such people ‘on the brink’ much prayer is called for and much dialogue is required if they seek your assistance. Once again,try to establish a correspondence through email--but if necessary via your message box. If they are a part of God’s plan for mankind, He will soon make it obvious to you.

"Out in the cold I stand, looking at the world sitting tight, with it's people in their nice little worlds, and their friends who don't even know me. It makes no difference to their world where I am. If I’m there, it keeps going. If I’m not, it goes on. While I walk around, wandering, wondering, my mind a mass of mixed-up machinery, clashing with conflicts and unanswered conflicts and unanswered questions. I don't ask if the world is real- it sits there on its foundations, secure, concrete, hard as stone and real. But I’m not real - or if I am, maybe I should'nt be. They answer "Smile,God loves you" But I can't smile. I’m numbed by cold inside and out. Even the heat in the square brick buildings would only warm my body, nothing else. I’m alone in a world full of people - apart, shut up inside myself – cold, unfeeling, in a cold unfeeling world" (Found scribbled on an ink blotter,on an empty desk, Fisher Hall, Wheaton College-author unknown).

Poor fellow! (Aren't you glad you know the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ?!).

4. THE UNEDUCATED.

‘But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise;God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not-to nullify the things that are, so that no-one may boast before him’ (I Corinthians 1:26).

Uneducated minds (that is,those who have not received intellectual, moral and social systematic instruction,to enable them to live as ‘mind-workers’ in any significant sense), are your most fertile grounds for evangelism (A fact borne out by scripture-1 Cor 1:28 and by sociological statistics) As their minds are not ‘choc-full’ with the world and its ideas, they are most open to simple and plain teaching-teachings that speak to them on their level - as opposed to what the great Irish writer, George Bernard Shaw once stated (I paraphrase here), ’the conspiratorial-and often latinized language of the middle classes which they use to preserve their status in society’. Equally of course, they form the poor of this world and your message of hope to improve ‘their lot’, finds resonance among many of them. So, as much as possible, keep your messages/instructions as simple as you can. Above all things, be patient and gentle as you explain any difficult concepts they might not understand—especially in the scientific field.(This is not being ‘patronising’-just being loving!) Never forget also to encourage them to use their minds-for they can greatly improve matters for themselves if they apply themselves diligently in the particular area of their talents - commencing with less time watching television!:

‘The television,that insiduous beast,that medusa which freezes a billion people to stone every night,staring fixedly, that siren which called and sang and promised some more, and gave, after all, so little’. Ray Bradbury.

You can also post this: ‘Many highly intelligent people are poor thinkers. Many people of average intelligence are skilled thinkers. The power of the car is separate from the way the car is driven’ (Dr.Edward de Bono).

5. THE SELF-RIGHTEOUS.

‘Lord of himself; that heritage of woe’ (Byron-lara,ci. st2.).

‘I would visit you, but there would be no room there for me because of all the angels that would be there’ (Charles Haddon Spurgeon).

These dear souls are usually sanctimonious ‘pains in the neck’ who have a thousand and one reasons why they are not sinners-why hell is not for them and how ‘small-minded’ both you and God are to even suggest such a thought! They are the most difficult to deal with-but like all catergories need your patience, love and persistent proclamation of the gospel message. They are usually moral and responsible people - and on the credit side, if and when they do give their lives to Jesus Christ, the adjustment is essentially a ‘sideways’ process-especially if they are of a religious bent**—as opposed to the long climb-up, often experienced by those who come from a more sinful background.(e.g. drug addicts,criminals, and so on)..**The Apostle Paul was of this number—and what a ‘good one’ HE turned out to be!!

6. THE JOKER.

‘And was in the course of one revolving moon, chymist, fiddler, poet and buffoon’ (John Dryden-Absalom and Achiophel,part i. line 545).

‘For they love praise from men more than praise from God’ (John 12:43).

This class of person you find in chatrooms seems to be of the opinion that besides himself, the whole world is depressed and it is his one mission in life to cheer everyone one up. He revels in the responses he gets—and this encourages him to even further ‘witticisms’.(If this be the right word-seeing many of his ‘jokes’ come from last year’s Christmas crackers’-or the latest edition of ‘The Simpsons’-or Yahoo’s preprogrammed collection!). Now there is nothing wrong in being humourous - whatever definition you might like to use - as long as it it wholesome and clean. But once again, it becomes wholly unacceptible when it is used to attack Christ and his gospel message.-or the messenger of the gospel for that matter-often in a barrage of profane and filthy language. Your best response in this case (and in the category that follows), I have found over the years, is to ignore this person and merely post the following in the room – in large capitals and leave it at that:

‘BUT I TELL YOU THAT MEN WILL HAVE TO GIVE ACCOUNT ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT FOR EVERY CARELESS WORD THEY HAVE SPOKEN. FOR BY YOUR WORDS YOU WILL BE ACQUITTED AND BY YOUR WORDS YOU WILL BE CONDEMNED’(MATTHEW 12:36-37).

7. THE BASE.

‘To endeavour to work upon the vulgar with fine sense, is like attemptimg to hew blocks, with a razor’ (Swift - Thoughts on Various Subjects).

‘Highly fed and lowly taught’ (Shakespeare-All’s Well, Act 2:2).

‘For the vile speaks folly, his mind is busy with evil’(Isaiah 32:6).

‘Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces’ (Matthew 7:6).

In your travel through ‘the net’, you will come across some of the most vile and evil individuals this world has to offer. You will read depravity, blasphemies, curses etc.-which you thought an all powerful-God would never permit—many directed at yourself and your message. You will shudder and tremble at some of these-the very hair on your head may well stand on edge! Once again, immediately put these people on ‘ignore’-after having said a quick mental prayer of mercy for their sin-sick souls-posting the scripture passage referred to above.(Matt 12:36-37). Keep always in mind the scripture passage found in Phillipians 4:8 and the computer notation of GIGO. (‘Garbage in—Garbage out!’).

8. THE STRANGE WOMAN.

‘You mistress that have the office opposite to Saint Peter and keep the gates of hell’ (William Shakespeare -Othello iii, iv.88

‘For her house leads down to death and her paths to the spirits of the dead’ (Proverbs 2:19).

‘Applause is the spur of noble minds. The end and aim of weak ones’ (Charles Caleb Colton).

The police forces of this world are not the only ones who play the ‘game’ of ‘hard-cop-soft cop’-or divisions/variations of its formula.! From the beginning of human civilisation to the present day,Satan has been employing this method of seduction/intimidation on God’s people—and he has had, in his perverted lights, what he would call great ‘successes’ along the way. (I am sure you can think of many?).In your travels through the worldwide web, you will see this strategy in action at times. Sometimes he ‘glides’ into a room your are working- through the medium of ‘the female seductress’— who will invariably use a show of flattery and a great display of‘admiration’ for the work you are doing-’the courage’ you are showing etc.- in order to get your attention for promiscuous reasons of her own. On Other occasions, he will try and create a ‘fight scene’ through such persons-hoping that there will be a ‘kiss and make-up’ event afterwards. Yet again, on other occasions, you will receive a desperate plea for help from some disdraught housewife whose marriage is ‘on the rocks’-with a plethora of reasons given for her plight. By all means be sympathetic towards her as Christ would be—but offer any advice you may feel competent to give—by email only. Be smart!(You don’t have Christ’s spiritual power- power ‘without measure’of some 2,000 years ago!).

FLEE the first type-(I Corinthians 6:1)---handle with great care the latter. (Read Proverbs 5 for more detailed background information).

9. THE MENTALLY ILL.

And he had compassion.......(Matthew 9:13 ; Matthew 11:28-30).

‘There is a dark lantern of the spirit, which none see but those who bear it, that makes them in the dark see visions and hag themselves with apparitions, find racks for their own minds and vaunt themselves on their own misery and want’ (Butler-Introduction to ‘Nightmare Abbey by Thomas love peacock.).

‘Madness need not be all breakdown. It may also be break-through. It is potential liberation and renewal.....’ (R.D.Laing-British Psychiatrist ‘The politics of experience’’ch 16).What Laing meant here, is that it is in confronting ‘the demons of the mind’ that sanity is restored - though of course as most insanity is of a spiritual nature, Laing didn't fully understand the cause (and consequently, its true cure)-but he was aiming in the right direction.

Occasionally, you will come across some in the chatrooms who are –for one reason or another-mentally handicapped.(That is,whilst most of their ‘brain organic’ / personalities can function normally, one aspect of this arrangement can't, and its is generally just one). I refer to these dear souls as “the 'bruised reeds’ of the secular world” and who must be treated with double compassion-even if excessive evil**(which is usally the cause for many in their condition) is in attendance. The lower a man is in a pit—the more help he needs to get out of that pit.I say ‘double’-when perhaps I should have said ‘triple’-for in addition to ‘going the extra mile’ in their case as you try and explain the gospel to them-to show sympathy for their mental torment and confusion-or in exercising just plain patience if they don’t immediately understand it—it will be your duty to come to their aid, if and when you see others taking advantage of them /mocking them (Proverbs 31:9). You might like to address the ringleader of this uncharitable behaviour with a question along the following lines:’Friend, are you so inadequate that you find the need to make fun of someone less fortunate that youself. If you were in his shoes,would you like to be treated in this manner’? This will put him and the others to shame—even if their pride takes them a while to cease their actions. You will find that it eventually will produce results among the ‘regulars’ in each chatroom.(See under ‘Analysis of the human mind-a theological perspective for more backround material on this subject).** Of course,this is not the whole story. Many people are very evil indeed who don't go ‘clinically insane’(e.g.,the Mafia).

10. THE AGGRESSIVE.

‘Vis consil expers mole ruit sua’- Brute force without wisdom falls by its own weight’ (Horace, 65-8 B.C).

‘Do not...learn of his ways’ (Proverbs 22:24-25).

These types are divided in two catergories: (a) the ‘non-technically’ violent. (b) the technically violent

Group (a).For reasons best known to themselves-and possibly a few discerning psychiatrists from the non-vienna school(i.e not freud and co),-these folk feel the need to threaten your life with violence—either by shooting, knifeing or ‘garroting’-or wanting to run you down with their car!. They don’t go for your message—just for YOU!

Their language is the language of blood-of violence and killing for its own sake..

They are to be immediately placed on ‘ignore’-and left there –at least until they decide to join the mainstream of the human race. Remember to pray for their souls.

Group (b).

These chaps ‘present’ themselves in a room situation as ‘the fastest and most deadly ‘guns –not just’in the west’—but ‘in the north, south east and west’- of what constitutes the four ‘corners’ of the worldwide web. Like the ‘gunslingers’ of old, they ‘ride into town’ demanding ‘fear and respect’(and woe be to any ‘varmint’ who dares cross their path or as much as ‘blink’ an eye at them-or is seemingly trying to invade what they see as THEIR ‘hallowed’ territory!. ( ‘Cos we have the POWER ‘man’—-yep,sure do!’). They will have such IDs as ‘Hacker 42’-The devils own child’-or ‘The booter from hell’‘’etc. etc. As you will be seen (because of your posts),to be openly ‘challenging’ their power-‘muscling in’ on their patch’you will become a prime target. of their wrath! ( I forget the many times they have ‘booted’ me out of a room or ‘froze’ my screen. (One even hacked into my personal files!! ) On another occasion I was sent a virus to destroy my computer. So how do you deal with such people?. On the assumption that you have all the technological safeguards available to you,you must continue with your work and trust in God for your protection (though if the providence of God allows you to be ‘kicked’out’ etc. of a room-‘boot-up’ again and go to another),*. you can re-visit the vacated room later —if ‘billy-the-kid’ has ‘saddled-up’and hit the ‘dust-trail’ to some other ‘town’!-or his momma has commenced to ‘spoon feed’ him his weetabix. *Horace is perfectly correct-this type usually falls prey to their own devices.(A bigger and less belligerent ‘gun-slinger’ etc 'comes to town’-sooner or later and chases them out of chatrooms!).

11. THE SELF-DECLARED APOSTATE.

Much I muse, how bitter can spring up where sweet is sown’ (Dante-Paradise,c8).

‘And some fell among thorns.....’ (Matthew 13:7).

These are people who once believed they were Christians and now hate 'Christianity’ lock stock and barrel’. They will invariably inform you of the hypocrisy and sin they witnessed at the church they once attended and have now proceeded to ‘tar’ the whole church abroad with the same brush. They are indeed very bitter and hateful - and your heart will go out to them - for whilst there may be truth in their allegations, it is patently clear that - at least as far as they are concerned they are suffering needlessly (seeing they were almost certainly never Christians in the first place; something you will quickly detect from their usual total lack of understanding). I have never met a true child of God in this attitude during my three years of service on the internet. You will also come across one or two who are labouring under the notion that they have somehow committed ‘the unpardonable sin’and are now ‘beyond the pale’ of God’s love, forgiveness and mercy. A confident reassurance that in all probability this is not the case can be most helpful.(Point out to them the extreme rarity of this sin against the Holy Spirit –and if that they are at all worried by the matter,then most assuredly it can never apply in their case). It is also helpful to explain the difference between ‘awakening’ by the spirit and regeneration. Try and strike up a relationship with them-and deal with any questions they may have via email-if only initially.

12. BLACK AND WHITE ‘WITCHES’ (AND OTHERS).

‘The devil will fetch me now in fire, my witchcrafts to atone; And I,who have rifled the dead man’s grave, shall never have rest of my own’ (Robert Southey-English poet-Old woman of Berkeley).

‘Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord’ (Deuteronomy 18:9-12).

‘The nights are wholesome; then no planets strike, no fairy tales, nor witch hath power to charm, so hallow’d and so gracious is the time’ (William shakespeare.Hamlet).

Claiming to possess contact with supernatural powers- in one degree or another - and the ability to use these powers (either good or evil-for or against- their fellow man), you will encounter sundry versions of theses groups/individuals from time to time..

BLACK WITCHES- Also called ‘Satanists (because they openly profess to worship Satan and his demons) They posses their own ‘bible’- which is nothing but a blasphemous parody and inversion of God’s word. They are deadly serious about what they believe-but will seldom confront you (and 'no prizes’ for guessing why!--for in our case ‘hallowed and gracious is the time’!). It is recommended that you do not spend too much time in their company-quickly putting them on ‘ignore’ if no sympathetic response to your posting-or indeed email address- is forthcoming. (These also have their own chatrooms).

WHITE WITCHES-. These come in various presentations-from individuals operating on their own-to wiccan covens having their own priestly system, bible, rituals, prayers. They are essentially ‘pantheistic’ (i.e.God is in everything and everything is God).Many claim to be the allies of Christianity-and can be found often in Christian chat trying to seek common ground. Some have been known to have been converted to Christianity-so don’t be surprised if your help is solicited for this purpose sometime.(These too have chatrooms of their own).

OTHERS-(a). By others I mean, the individual medium claiming to have contact with the dead and possessing the ability to receive ‘messages’ on your behalf from them.(I don’t think I need detain you here---as I am sure you already know what an abomination to God this is (Deuteronomy 8:19-Isaiah 8:19-20).-and the outright satanic deceit and lying behind it all-especially if he has seen fit to call you to the task of evangelism!!)

----‘Others’ (b).‘Miss Dracula’-or ‘look daddy, what big ,sharp, white, pointy - teeth I have’!—Heee heee heeee! As implied,these are mostly young women(17-19)*** who come into chatrooms with Yahoo ID’s such as ‘The Bride of Satan’ or ‘Miss Dracula’-or sadly, some other ones which is not permissible for a man of God to utter.

They usually display a fanged-faced picture in their profile in which they show themselves in gothic make-up and dress-along with an invitation, beckoning you to go to their websites-websites which on entering. you will find to be heralded with screams and shouts-generally accompanied by a 'blood-dripping’,'fire licking’ sign which reads in large capitals:WELCOME TO HELL!!’!.They also have a ‘neat’ line in coffins too -black ‘constructs’ with pink lining-which is either occupied by a photograph of themselves or a hollywood generated photograph of their beloved palfaced ‘count’-clutching a timber cross -and not a stake or a white-collared exorcist in sight! For your ministerial purposes,you show know that they are essentially a collection of ‘arrested delinquents’-and whilst some indeed do live out their sick fantasies-it is hoped that one day they will remove the teeth, makeup and capes -and grow up!! (A helping hand to this effect would not be amiss on your part!).However, some few practice mediumship and you should post a condemnation of this fact if and when it comes to your attention.*** In my three years of work on the internet,I have found that the most blasphemous and wicked individuals I have come across, invariably, fit the following profile:Female-,white,aged circa seventeen-encompassing all economic and social backgrounds.(Thankfully,they are few in number!!!).

‘The man who follows the crowd will usually get no further than the crowd. The man who walks alone is likely to find himself in places no one ever has’ (Alan-Ashley Pitt).

‘Be strong and of good courage...for the Lord thy God is with you wherever you go’(Joshua 1:9).

‘If I testify to them the truth of God and they reject it...If I faithfully preach his truth and they scorn it,my ministry is not therefore void........for even in the punishment of those rebels he will be glorified’ (C.H.Spurgeon).

If God has called you as an internet ‘apologist to his ‘motley’- and sometimes bedraggled – flock, then welcome to the club!! (This has been the core of my ministry for some time now—and what an eye-opener it has been!!) Prepare yourself for shock or two-if you are new to all of this!

So, to sum up, what is Christian chat? What , so to speak, are its ‘constitutients parts’?

Christian chat is declared by Yahoo to be; ‘A public forum for discussion of the Christian faith’- though one can really sympathise with a visitor to this chatroom if he can't make ‘head or tail’ of it all! This is to say,Christian chat is a veritable ‘babylon’ of nominal and experiential Christianity—with a liberal collection of the reprobates (in various stages of degenerancy) of the world’ thrown-in’. Furthermore, it often resembles a ‘battleground’as these conflicting ideas and attitudes seek desperately for preeminence over one another-ofttimes ,sadly, with ‘no holds barred’!! Indeed,the room should more accurately be retitled: 'A public forum for possible discussion on occasions of the Christian faith-during those times when they are not tearing each other apart’.

So in order to deal with this confusing and often aggressive admix of personalities and ideas,some rigid form of structure and content (based on the unshakeable word of God) must be rigidly imposed on its occupants. Otherwise, you will fail.

As an evangelist, therefore, you will need to observe and apply the following procedures:

(a) Be diligent and hardworking in all that you do-God expects this of you (See Jeremiah 48:10)!.

(b) ‘Know your ‘flock’, especially spiritually**-make a rough sketch in a notebook of the characteristics and beliefs of the regulars you come across each day.(Choose any friendships you may make with great care-for many are of the temporary ‘fair-weather’ variety and will sooner or later commence to attack both you and your gospel message, if they don't agree with its contents etc). But do cherish as of great worth those few faithful souls who occasionally are prepared to fight ‘shoulder to shoulder’ with you. They are God’s blessing to you-recognise this fact.

(c) Note and apply the appropriate‘posting’ instructions given above for secular chatrooms.

(d) Posting in your ‘specialist’ area of responsibility (be it biblical truths refuting the error/dangers of the charismatic-ecumenical movement-the heresies of the anti-trinitarians,those who deny Jesus is God,the personality of the Holy Spirit etc.etc.), you need to be wholly singleminded in your approach-despite the sometimes fierce opposition you will receive from ‘Christians’ and non-Christians alike.

(e) Don’t get involved with time-wasting or contentious people-with those who only want to further their heretical and sinful views-or who are just there to ‘score points’ to boost their own egos.(Rather, point them to your websites-or refer back to some biblical passage you have just posted, in case they missed seeing it). However,difficult though it may be in the rapid transit of your posts and the oft-times anger hatred/invective they can generate, try to be awake to the serious and humble seeker after truth-the ‘bruised reed’ whom we must tenderly support and not break.(Isaiah 42:3).

(f) Always make sure that your posts contain as much direct quotes from the word of God as possible - for whilst you may be an ‘ace’ at logic and rhetoric-its all a mere ‘shadow’ compared to the ‘sun’ that is the spirit ,energy and revelator of whose words you are trying to defend. (As Spurgeon put it:”Defend the Bible? I would sooner defend a lion!") See also Isaiah 55:10-11.

(g) Therefore, make good use of the authority of the word (for this is the only authority you have), and use your God-given talents and gifts to put it across in a bold and confident manner. You must not be afraid, when necessary, to publicly ‘name names’ of those who preach heresy or who are blatantly persisting in sin – yet call themselves ‘Christians’(SeeTitus 1:13,Titus 2:15;Rev 3:19) This will be the hardest thing you will ever have to do during the whole course of your ministry and you will be persecuted, vilified, slandered, cursed, ostracized and hated for it.-even called at times ‘a child of the devil’- ‘an evangelist of Satan’. A Whole room will ‘gang-up’ on you at times - sadly often to the extent of so-called fellow brothers and sisters joining- in with the reprobate of the world in their unjust attacks on you.(how shameful!) You will be often ‘booted-out’ of rooms, ’frozen-out’ or even be sent viruses to destroy your computer. But ‘stick to your guns’ and don’t give an inch of ground to the enemy!. (However, make doubly certain at all times that those you ‘name and shame’ are worthy of your correction. If you fail to do this - not only will it be sin - but you won't have the faith and confidence required to endure their continual onslaughts).

It is not easy being a solo evangelist, taking on ‘the whole world’- and your very survival depends upon being exact and precise in what you do and say. Even then, there will be days you wish that you were ‘never born’-as the pressure and isolation mounts up. But persevere in wisdom—God is with you and he will see you through-but he fully expects you to use all yours wits and talents too! (As John Wayne once quipped ‘Life is tough. It is even tougher if you’re stupid’).

And the pressure will mount-up to the point that you will be unable to bear it - as the wounds of battle produce discouragement and dejection - tears and heartbreak. The apostle Paul found this also to be the case as he relates in 2 Corinthians 1:8. So be mindful, therefore, that this is a trial God is putting you through so that you don’t rely on yourself, but on him-‘who raises the dead’ (2Corinthians 1:9). To be sure, it is a painful lesson we have to learn—very painful-but a necessary one if we are to let Christ be developed in our character. It we are to be loyal and faithful to the task he has given us to do. (The good news is that God will restore you to your former condition before this severe trial came upon you for -’He wounded but his hands make whole’ Job 5:18). So ‘hang-in’ there--all is going to be fine - in God’s good time!

Do your work with joy and try to cultivate a sense of humour! For whilst working for God is indeed a sober affair, this doesn't mean we must go about our business with ‘heavy hearts’ and the countenance of an ageing mortician who wished he had died in his youth! (Perish the thought!) No, God’s Spirit within us is also the spirit of joy-and whilst this spirit is cultivated by the exercise of the graces - we can, at times, sprinkle them so to speak with the wholesome ‘spices’ of the intellect and human personality. Furthermore, it will greatly add to the acceptance of the Gospel message when people who esteem you to be a humourless ‘Holy Joe’-or one of God’s teeth -flashing dobermans (if you work in ‘confrontational’ Apologetics), will say - ’Hey, this fellow has a sense of humour’-I just wonder why he is so serious etc.about the other stuff he goes on and on about!..Hmmmm-beats me’! Here is an example of what I mean: Whilst posting/preaching in a room, you discover that someone is given to pre-judging people-and though he/she may or may not be right in their estimation, they shouldn't be doing such a thing! You could try to correct them indirectly along the following lines - if they appear to be aggressive or just plain ‘dull of hearing’:

!). ‘In Ireland, many believe in fairies - whose king we are informed goes by the name of HIMSELF. So if you see an Irishman alone in the street, talking out loud and waving his hands about in a seeming agitated manner, never automatically assume he is mad. Rather, he could be perfectly sane and may just be talking to HIMSELF.' (So who is into pre-judging people in here?) Hopefully,they might as they say, ‘get the message’- if not, a few others will!

Also, if the room in which you are working is of a ‘souless’dour nature-you might ‘lighten-it-up’ with a judcious use of a post at the right time-to get people to at least laugh! (For humour has a miraculous way of loosening the chains of the intellect, personality and spirit--as God clearly informs us in Proverbs 15:13.)

Here is one more instance of an ‘ice’breaker’-which in turn can be placed ‘on its head’ to lead to a serious debate.( However you must use humour very sparingly - for we are ‘Men of the Book’--not public comedians!).*If aliens are so intelligent, why do they abduct the dumbest people? (So who on here believes in aliens?).

Terence B. Ellard

(This is part of a much longer article by Terence, and I am grateful to Terence for allowing me to use a large part of his article on our website).