Cyberspace and the Temptation to Sin

Cyberspace is a real place in our increasingly interconnected world. Screens compete for our attention from the minute we wake up. Our curated feeds update us with news, and information at our fingertips. We largely lived in cyberspace and it has become an integral part of our developmental, social, professional and Church lives. Technology is no longer just a tool, but an active agent of change, shaping and influencing our study, work, rest and even the way we serve.

With flux and disruption brought about by the pandemic, embracing technology on cyberspace has resulted in amplification and acceleration. We have access to information practically everywhere as our mobile phones, laptops, and tablets go with us. The amount of information created and distributed is accelerating. And the speed of all this is accelerating.

However, there is a need to recognize that cyberspace is designed to be rewarding, engaging but especially seducing. Christians are embracing and consuming with such amplification and acceleration without much reflection to contemplate impact, implications, and influence such as distortion of truth, distortion of beauty, diminishing meaningful human interaction and distraction from God. Therefore, it is vital for us to become like the “children of Issachar”, who demonstrated “understanding of the times” (1 Chronicles 12:32).

Digital decisions are lightning-fast. Right or wrong, decisions get made in seconds. In addition to having unparalleled access to opportunities, temptations to sin now have unparalleled access to us simply with a click. On cyberspace, we find the lures of novelty, variety, and fantasy. From the familiar and safe environment of our homes, schools, and offices, we now enter a sordid world of temptation and evil.

The Many “I”s

The Temptation to Create a False Identity

We all live in a hybrid of real life and online relationships. We love the ability to connect digitally and this may tempt us into augmenting our lives for an online audience. Who likes me? Who wants to interact with me? Who follows me? Will they notice if I say this or that? In that moment, “me” and “I” take center stage, and God is forgotten. The cyberspace can tempt us to create a false identity and/or an idolatry of self, distorting who God creates us to be.

The Temptation to Compromise Integrity

It is impossible to focus when multiple notifications and tabs are enticing us into distraction. We could be attending an online class, cell meeting, or church service, fulfilling attendance, being present but in reality, we could be hiding behind a screen doing many other things, lying to others and ourselves. While we might be able to “hide”, know that “the eyes of the LORD are in every place, watching the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3). Additionally, cyberspace provides an inadvertent outlet for participating in the circulation of falsehood. We read a post, we “heart” it, “like” it, then share it, or comment favorably to it without doing our research to know whether it is completely accurate. We can unintentionally pass on information that may be ill-informed, incomplete, or otherwise inaccurate.

The Temptation to be Idle

The book of Proverbs is a must read for everyone with digital footprints in the cyberspace addressing idleness. Is the amount of time on social media of true and lasting value? Does it build up? Does consuming more content create more boredom and dissatisfaction seeking out fulfillment? Undeniably, recreation is good and connecting with friends is of value. However, if we tally up the hours we spend online “socializing” and endless scrolling, will it reveal that we have in fact been idle and time wasting?

The Tempting Images

There is a fine line between admiring beauty and opening the doorway to lust. Cyberspace can be the stage of one’s fantasies where a he/she is no longer a person created in the image of God, one who is valued and loved but an “it” to be consumed. These images we consumed can corrupt our minds and destroy our marriages and other relationships.

The Tempting Interaction

The lure of social media tempts us at every turn to “have something to say.” We can tend to think that everything we think or say is necessary to put out on cyberspace. “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.” (Proverbs 18:2). We must be prudent (Proverbs 10:19) and be aware that when we share our many words on the Internet, there is a possibility that sin is present. This should help us pause and move us to measure and ask questions about our words: Is what we are sharing helpful/loving? Do our post/tweet/update build up or tear down? Understand that what may seemingly be a careless rant may have far-reaching and long-lasting impact.

Therefore, how can we as Christians seek to honor God with the numerous temptations lurking in cyberspace? Do not abandon but redeem the cyberspace for God.

Know that the enemy of our souls is like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. We are to be sober-minded and be watchful (1 Peter 5:8). Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire (James 1:14-15). We as Christians can be light in the darkness if we use the cyberspace to point people to truth, to goodness, to God Himself, being an online voice for God and not adding to the senseless noise of the world.

Here are some self-examination for us to be sober-minded and be watchful in cyberspace:

1. Love is not an option, it is a command. (John 13:34-35)
2. Conquer deceit, boredom, idleness with the truth of God’s word. (Psalms 16:11, 1 Corinthians 10:13)
3. Accountability helps one another see the hidden idols of our hearts. (Hebrews 3:13, Proverbs 20:5)
4. Watch our mouths including what we post/share. There are snares everywhere. (Proverbs 21:23, Psalms 141:3)
5. Check the original source and test everything. (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

The deceptiveness of sin promises what it does not give and gives what it never promised. Let us “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts” (Romans 13:14). On this side of eternity, may we choose eternal rewards over temporal pleasures.

Let us, the Church and Christians rise to redeem our cyberspace for God. Our generation has been equipped and blessed to take the gospel literally to the ends of the earth online. The barrier to evangelism and discipleship is lower. Be bold about our faith online and make God viral, seeing the followers on our social media as our 100, 1,000, 10,000 strong congregation, for His glory!