By Toni Star

I am convinced that if Christ were physically walking on earth in this the 21st century, he would be using the Internet in wondrous and creative ways to help others in need, witness and save souls! Just as evil is being used every day in insidious and dark ways on the Internet to influence and harm the young and all ages, forces that work for good such as online Christian witnessing and evangelizing on various Christian sites, can and are, being used to bring souls to Christ.

Some might ask, what is online witnessing and how can it be of real help? A good definition can be found from www.allaboutGod.com , in an article titled, “Christian Witnessing: Matter of the Heart,” retrieved April 10, 2008: “Christian witnessing is merely sharing our heartfelt faith in Christ—what He’s personally done to change our individual lives!” The article goes on to state three important elements about witnessing and they are written in bold letters:

“Christian Witnessing—It’s Not About Intellect Or Debate Skills, Christian Witnessing----Share Simply As A Child And Christian Witnessing----The Power Of Our Story Rests In Jesus Alone.”

What powerful words! I might also add that the best way to witness as a Christian is the way you live your everyday life. Everything you say, do, write and even body language, reflect whether you are ‘for’ or ‘against’ Christ.

We’ve all met people who have witnessed to us and found it to be either effective and comforting, or pompous and self-serving. It seems that those who witness the best reflect some of these qualities-- open, caring, good listening skills and are kind and helpful.

Perhaps the online site, www.whitestonejournal.com offers some good insights for effective on or offline witnessing. Here are just a few of the twelve ways offered: Do your job well, Be loving, Know the gospel and practice it, Be joyful and happy and Avoid all illusion and pretense. In my opinion, the last one is the best because when we acknowledge our failures and doubts and join that with a genuine attempt to seek and serve Christ and His Father, God, we present a powerful witness!

Many Christians know about the power and effectiveness of using blogs and websites but perhaps there are those who are unaware of the many Christian websites that are available, that offer great Christian/Bible online sources of information.

There are many great Bible sites where one can read the Bible daily, weekly or monthly. Just check out these Bible sites. I use several of these often when writing Christian articles and stories or just when I want to read them online. Bible.com and BibleGateway.com are two of the best online sites when seeking Christian help. With Bible.com you have the following: Bible Resources, a Daily Devotional, a Christian Community link, a Prayer Room, Bible.com Ministries, Bible.com Inc. and e-Newsletters.

With BibleGateway.com you have some of following website resources: The Quick Search Tool—where one can find Bible passages or certain words one is looking for, Verse of the Day, Recent BibleGateway.com news, and an online tool where you can “listen” to the Bible.

Online websites such as Faithwriter’s, and The Lookout are two additional Christian sites that offer contests, free writing helps, wonderful Christian and other articles that stimulate the mind, are interesting and very helpful. Many Christian sites also offer groups that one can join, where sharing of one’s faith and helpful tidbits can be given. Faithwriter’s offers a free weekly writing contest that is fun and a great way to share one’s faith and beliefs. There is so much that can be done on these Christian sites that are free and that offer a way to connect with other Christians.

Another interesting and helpful Christian site is www.ourchurch.com. Some of what you will find on this site are daily Bible stories, C.H. Spurgeon’s Devotionals, Daily Christian Articles, and Christian News

Having a Christian blog, I can tell you that I have received many kind responses from readers, thanking me for the Christian articles I’ve written; some writing that I’ve helped them get closer to Christ and others writing such words as: “I didn’t know that was in the Bible” or “Is it really that way when one is a Christian?” If you are interested in beginning a blog—Christian or otherwise—go to www.blogger.com.

Keep in mind that most blogs are free, easy to start up and you can write and share your Christian point of view. Of course, common sense and presenting one’s work clearly and truthfully will help bring others to your site. And always, check out the “rules of engagement before posting and publishing anything!

A note of caution needs to be made about blogs or websites. Online writing can be addictive and one may think that whatever one writes—be it Christian or otherwise—is alright. But, it is best to be judicious about the words one writes. And, always keep your reader in mind. What you find offensive concerning religious topics, others might also. Even with non-Christian writing, the writer needs to be cautious and disciplined in what one writes.

As an example, Kevin Alexander (2008) in a Writer’s Digest article titled, Instant Blogification, writes about his experience with writing a blog for Writer’s Digest, “A blog is a complicated beast, filled with meta-narrative moments, unbridled prose and emoticons. The immediacy is what’s so addicting. Write it down, press post and instantaneously your work is out there. ….” He goes on to write, “But that instant gratification leads down a slippery slope without discipline and the ability to stay focused.”

Mr. Alexander goes on to write about the need to set word counts and deadlines for the completion of one’s work. And, he makes notice the importance, occasionally, of feedback, to help “stay on point.” As with anything in life, if discipline and planning are injected into one’s work, the work will most likely turn out to be more interesting and effective.

In addition, there are some helpful ideas about writing a good blog that come from www.ChurchCommunicationsPro.com Titles of some current posts are: “Why I Suggest Pastors Use Blogger.com,” Blogging as the Spiritual Disciple of Journaling,” “Using Photos in Blog Posts,” and “On Blogging Goals and Strategies.”

Another note of caution needs to be made about scams. Unfortunately, scams occur on many websites and blogs and the writer needs to be aware of this and proceed with caution. The best way to avoid any scam—be it Christian or otherwise is to do a search on the site’s name. Often such a search will reveal if the site is true or false, helpful or hurtful. Two sites that offer information on scams are: www.scambusters.org and www.quackwatch.com.

But saying all that, I can’t emphasize enough the power of online Christian witnessing. As a Christian, I have learned so much from such sites as Sprit Led, The Lookout, and several of the online TV evangelistic sites. These sites often have archives of sermons and articles that are inspiring and helpful, that add to one’s Christian faith. Devotionals, spiritual testimony, links to other Christian websites, etc help to make online witnessing and searching for the truth—fast, easy, interesting and extremely helpful.

With so many of us living hurried and busy lives, blogs and websites can be helpful and a life saver; connecting us to online Christian sites where we can witness or be witnessed to, the Gospel and more of Christ’s life.

Jesus was and still is the Word and because His life story is never-ending, finding online Christian witnessing helps, can inspire and help those who want to expand their witnessing tools and knowledge. Keying in such words to the “Search Engine” as –online witnessing, Jesus Christ, Bible knowledge and Christian help, can bring a “world” of information to you at the “click of a finger.”

Other good online Christian sites you may want to check out are: Fish the Net, www.ourchurch.com and Women of Spirit, Most of these sites offer ways to share one’s faith, do some writing or simply research areas of concern.

In addition to checking out online witnessing and Christian websites, one can also become a part of online church groups and if interested, write a Christian testimony or perhaps an article. However, with online church groups be sure to check out the site thoroughly before you commit yourself.

Always keep in mind the power of the written Word! Be a part of spreading His Word by checking out the power and effectiveness of online witnessing and online writing…Remember, “your” words may be the very ones that someone is seeking and could transform their lives, forever!

And, as all Christians know, when you accept Christ into your life, He lives within you and when you witness, be it on or offline, you are working and representing, Him. Therefore there should be no need to fear; for He will give you the words to write and from those words, the “power” that will transform and brings others to Him..

References:

www.allaboutGod.com Christian Witnessing—Matter of the Heart (2002). Retrieved April 15, 2008

www.blogger.com Creation of Blogs

www.ChurchCommunicationsPro.com Free Church Marketing Ideas Blog. (2006)
Retrieved April 15, 2008.

www.ourchurch.com Christian Witness (2007). Retrieved April 15, 2008.

www.scambusters.org Internet Scams: How to Protect Yourself. (2008) Retrieved April 15, 2008.

www.quackwatch.com Online Scams (1996). Retrieved April 15, 2008.

www.womenofspirit.com.

www.whitestonejournal.com An Effective Witness of the Gospel. (2008). Retrieved April 15, 2008.

Copyright Toni Star 2009