All of the above are serious and you need to ensure that your family is safe and protected while on the internet. Obviously, parental supervision is a must if you allow your children on the internet; but what this article is to address, is the not so obvious influence the internet has and the impact it has had on a society as a whole….. some good and some not so good. In a keyword: influence.

I have been surfing the web since 1997. Prior to the internet, my world of influence was in the ‘real-world’ with family, friend and neighbors. Folks I came into contact with on a daily or regular basis. I physically got to see how they lived their lives - and vice versa. While definitely a more limited view of the world, it was real and what was ‘normal’ for me. Once I got online, I was exposed to a plethora of information, world views and opinions. While learning about new things is good; too much information, obtained through a narrow focus often found on the internet, is not a good thing.

While I could expound upon many examples, I will limit mine to three: religion, parenting and time. Specifically Christianity, Christian parenting and time management. Three things important to me, thus I sought out only Christian sites, board, email lists and online associations. I quickly learned that not all Christians are the same, nor are their views and interpretations of scripture. I innocently was open to their interpretations, trying to hold to the ‘tolerant’ mindset. What ensued was chaos in my personal life and a great testing and reevaluation of my faith and beliefs.

Christianity: every Christian web site I went to stated the core Christian principles and doctrine; yet they all applied it differently. Some quite ferverently that their way was the only way. If you didn’t do X,Y & Z, then you were not saved, or were not living life the way God intended. Many of these folks saw the Bible in extreme black and white - in relation to how they themselves had interpreted scripture. This lead me, and I’m sure many others, to feel guilty if we weren’t doing all the things spouted within these web sites as ‘gospel’.

I then did what I thought was right and followed their path and interpretation. The problem with that is the” I ” in my decision making. I made the decision. I prayed, and thought it was the right thing for me to do, and I truly did pray. I’ve written before that I think God got so tired of hearing me beg for this or that ‘conviction’ that he said, “Fine, go do it.” But in reality it was only a way for God to test my faith in Him. Eventually, God showed me his grace is sufficient for me (and you!) and that doing things did not make me more Christian or a better Christian. But what it also showed me is how easily I had been swayed into someone else’s way of thinking.

Christian Parenting: Over the years, I’ve seen this same problem happening to Christian parents all over the world, all stemming from the internet. I realize that there have always been different schools of thought on parenting and day-to-day Christian living; but generally, we follow the mentoring examples of those around us. The internet has caused quite an uproar in putting thoughts in people’s minds about ‘alternate’ parenting styles and methods, without any real-life examples. So parents get an idea from a web site, then try to implement it based on someone else’s interpretation and opinion. This can be very dangerous! I bought into this too and I’m still re-training my children to undo the damage!

I have thought often since, why did I follow the advice and leading of folks I’ve never met. I didn’t know them from Adam, and whose children I’ve never seen and had no idea how well behaved, trained or mannered they were in real-life. Anyone has freedom to say anything they want on the internet. They don’t need to back it up with anything. The internet is a big soapbox for people to state their opinions. My conclusion - I followed because my faith was weak and satan used that to lure me in.

Does that mean that the internet is a tool of satan and all bad. Yes and no. Yes, satan most definitely uses the internet to lure people into sin, but that doesn’t mean that the internet itself is bad or wrong. One must be on guard and be well grounded in their faith and not give up real-life fellowship and relationships for ones found on the web. Many sins can be committed in private - and sitting at your computer, reading, chatting and learning from obscure sources found on the web can easily lead one into sin. But one of the biggest problems I’ve found with the internet is it’s a time robber.

Time Management: The internet is most definitely a time robber. It’s very easy to get caught following ‘rabbit trails’ from one internet site that links to another and another and so on. You begin by legitimately searching for information and before you know it, you’ve spent an hour or two following rabbit trails and may or may not have gotten the information for which you were originally seeking.

The internet is in a word: addicting. Not unlike addiction to drugs or anything else, it’s a habit that robs you of your time. While certainly useful, especially for finding information on any topic known to man, it takes time. Time away from your children, away from your spouse and family and also time away from your other duties in life. Since my articles address women specificially, it takes time away from your roles as wives, mothers and housewives. I believe this is, in part, brought on by the isolation we have in today’s society. No longer are families living close to one another for mentoring and support; so women are going online to find it. Sad but true. Their church should be there to provide what their families can not. Either churches are falling down on the job; or folks aren’t first seeking help within their own church.

Perhaps you find it odd that I address this issue on an internet based women’s mentoring site. I suppose there is an irony there; but one I would feel remiss not to mention. Titus 2 Ministries strives to provide fellowship to Christian women; we do not strive to be the focus of their daily life; to draw them away from their real-life duties to their families. Our resources are here for those who truly need and can benefit from them. Always seek your husband and pastor’s advice on anything you find or read on the internet - including information from the Titus 2 Ministries web site!

My point in summary: Do not let the internet be a time waster! Set a timer if you must - but limit your online time. The most important point I wish to stress: Go to your husband and/or pastor first. If you come across anything on the internet that you are unsure about, or feel lead to investigate further. Pray and ask God for his direction in your life. Talk to your husband and/or pastor. You should always first follow your husband leading as the head of the family. Together you two, as a married couple, can discuss what, if any, changes your family would make in relation to the information you found. Is it truly a conviction from God as to how you should live your life, or just some interesting information as to how God has lead others to live their life or is it a ploy of satan to make Christians miserable and judgemental of others. I’ve seen countless marriages in trouble, because the wife decided she needed to do such and such she read about on the internet, and the husband did not agree. This is WRONG ladies!!! Serious prayer and consideration needs to be given before implementing any thing you find on the internet. I do believe God can use the internet for good just as easily as satan can for bad. But we must be discerning and seek scripture and God’s will for our own personal lives before blindly following the word of someone we’ve never met. Remember: we are setting an example for our children and grandchildren. Live your life wisely - not easily swayed. God’s word is eternal and never changing; so we too should remain steadfast, with our feet firmly planted in the word. Be wise as you surf the web.

“Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”
Ephesians 5:15-17