Go Unto the Ends of the (Virtual) Earth

I am a student at San Jose State and am getting my masters in Library and Information Science. SJSU has a campus on the virtual reality, Second Life. They have orientations there, seminars (or webinars, if you will), some classes even have extra meetings in Second Life. So I, myself, have an avatar on Second Life. I don't spend much time there, as I feel rather silly when I do, and I have so much to do anyway, but I read about a church that had a virtual church in Second Life. I spent some time in Second Life looking at the various churches there (see above snapshots).

I admit to being somewhat surprised. There weren't as many as I expected (especially beacuse of the sheer volume of people on Second Life), but I had honestly never thought of virtual reality as a type of mission field. There was an Anglican church the picture on the left), a Calvary Chapel, Lifechurch.tv (the picture on the right), and a few others, each on their own island. So that got me thinking of Second Life and the obvious (and not so obvious) issues it might bring up in ministry.

The obvious issues first: Is it Christian for us to abet people's addictions? I know that many people are addicted to SL, often teenagers looking for experiences and people to chat with. Though we have this tool to get the message of Christ out to those we would normally be unable to reach, is it ethical to encourage people in their search for false relationships and online addictions? A second issue is the problems and temptations it may pose for the Christians administering the ministry. Second Life has every vice and experience imaginable, including a mafia, gambling, crime, cyberterrorism, and even a virtual sex industry. It is wise to put Christians (who are just as susceptible) constantly in this environment when we can choose not to be there?

Alternatively, we are called to be Christ to the people. How can we live out the mission of Christ, if we are unable to meet the people where they are? Christ didn't mind dining with tax collectors, or speaking with widows, and lepers, and prostitutes, and criminals, and all sorts of untouchables. How can we profess to "love" all people, if we cannot bear to be where they are? If there is no Christian presence on SL, where will those millions of people go when they want to talk about God?

If Christians are to go unto the ends of the earth, there are some minor issues that pop up as well. First, where should the church buy land? The churches I've cited here all have their own islands. The Anglican church is on Epiphany Island. It a beautiful cathedral, with a canyon and a waterfall, and a nice mediation chapel. Calvary Chapel has a beach and fire pit on their island. On the other hand, in the true spirit of meeting them where they are, should the church buy a plot of land on an established island, where other residents already live and play? Ancient Rome, perhaps, or Antarctica? Maybe a desert oasis church. Or for those extreme Christians (or maybe I just like stirring up debate and talk), what about building a church on Pride island to minister to the gay & lesbian community? How's that for debate? Also, land can be expensive for a tangential ministry. First you pay for the land (along with the materials to build with), and then you pay a monthly "land-use" fee. All with Linden dollars, which are easily exchanged from US dollars. You pay for a fake life with real money. However, if a bunch of churches banded together to share the cost and burden of maintenance and ministry, it might be a spiritually profitable venture.

So, what are you to take away from this long, perhaps incendiary, post? I don't know. It's a new avenue of the internet. If, as many people believe, the internet will eventually be 3-D, then these so-called "fake" relationships can easily become as close to real as possible. Then it would make sense to have a church presence. If it makes sense then, should it make sense now? I'd love to hear your comments and thoughts about this. I really don't know, but I'm signed up for the ladies Bible study on friday at the Calvary Chapel in Second Life. I'll let you know how it turns out.