It used to be that Christians had to sail across an ocean to preach the gospels.
Then they had to go door to door.
Now they just have to log in to the internet.
As the world, work, and relationships go increasingly online, churches have been one of the meeting spaces that have largely remained in-person. And while clips of pastors and religious figures are shared far and wide online, Christians still rely on those real life connections to score conversions and get new butts in the pews on Sunday.
Increasingly, however, religious groups are wading into a frontier that… okay, well, many have gone before: The internet.
Mission to the Metaverse
One church is taking a unique approach, offering a mission trip that takes place entirely in the metaverse.
“In this age of technological innovation and digital connections, it’s time for the Church to step into a new frontier,” wrote River City Church of Vancouver, Washington on their website. “As believers, we are called to bring the light of Jesus into every corner of our world, and the Metaverse is no exception.”
Describing their digital mission as a “unique opportunity for believers to unite and spread the love of Jesus in the virtual realm,” River City Church says that the mission will foster connections and help missionaries share Christ’s love unconstrained by practical limitations like physical distance and time zones.
The mission is believed to be the first of its kind.
While it’s still unclear how exactly the mission will work, the church has released some details.
Missionaries will be required to watch missionary training videos and then spend upwards of 10 hours per week in virtual reality spaces preaching the gospel of Jesus.
“By embracing this new frontier,” the church argues, “we can pave the way for a new era of evangelism and discipleship that leverages the power of technology to bring the hope and love of Jesus Christ to a world in need.”
God Logs On
While it sounds silly to some, it’s an approach that missionaries find to be tried and true: meeting people where they spend most of their time.
While this particular church is venturing out into the world of virtual reality, others are meeting potential converts in an adjacent online space: video games.
In 2018, we wrote about a video game streamer who preaches about Jesus while playing popular new video games to thousands of viewers. And last year we wrote about the only video game which could potentially save your mortal soul: a ‘Jesus simulator’ called “I Am Jesus Christ”.
That game literally lets gamers walk in Jesus’ shoes (err, sandals), performing miracles to keep your Holy Spirit meter filled and Satan at bay. The developers say this is a sincere effort to both be a fun video game, but also to present the life of Jesus accurately.
Of course, some pastors have balked at the idea of letting gamers play as Jesus; anyone with an understanding of gamers and gamer culture would rightly be hesitant. But there are others who see value in trying to reach a difficult audience through unconventional means.
As Baptist pastor Josh Towns of Vancouver, B.C. says, “there are people that might never go to church or listen to a sermon or broach Christianity at all, but they might download the video game and play it.”
Still, he isn’t sold – at least not yet. He has questions about the accuracy of the game, and fears it may water down the story. “I don’t like taking liberties with the story and life of Jesus,” he says.
What do you think? Is embracing digital technology a good strategy for faith organizations to adopt? And is it possible that these digital experiences can be as meaningful and personal as in-person engagement?
40 comments
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Kenneth Eagle Spirit
If it's a tool that can be used to better a person's life then I'm all for it. Some people stand in need of a "religious" experience. Using the web for that is fine. Personally I don't adhere to any religion. But I've seen it, religion, fill voids and give purpose to people's lives. If using the web can help bring that about I say go for it.
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Lionheart
The Harry Potter books changed my children's lives, so I know what you mean, Kenneth.
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Rev. Kev
Meh. The internet, and social media in particular, is a vast wasteland of useless garbage, charlatans, misinformation, hate and division. It was originally seen as the gateway to spreading knowledge to help people learn more and grow. But the overflow of knowledge and the end user's inability to discern fact from fiction made that dream fade away quickly.
Of all the things Christianity should NOT do, it's wade into that cesspool. It's even worse than the awful rise of the megachurch and televangelists. You can't have a spiritual family or make meaningful, human connections in a church the size of a football stadium, or with some person on your TV. That applies even more to a computer or phone. As with every corner of the internet, the trolls and haters will come along just out of mindless spite.
Churches started out as small, spiritual communities. They met to pray and sing and share. They gathered food and clothing to help the poor and needy. Bishops and deacons were chosen from the local community. Those were not full-time, paid jobs. No one got rich scamming people. It would be difficult to even manage since one would quickly be found out and ostracized if they tried to do so. Unfortunately, that all changed over time as ties with the Empire and the rise of Orthodoxy consolidated power within the growing Church.
IMO Christianity should go back to those small, personalized, spiritual communities. Everyone should know everyone else. Bishops should go back to being virtual shepherds who sincerely watch over the welfare of their small "flock". It shouldn't be a business. It shouldn't even need a tax exempt status. It shouldn't be collecting huge sums of money that goes to a church bank account, somewhere. All a church needs is a home or donated space to meet. If the group becomes too large then a new bishop and deacons are chosen to lead some of the group to a new place to carry on. Keep it small and local. Members should donate food and clothing, and other items to be given out every week to the poor and needy. Christianity needs to go back to its roots and shake off the vestments of corruption and greed it has taken on all these past centuries.
Our society is (as others are) clearly going in the wrong direction with all this. Christianity is only speeding up its demise by following suit.
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Keith Allen Steele Eash
Rev. Kev. Communities are moving back to small spiritual monastic centered groups in the last 20 years. Small Catholic religious communities with a contemplative community and secular domestic groups united to those communities are growing. But, they also have always existed. The Benedictines have always had lay members that take on living outside the community as promised members in a type of lay third order. Franciscans have been doing it for centuries. The Carmelities have such groups as well. We're going back to the way the Church was established along monastic groups.
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Ronaldo
I don't subscribe to any social media sites, but I use the internet for research quite often. It contains a lot of useful technical information, media reviews, college courses, recipes, and relatively unbiased news (if you know where to look). I'm often paid for my research because I seem to be better at it than many others. Yes, a lot of the internet, especially on the entertainment side, is a wasteland, but that doesn't mean all of it.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
This is nothing new. I recently listed to Twin Flames https://wondery.com/shows/twin-flames/ about a young couple with no money ministered through Meta and became wealthy while ruining peoples lives. Interesting story about how a nobody all of sudden is making a lot of money and becomes Christ. Is he Christ? Some believe he is and do everything they are told.
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
religion: if it looks like a cult, walks like a cult...quacks like a cult...
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Colleen McAllister
Nothing takes the place of in person engagement but using the cyber world to witness is fine. As long as there is follow up to ensure the "converts" receive proper instruction.
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
you mean new cult members
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Lionheart
Yes, true indoctrination is best in person, followed up with regular visits to ensure that they don't slip back into using logic and reason. Ensure they fully grasp the concept of Hell, it's one of the best ways to put the fear of god in them to make sure they stay on the crooked path and not go back to normality.
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Keith Allen Steele Eash
Get a life.
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Lionheart
I have, thank you, Keith. My life now consists of helping people to recover from the trauma caused by religion. You’d be amazed how many people, world wide, need that help. 🤗
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John D. Partin
The "uncrooked" path and normality is alcoholism, drug addiction, crimes to get money for drugs, domestic violence, child abuse and molestation, rape, murder, bestiality, sex trafficking, abortion, dishonesty in government and selling used cars and doing taxes, and all of the other thousands of crimes and sins that worldly unbelieving people (inside the church and outside of it) are doing every day, since they aren't "blinded by Christianity's foolish teachings and on that crooked path".
Quite obviously, in reality, though, their and your calling Christianity "foolishness" and "a crooked path" is the whole pot factory calling a single kettle "black", considering what all of you do and are!! You are, clearly, far more indoctrinated and brainwashed than you say that Christians are and should fix yourselves first, if you can do it without Christ, before you comment on Christians.
Hell is merely the consequences of how people choose to live and think, even if you and other people don't think that there should be any consequences for any of that and that we should live in a consequence free universe, which is unrealistic and unreasonable and never going to happen!!
Hell doesn't stop existing because you and other people don't believe in it and doesn't care about your unbelief, which is how it wants you to "think", anyway. In fact, it works better and more unobstructedly when you don't believe in it because, then, you don't take any precautions against it, as all of those people listed above and more don't take any precautions against it, and arrive there more certainly!!
All of that sin and crime above is your idea of "using logic and reason" and only those who are against all of that are "the unreasonable and illogical", according to you. That is where lack of fear of God and straying away from Christianity's "crooked path" gets all of you, and more so, as with the Nazis and Communists and serial killers, when you follow your ungodliness more exactly than with others who don't follow it that exactly. Come out of your indoctrination and brainwashing!!!
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
proof or its all made-up nonsense
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John D. Partin
There is no proving anything to someone who isn't open to any evidence and can look at the most obvious and suggestive facts that the mindless universe can't do anything for itself and still say that "there is no God behind it".
You and other atheists and Satanists and non-believers can prove to yourselves that there is survival of death and so the existence of Hell by going to notoriously haunted locations and experiencing paranormal phenomena for yourselves and being scared to death or driven insane, as has happened to other skeptics who doubted the existence of ghosts, and run screaming from the place.
But you won't do so because of cowardice and not really wanting to see or experience any evidence, anyway, and be shaken out of your little world. There is no shortage of evidence for God, life after death, Heaven, and Hell, but the problem is with your and other people's attitude and not being open to the evidence.
That makes you see "no evidence for any of it", like a person with their eyes tightly shut out in the broad daylight and saying "There is no sun because I don't see any light from it anywhere".
You are a Satanist and that tells us everything that we need to know about your non-existent "comprehension" and "powers of perception", since Satanism is as ridiculous as a Jew who believes in Nazism and loves Nazis and "thinks" that they are his friends. Satan and the devils hate us and want to destroy us, and don't suddenly love us and want to help us just because you and other people have deluded yourselves that they do.
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Keith Allen Steele Eash
Amazing. The Catholic Church was the first that started doing evangelizing on the internet.
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Thomas Edwin Peterson
Media of all types can be used to educate , communicate and enhance many lives.
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Nicholas J Page
What about the elderly and disabled who for whatever reason cannot attend a church im all for it it's the digital age and has been for a long time.So yes as long as it's done by a reckonised church and it's not a scam asking for donations.
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
looks like that leaves out every damn religion except one...satanism, baby!!
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Paul Edward Nunis
The elderly and shut-in used to be visited personally and regularly by their pastors. That was before megacorp-super churches, and clergy in Mercedes.
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John Condron
This is nothing new. The LDS church owned multiple "sims" (simulators) in Second Life at least ten years ago.
The online world is chock full of disaffected people. Such folks have always been targets for cult indoctrination, making the "metaverse" a wonderful hunting ground for religious predators.
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Wellness Counselor
It is a sign of the times! The missionaries don’t miss anyone! Online ministry is a fairly new concept. Build it and they will come. There are many people who don’t feel welcomed at church. The people judge and their belief stand guard at the front door of the church. But, have no fear. If the door shut..the missionaries will build a window!
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Merlin
You know what happened to dinosaurs.
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James John Flaherty
Yes need to share Jesus message to all who may seek. It wherever
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Bing Cote Eagle
2 points: First, I take issue with any group who feel compelled by their arrogance to to bring"their light" to every corner of the world. Second, having experienced just how pushy and invasive this group can be collectively, I wonder how long it will take them to flood the internet with messages, spam and fake articles used as click bait to further annoy people with their message.
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Emily Roberta Heard
If it is for the better then I am all for it, sometimes we have to do, what makes us uncomfortable to save souls.
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Donald G Magel
Did stoning non-believers make you uncomfortable?
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Ronald David Viles
You all sound like a bunch of complainers to me...Just walk in faith or don't walk at all........
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Carlos D Bonilla
God guided me to open a online ministry time ago With His Grace, today I have two online ministry , reaching 140,000 people, over 22 different countries. Thanks God Facebook—-AGUA VIVA CARLOS BONILLA
YOUTUBE CHANNEL: CURIOSO POR JESUCRISTO?
Carlos. Bonilla.
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Barbara Weteska
i think it is dangerous kind of like mocking Jesus.. God isnt a game..God is life
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Barbara Weteska
unbelievable. if it helps ok but i tend to think it is going the wrong way.. just my opinion so dont get your undies bunched up
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Tanya Redfield
If I am going to do mission work, I want it to impact real lives and not just line the pockets of a programmer. You don't have to go far or spend a lot to do good. There are people on your own block who could use a casserole or even just some company. Just my thoughts. Mission work isn't about making the giver feel good. That is just a lovely side effect of knowing you made someone else's life better.
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Najah P Tamargo
Minister Najah Tamargo I personally have seen the good and the bad that the internet can be, The "Metaverse" is a different matter. A friend of mine had a son and was given one of those headpieces for Christmas. I tried it. I didn't even last two minutes! It made me dizzy, by balance was thrown off and I was slightly sick to my stomach. There are so many predators, thieves, scam artists, hate mongers and other such people out there, I would be highly suspicious of such an activity.
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Paul Edward Nunis
Yes... churches have come a long way since selling relic indulgences in the previous centuries.
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Robert White
I think this was a great idea
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Katherine Neville
I believe it is a good idea as long as the physical still happens. Good to try it and see the outcome.
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Victoria P Ayon
Personally I don't believe in religion,the hypocrisy, scandal,rhetoric, in&out of church. I believe Faith in God & Jesus Christ as our Saviour. I had ?'s on the Bible(KJ-T-L8t Hubby Educ) asked all clergy I could think of, only 1 gave an answer(no sermon) a Rabbi at that time in my life I was searching again for yet another church ironically it was the Rabbi who clarified fellowship worship & Faith to me said that 'people' misinterpreted several passages that 1 doesn't 'have' to go to church to worship fellowship or have faith in the Lord how religion is man-made Faith is in you this was 15-20yrs ago he answered my ?'s and gave me a renewed sense of hope while at the same time reassuring me that just because I was pissed off at God said some pretty mean things that God still loved me He knew I was angry,confused, hurt,scared,empty,lonely,(me against the world) lost,betrayed,and tired I felt like I had lost my faith a faith I had since I was a toddler that I argued for defended to my dad(agnostic??) he walked away from his church/faith when his mom&my little sister(4mos)died never went back, me?? I RAGED as only I knew how to I shut out the world shut people off friend's family everything just gone I think God knew I couldn't handle 1more death,crisis,fight, loss,attack I didn't have any more of anything left in me I was drained emotionally physically mentally I could literally feel my soul in pain I needed a break from all that was placed on my shoulders it took a few yrs or so I'm still not strong enough to withstand some things yet but I feel my intestinal fortitude gaining strength every day. I don't know if that Rabbi is around/alive anymore(he was quite old) because I think of how much he helped me to understand God I remember him saying if you just think of God the same way you do your parents then you know that no matter what He's going to Love and Forgive you just keep the Faith, I would really love to hug him and tell him thank you again for helping a little lost sheep find her way home. Always in my Heart, 💖💋💖💋🙏😇 Victoria Ayon
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Victoria P Ayon
Personally I don't believe in religion,the hypocrisy, scandal,rhetoric,in&out of church.I believe Faith in God & Jesus Christ as our Saviour. I had some ?'s on the Bible(KJ-T-L8t Hubby Educ Deacon)I went to all clergy I could for help with my ?'s certain passages verse's only 1gave me a response(no sermon)that fit into the ?'s I asked, a Rabbi he explained his answers and clarified them so I had an understanding of both answer&question he talked with me not to me he didn't belittle me nor did he try to make me feel guilty for questioning churches/clergy the pope why there are different religions/churches etc..I had been thru like 7-10 different churches by this time he said I was searching for a place to belong/fit-in I said no I just want a church where parishioners aren't hypocritical, arrogant, evil, backsliding,selfish rude, frauds,egregious heartless faithless heathens immoral ministers who aren't chauvinistic,vain,hedonistic misogynistic, narcissistic, hypocritical, parasitic, do as I say not as I do holier than thou, lack values, manners, courtesy, respect, decency, church etiquette I know that nobody is perfect but I would think that a preacher should be held to certain standards after all he's the leader of the flock Parishioners shouldn't be talking about who's sleeping with whom or the clothes,shoes cars that folks have don't get me started on they speak about other people's kids but when try to point out you're in a church this is not the place where you talk about/gossip like a mad wet-hen thought the saying goes being as y'all claim to be good God fearing Christians 1st Christian to be Christ like 2 Jesus never talked about what anyone was wearing etc... 3 claiming Christian but act un-Christian/anti-Christian and I may be old-fashioned old-school but I'll be damned if I walk into God's house being disrespectful, disreputable, hypocritical,or talking smack I'd expect God to reach out of the Heaven's and smack me upside the head hit me with a lightning bolt send Gabriel to come"talk" to me and yes I do envision thing's like that happening. While we're on this particular item Parent's out there y'all need to start taking your kid's to task(spank) unless of course y'all really don't care about your kids one way or another but I'll bet y'all will start caring when y'all got to pick out a casket or put money on their books STOP BLAMING EVERYONE/EVERYTHING ELSE IT'S Y'ALLS FAULT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE EVIL DEMON-SPAWN YOU BROUGHT INTO THIS WORLD YOU LAYED DOWN TIME FOR YOU TO STAND UP SPARE THE ROD AND ALL NO PEOPLE AREN'T SAYING BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF YOUR KIDS BUT THEY DO HAVE A BUTT A WELL PLACED SMACK ON THE BACKSIDE GOES A LONG WAY TO HAVING A KID GET SOME ACT RIGHT FOR SOME OF Y'ALL I WONDER IF YOUR PARENTS ARE STILL AROUND I'D TELL THEM THE SAME THING I'M TELLING YOU MY DAD'S STILL KICKING I CAN TELL YOU THAT HE WOULD STILL SPANK US IF WE GOT OF LINE BTW I'M 60 SO MAYBE THAT GIVES YOU SOME PERSPECTIVE ON THE SITUATION As for the rest of it I don't care if you're gay trans animal mineral you do you live your bliss it's your life your choice and no DON'T EVEN TRY TO SEE ABOUT HAVING TAXPAYERS/GOVERNMENT PAY FOR YOUR SURGERY THEY DON'T PAY FOR A WOMAN TO GET BIGGER BREASTICLES NOSE-JOBS, ABORTIONS, BIRTH CONTROL HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY HYSTERECTOMY ETC....SO Y'ALL CAN STOP WITH THE ENTITLEMENT BS GET A JOB SAVE YOUR MONEY PAY FOR IT YOURSELF AS A MATTER OF FACT GET ON THE HEALTH INSURANCE INDUSTRY TO HAVE THEM HELP WITH IT THERE'S AN EASY WORK-AROUND TOO FIND A SYMPATHETIC DR TO PUT IT AS A PROCEDURE THAT'S COVERED FOR THAT MATTER DR'S HOSPITALS THEY ALL NEED TO GET WITH THE PROGRAM $38 FOR 1 TYLENOL $300 FOR AN OFFICE VISIT MAYBE WE SHOULD START CHARGING THEM FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF SEEING US NAKED ALLOWING THEM TO TOUCH US ETC...I THINK IT COULD BE A WIN-WIN MAYBE THEN WE CAN GET SOME REASONABLE PRICING FOR MEDICAL SERVICES WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE THE RICHEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD BUT WE'VE GOT HOMELESS VETERANS STARVING KID'S MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER STUFF BUT A GOVERNMENT WHO WILL ONLY JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON DU JOUR IDK HOW TO FIX IT YET HAVEN'T PUT MY MIND TO IT GIMME A WEEKS TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND IT ALL THEN 3-6 WEEK'S FOR A WORKABLE SOLUTION MAYBE LESS TIME IF CHITLENS(KIDS) DON'T BOTHER ME. WILL TRY MY BEST VICTORIA A.
Yet another opportunity for xtianity to lure gullible eejits into their money grabbing nonsense! Just another scam based on nonsense and lies!
Amen brother.