Introduction⤒🔗

At the last Synod of our Nether­lands Reformed Congregations, the author was requested to write an article on the use of the Internet. Since I have no personal experience in the use of the Internet, a consider­able amount of information regard­ing it was provided to me by Mr. John Hoogerheide, a member of my local congregation, whose work provides knowledge of and experi­ence with the Internet. Besides his input, I have made use of several Dutch publications as well as materi­als from an office-bearers conference of our sister denomination in the Netherlands.

Communication←⤒🔗

God has granted men the ability to communicate with one another. Throughout the history of mankind, several different means of communi­cation have been developed. After some time of oral communication, written communication came into being. The written word was an improvement over the spoken word since it spanned both time and distance. Hence, God also com­manded His revelation to be commu­nicated to us by means of the written Word. A following step in this process was written letters, or correspon­dence; the Persians developed the first "international" mail service. By this means men were able to communi­cate with each other even though living far away from each other. The invention of the printing press greatly facilitated the distribution of information by means of the printed word. In the 19^th century photogra­phy and the telegraph were invented, soon to be followed by the telephone. In the 20th century we have seen the development of radio, television, computers, pagers, and fax. The latest step in the development of commu­nication is the Internet, which in essence forms a combination of the various types of communication.

What is the Internet?←⤒🔗

In these times we hear and read more and more about "the Internet" and "the World Wide Web." They seem to be entering every facet of life. But what exactly is the Internet?

In the first place, the Internet is not a physical thing. Rather, it is a large number of computers connected by communication lines. Such groups of interconnected computers are called networks. The Internet is composed of a multitude of comput­ers: in early 1996 the number of computers linked to the Internet was estimated at over 9 million. Some estimate that up to 40 million people from countries all over the world currently access these computers, and this number is growing daily.

The Internet began in the late 1960s as a project in the United States Defence Department. It tied together computers from the mili­tary, defence contractors, and universities involved in research on defence-related subjects. Its primary purpose was, and still is, to serve as a repository for information, which can be shared by anyone who can access the network.

The World Wide Web was devel­oped at the European Particle Physics Laboratory for the purpose of sharing information among international teams of researchers. The Web, as it is commonly called, has an easy-to-use set of communication protocols; these protocols have been widely accepted and are in use globally. As a result, the Web has expanded to include communication by busi­nesses, non-profit organizations, and individuals. The Web is therefore a part of the Internet, a part which is growing rapidly.

Its Uses←⤒🔗

Although the Internet has expanded far beyond its original purpose, it still serves as a repository of information. In reality, it has become a new means of communica­tion. Some of the common modes of information exchange include:

Electronic mail, or E-mail, in which one person sends an electronic message to one or more other people. This is the electronic equivalent of sending a letter by way of the postal service, with the difference that messages are delivered almost instantaneously. E-mail mes­sages are similar to faxes, which are also transmitted via tele­phone lines, but instead of receiving a piece of paper, the recipient receives the more useful electronic message, which can be used by other computer programs, such as word processors.

• Newsgroups and list servers, in which users discuss and contribute information on a particular subject. There are newsgroups on every conceivable subject; one esti­mate is that there are discussion groups on more than 15,000 different topics.
• Real time chat, in which people "talk" to one or more other people by means of their keyboards.
• Direct computer access, by which files can be downloaded from central locations.
• Shopping at electronic stores, which offer a wide variety of items.
• On-line banking and investing.

The most useful aspect of the Internet is the ready availability of a wealth of information stored on host computers around the globe. One reason why the World Wide Web has become so popular is the ease with which this information can be obtained. Especially in the academic and business worlds, access to this information provides insights which might otherwise not be obtained without considerable difficulty. For example, the farmer can find discus­sions on the proper use of fertilizers in growing soybeans under no-till conditions; the student can visit libraries in universities around the world to obtain information on a research topic; the computer pro­grammer can ask a question and receive an answer from another continent the next day; the teacher can find projects, ideas, and exercises related to his subject. Information of all kinds is available. The day's proceedings from Congress are posted on-line. So are all the federal laws and statutes for the United States and Canada. Many manufac­turers provide on-line assistance for the use of their products.

The impact spills over into every­day life as well: a couple with triplets can find a discussion group popu­lated by parents who have experience with raising twins and triplets; parents can use on-line catalogues to shop for clothing or books from home; the traveller can inquire about accommodations and points of interest at his destination. There are also sites for religious materials, including those which make available the writings of our godly forefathers. Sermons can be downloaded into one's own computer. Much useful writing can be distributed in this way.

The Internet is still in the develop­ing stages of technology. The Internet's capacities are expected to increase dramatically in the coming years. In the foreseeable future the boundaries among the various means of communication will likely become increasingly vague. At this time most of us still receive our information through separate channels, such as the telephone, mail service, and the daily newspaper. We still have the choice of whether to have a tele­phone, to receive the newspaper, or to use a PC (personal computer) without a modem, which connects the computer to a telephone line. However, it is possible that in the future these and similar services will be bundled together and be received over a single digital connection; then the distinction among these services becomes less well-defined.

These few examples serve to illustrate the utility of the Internet as a tool. But it is not a tool to be used lightly, for the use of the Internet is not without grave dangers.

Its Dangers←⤒🔗

The very nature of the Internet engenders its greatest dangers. The Internet is, by definition, information. But this information is unfil­tered, unstructured, and unverified. There is no supervision on the Internet, and each person can post anything he wishes, whether it be constructive or not, true or not. As a result, the Internet contains material representing every conceivable walk of life and every conceivable opinion. Here one plumbs the depths of fallen human nature. On any subject, on any issue, one can find conflicting opinions, whether in religion, sci­ence, politics, or literature. There is not only information which is correct and accurate, but there are also statements which are completely erroneous. There are no referees to screen out that which is patently false. The audience is left without guidance.

Since the Internet is international, one has ready access to materials from other countries. Since each host computer is subject to the laws of its own country, one can therefore obtain information or material which is forbidden by law in his own country but not in the country of the host computer.

An Internet danger which has been well documented in the secular press is that of pornography. The material available on these sites traverses the depths of the fall, ranging from the titillating to the shocking and disgusting. And these materials are no more difficult to find and obtain than anything else. The very useful searching tools which can lead one to constructive topics can, and do, lead as surely to destructive ones.

The culture of chat rooms also threatens us. In these on-line ses­sions, participants converse with one another; it is like speaking on the telephone, except that the conversa­tion is typed instead of spoken, and read on the screen instead of heard. Communication may be among a group of people or between only two. Here the participants may conceal their true natures behind the ano­nymity of the typed words. There are no visual or audible clues to belie the statements that anyone makes. Participants may even log on with false names. Thus we read in the newspapers of cases in which young people are lured to meetings with total strangers, and of others in which men abandon their wives and families to pursue a relationship with an on-line correspondent.

These dangers are compounded by the fact that using a computer is an activity that is basically pursued when one is alone. One who would not dare to enter an "adult" book shop for fear of being seen by others has no such restraint in the privacy of his home. Those who would fear that their parents would find their books or magazines can take comfort in the knowledge that the Internet informa­tion disappears when the computer is turned off. Again, the obvious dan­gers of interacting with strangers are muted by the distance one feels when alone at his keyboard.

The Internet also presents more subtle lures. Consider only what time is wasted in the pursuit of better sites and more information. Traveling from site to site looking for informa­tion is termed "surfing," and the term is apt. With more than 9 million computers holding information, there is no end to the time that can be spent simply moving from loca­tion to location, browsing.

Add to these issues the time that is spent on games and other activities. The Internet holds thousands of games which can be downloaded into the home computer. It also provides on-line competitions, in which one can play in real time against computers or human com­petitors across the globe.

A further problem is that appro­priate and inappropriate information is interspersed throughout the Internet. By using powerful search engines, users can key in words or topics of interest and have a list of relevant sites returned to their terminal. If this search capability is used unwisely, much objectionable material can be gathered in a short time. But even if the user is perform­ing a legitimate search, a site contain­ing useful information may also contain links to inappropriate infor­mation. Thus the Internet user is repeatedly exposed to temptation.

All of these dangers are aggravated by the fact that, while Internet activities are easy enough for children to learn and execute, these activities are understood poorly, or not at all, by many parents. The younger generation has grown up with com­puter technology. They not only have no fear of it, but they thrive on the thrill of exploration and discovery. But without parental knowledge, instruction, and guidance, these same children stand in serious danger.

Barriers←⤒🔗

How does one avoid exposure to the dangers of the Internet? First, we must understand that one is not exposed to these evils unintention­ally. To access the Internet one needs a PC equipped with communication hardware called a modem, and one must arrange with an Internet service provider for telephone access. Thus, for those who have no need for Internet access, the simplest barrier is not to make arrangements for these connections.

Internet services are almost invariably password-controlled, meaning that the user must enter a code word before gaining access. Careful use of passwords can serve to limit which users have free access to Internet resources.

But is it possible to limit access to certain information? To date various approaches have been suggested, but few are in place, and their applicabil­ity and effectiveness is still uncertain.

One barrier, especially for our youth, might be the commercialization of information. For instance, the cashier in a bookstore still functions as a limited social control. The person browsing through bad books in the corner of the bookstore may still be hesitant to take the material to the cashier. Likewise with the Internet. If the user were required to pay for certain services, then what was bought, and when, would appear on the final bill. Hence, there would be some social control at the end. Currently, however, most of the Internet information is free of any charges other than those of the service provider and a local telephone tariff.

There is also experimentation with information-filters. In TV technology there is the V-chip. This device filters out all programs which contain a certain level of violence and explicit sex. The intention is to protect our youth from exposure to such scenes. Similarly, some on-line services provide "safe" areas with filtered access which prevents "surf­ing" into sites with undesirable content. Subscribers link their computers to special computers, called proxy servers, to block out undesirable sites.

The idea of information-filters is not a new concept. A crude form of this approach was the creation of separate radio stations and TV channels, on which only edifying material would be broadcast. The intent of the originators was laudable, but experience has proven that instead of bringing the church into the world it has resulted in bringing the world into the church, because such exposure lowered the threshold to the other channels. When we break the needed isolation, we are in danger of losing the needed safety of separation.

Besides, the strength of the information-filters may be much weaker than we realize. It is obvious that who controls the "setting" of these filters is very critical. What person or organization will fill that role? More­over, will there be enough subscribers to make it financially possible to support such a service? Or, to make it financially possible, will the norms have to be lowered to make the service more attractive to a larger public?

What now?←⤒🔗

Having explored the various aspects of the technology, its dangers, and barriers, we now need to proceed to the last, and most difficult, part of this article. In our circles there are already a variety of opinions regarding the Internet. Quite a few members already use e-mail. This e-mail service, as a technology, is as acceptable as a regular mail service; however, it is dependent upon the Internet. Others have full Internet service in their homes already.

Before we direct ourselves to various groups of users, we would like to point out that the problem is not the collection of computers and the wide availability of information. The problem lies in our hearts, which are so full of evil inclinations and desires after the things of this world. Our hearts are like dry kindling, which needs only a spark to ignite it into a roaring blaze. One who is wise would at all cost avoid the sparks.

If we, whether young or old, "surf away" in the solitude of our private room and, without any social restraint, roam into sites which are fully ablaze with the vices of the devil, are we not guilty of doing what God warns about in Psalm 106:35-36, "But (they) were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works. And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them"? In the end the Israelites filled their own land with pollution, defiled themselves, and went a whoring with their own inventions (verse 39). Then we read, "Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against His people, insomuch that He abhorred His own inheritance … and He gave them into the hand of the heathen" (verses 40-41). Do we still believe that this also can happen to us, and that these warnings also apply to us?

Let me also quote here a fitting paragraph written by J.C. Philpot. Speaking on the separation from the world, he wrote, "Nothing more deadens the soul to every gracious and heavenly feeling than drinking in the spirit of the world. As long as that is kept out, more external contact with the world, as, for instance, in the calls of necessary and lawful business, does not injure. The world without and the world within are like two streams of different magnitude which run side by side. Keep them apart, and the smaller stream will not overflow its banks. But let the larger stream get an entrance into the smaller, in other words, let the world without rush into the world within, who shall tell the width of that flood or the havoc that it may make of the crops? Some constitutions are so tender that every cold blast is suffi­cient to produce inflammation; and others are so susceptible of disease that they fall sick under the slightest taint of every epidemic disorder. Such sickly constitutions must watch against the east wind, and not expose themselves to the air of the marshy fen. But just such cold-catching, feverish invalids are we all in soul, whatever be the vigor and health of the body. Let us then be afraid of the very breath of the world, lest it chill the heart or inflame the carnal mind; let us dread exposure to its infectious influence, lest it call forth into active energy our latent disease" (J.C .Philpot, Sin and Salvation, B.A. Ramsbottom, ed., 1987, pp. 74-75). We need not add to this excellent and timely warning, so applicable also to the use of the Internet.

Spike Lee, a current U. S. filmmaker, said recently, "As we move toward the millennium, the year 2000, the most powerful nations are not those that have nuclear bombs, but those that control the media. That's where the battle is being fought; that is how you control people's minds." These words of an "insider" speak for themselves. We should not let the tremendous possibilities of the Internet blind us to its great dangers.

Tool or entertainment?←⤒🔗

We need to see the Internet as a tool, absolutely not as a form of entertainment. When used as a tool, it has great potential to assist its users, but when misused, it has great potential for evil. We reject a majority of the books in the adult section of any public library, and yet we do not condemn the use of the public library as long as we stay away from the inappropriate books. Yet, on the other hand, none of us would place the entire adult section of the public library in our basement and give our children unlimited access. No parent would allow his child to "play" with the power tools in the workshop. Yet many parents let their children "play" unsupervised with the com­puter-tool, which is far more deadly since it feeds our depraved appetite.

The sin is not in the use but in the abuse. That line, however, between use and abuse is very fine. Our college youth, doing research for term papers and other assignments, will no doubt find the Internet an enormous aid in their research. For them the Internet is a very useful tool which they might need to complete their assignments. Still, young people, be aware of the enormous temptations to which you will be exposed. So easily will you be "drawn away of your own lust and enticed." Satan has strewn his baits at every step in the Internet. The devil's one intent is to entice you, to stir up your lust, and "then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death" (James 1:14-15). Even God's people, who may have within them a new principle, will find the attrac­tions of the Vanity Fair of the Internet a treacherous maze. An old proverb says, "A warned man counts for two." We warn you, with all the love of our heart, never consider the Internet anything but highly explosive.

Others need or depend upon the Internet for their business, and some may need to do so in the near future. Again, even though your use of the Internet may be legitimate, stay on task. Avoid following the various leads which are suggested, sometimes even while one is searching for legiti­mate things. Be on constant guard, and seek a close life with the Lord, as Philpot points out in the above quote. If you need to use the Internet at home for your business, don't share your password with your children. Thus you restrict their use to none at all, except under your supervision.

The Internet and the family←⤒🔗

Those who do not need this tool for study or work must stay away from it at all costs. Your mailbox will be filled with offers to sign on to the Internet free for a period of time. In big letters they invite, 30 Days Free!

Absolutely No Strings Attached! Think carefully about that statement. The world doesn't see the spiritual strings of temptation, sin, and destruction. Fathers and mothers, resist the pressures to get on the Internet. If you provide your family with the Internet service only as a form of entertainment, you provide your children with a worse thing than TV or video. By accepting the Internet into your families, you place Vanity Fair, the whole world contained in one convenient package, at their fingertips. David resolved, "I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the works of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me" (Psalm 101:3). Are we fulfilling our oaths at the baptism of our children when we provide them with the possibility, in our own home, of participating in the ungodly chat rooms? Or the possibility of visiting the adult-only bookstore? Or the possibility of reading and seeing each opinion and error available? Or the possibility of wasting countless hours in the game-rooms where people are killed or airplanes are bombed "playfully" as if there were no Ten Commandments?

But what if my child needs to use the Internet for a school assignment? Then do what you did formerly: Take them to the public library. Most of the larger ones provide Internet services. Help your children find what they need. Do not drop them off and tell them you'll pick them up again in two hours. Public libraries are most dangerous marshes. Don't allow your children to wander into them unsupervised.

It is not only the Internet which presents great dangers. We fear that more is taking place at the PC than we realize. Do we know what our children are viewing and doing at the PC? One floppy disk can contain between 100 and 1000 pictures! The possibility that your children possess ungodly materials which they have downloaded from the so-called "bulletin-boards" or borrowed from their friends is far greater than you realize. Parents, we need also to look critically at the computer games we allow our children to play. The desensitization to sin often begins in play. Take the time and make the effort to control the use of your PC.

Lastly←⤒🔗

A house swept clean and kept empty will soon be filled with worse devils! I exhort you to spend more time with your children, both the younger and older ones. Begin to build the bridges to your children when they are young. Many parents are so busy that they do not build up a good line of communication with their teenagers. By the time they realize it, it is often too late. It is quite hard to build a bridge in a raging stream of emotions, temptations, and peer pressures. Such building must be done when your children are young. Provide them with activities which are wholesome, which build communication between your child and yourself as father or mother. Take the time to play with them, parents. Make yourself indispensable to your children and family. Within the context of this article we will not elaborate upon these statements, but we intend to address this subject in the future, the Lord willing.

A close life with God, walking in all humility, listening to His Word, observing His directions, learning from all the examples given in His Word in which sin ensnared and brought to destruction, always restrains far more than a multitude of rules and regulations. Let us together, as families and individuals, seek the psalmist's desire, "Unite my heart to the fear of Thy Name" (Psalm 86:11), and his petition, "Hold Thou me up, and I shall be safe" (Psalm 119:117).