The internet has introduced a new avenue for Christian women to meet and share their faith. A quick scan of the internet will show many thousands of website, forums and blogs discussing matters of faith, fellowship, and everyday struggles that Christian women face. While in many ways this opportunity for Christian women to meet other women online who share their interests is very beneficial, there are also some hazards that should be kept in mind.
The ability to interact with millions of people across the globe is a unique aspect of the internet. A second aspect is the massive amounts of information that is available at your fingertips. The downside of both aspects is a difficultly in knowing who or what to trust, hence caution should always be taken. Many people online use anonymous nicknames, but even those who use a first and last name are not necessarily using their real name. Unfortunately, the internet is an easy place for scammers to hide amongst a majority of well-intentioned people.
For Christian women, the presence of face-less people can be a real hazard. God, through the bible, tells us to be careful who we fellowship with and for a good reason. An unbeliever or even a misinformed believer could weaken your own faith or even completely mislead you. There is no problem with having online friends who are either unbelievers or who do not share your particular doctrinal views, but you must be mindful of how you allow their opinions to affect you.
Not everyone who claims to be a Christian is a true believer. Always test the spirits. It is much easier to determine the soundness of an individual's faith when you attend church with them and interact with them face-to-face. The true beliefs and behaviors of people you meet online can easily be concealed through selective writing. Christian women should always be on their guard, especially for false doctrine.
Another potential issue for Christian women online is the substitution of real fellowship with virtual fellowship. It is good to have other Christian women to virtually interact with throughout the day, but don't let these interactions replace relationships with other women in your church. It is your church, the local body believers, which God has ordained to be your support system. Don't forsake that fellowship and tell yourself it is okay because of your online "church".
Online Christian fellowship can also be dangerous because it is unregulated. In your church you have pastors and elders who serve as shepherds to guard the flock as well as serve as teachers to guide us. The lack of this godly leadership online can often lead to a variety of issues including conflicting doctrines and personalities. Christian women should online venues that continually produce confusion and conflict.
Overall the internet is a great opportunity for Christian women to meet other believers across the world. But care must always be taken when meeting new people online. As long as Christian women keep the above concerns in mind they should be able to avoid the potential hazards of online Christian fellowship while making new friends.
