Beware of the Digital Dream World
In the previous episode, we discussed Facebook’s future metaverse. From Facebook’s website, this is how they describe the metaverse: “The metaverse will feel like a hybrid of today’s online social experiences, sometimes expanded into three dimensions or projected into the physical world. It will let you share immersive experiences with other people even when you can’t be together — and do things together you couldn’t do in the physical world” (about.fb.com). So the metaverse is a 3D experience, even projected into the real world. You can have digital experiences with others, and even do things you cannot do in the real world.
However, we are already seeing a digital dreamworld with an increasing push for people to live in the digital world. Facebook is championing its metaverse, but many already occupy most of their time in social media. The average time spent playing video games has been increasing over the years; the average video game player spends about 5 hours a day playing games (techstory.in). Young people are spending an increasing number of hours on TikTok.
With the pandemic in 2020, many churches closed and moved their services primarily online. Today, some churchgoers have not returned to regular church attendance but instead watch online. Now, we even have a new gospel artist that was created by artificial intelligence.
Increasingly, algorithm and artificial intelligence are determining what people see and surveilling our lives. With technology companies looking to have people spend more time in the digital world, algorithm and artificial intelligence will seemingly influence more of people’s lives.
Facebook is not the only company looking to create a world where people live in virtual reality. In fact, this is a trend across many tech companies. Some church leaders are also advocating for churches to become digital-first in their approach to ministry. So, why am I warning us about this trend? Isn’t technology good? Well, there may be good ways to use technology, but we also know technology has spurred destructive behaviors. Becoming immersed in the digital dream world replaces the real physical experience established in creation with a man-made dream. Men’s dreams are corrupted. Ecclesiastes 7:29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. God destroyed the world before with a worldwide flood because the imaginations of men’s hearts were evil continually. But God decided not to destroy all living things again despite the corrupted dreams of men. Genesis 8:21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. After the flood resided, Noah sacrificed animals unto God. God was pleased with the sacrifice and decided to preserve living things despite mankind’s evil. The Bible here is saying that God prioritized the continuation of His creation over destroying it due to man’s fantasies. Thus, we ought to replace the uniqueness of God’s creation with the corruptness of mankind’s imagination.
We are already seeing a world where people are involved in unreal sexual experiences with the increase of pornography. Some are living a twisted dream claiming to be the opposite sex of their biological nature. Some are claiming now that men can give birth. There are many things being claimed that are simply a figment of men’s imagination. All of this will be instituted in the digital world, which has already begun.
In a digital dreamworld, virtual reality is given a priority over the physical world with interaction connected to the human body. However, the Christian faith includes fundamental beliefs that involve the physical body and natural world. Our faith is built on doctrines that interacts with the body and the physical world.
Fundamental Christian Beliefs Involve the Physical Body and Physical World
The Incarnation
Galatians 4:4-5 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
God came into the physical world through the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. He put on a physical body. Jesus lived in the world among men, and felt human sufferings, weaknesses and temptations in the body.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
The glory of God was seen in the physical world through a human body. God was fully manifested in the flesh, in the form of a man, Jesus Christ. In the same manner, the church shows God in the physical world. God is seen through the church through a body of believers who live on the earth in physical bodies. We show God through our physical lives, not a virtual reality.
The Atonement
John 20:27-28 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Again with the atonement, we see that Jesus Christ suffered and died in the flesh. Through his death, God provided redemption to mankind. Suffering and death in the physical body of Christ brought salvation.
Lord’s Supper
1 Cor. 11:23-26 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
We commemorate Christ's death with communion. This is a physical ceremony that is conducted corporately. It involves our physical presence, physical bodies, natural bread and drink, along with our gathering together. It would be at the least disingenuous, at the most blasphemous, to conduct the Lord’s supper in a virtual reality.
Laying on of Hands
Hebrews 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
The early church frequently laid hands. It continues to be a common practice of the Christian church. The laying on of hands is done for ordinations, baby dedications, prayer for healing, blessings and so on. This practice shows the physical nature of Christian ministry.
Marriage
Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
God established the institution of marriage for the propagation of the human race. Two bodies come together and are made one.
Although God is a spirit, he gave mankind a body through which to operate in the physical world. The body of man is the outward representation and extension of who he is. We cannot forgo the body in interacting and ministering to mankind.
How Should the Church Respond?
Many church leaders have advocated for the church to pivot towards digital-first. Sure, it would be a mistake for churches to ignore the digital world. However, it would also be an error for the church to become immersed in the digital dreamworld and facilitate others getting swamped by digital dreams. Rather, the church should utilize digital tools to pull back people into truth and reality. Further, the church should provide real-world experiences grounded in Biblical truth.
Plant Churches
House Churches
Small Churches
We should go among communities and neighborhoods to connect with people locally so that we can touch them in the physical world. The increase of the metaverse, and virtual reality will create a hunger for real interaction in the physical world. Planting new churches, house churches, small churches, gives more opportunities to connect with people.
Evangelize
Conversations about Jesus
Preaching Among the Masses
Personal Evangelism
Finding the time to talk about Jesus in the real world makes a difference in a society increasingly taken by a digital reality.
Minister Directly to People
Lay Hands on the Street
Visit and Minister Directly
Visitations
Going hand in hand with evangelism is to minister directly to people. This can be done during evangelism such as praying for someone in need. Furthermore, this may include visiting someone sick, grieving, or otherwise suffering to pray for them and comfort them.
Provide Multiple Opportunities for Fellowship
The early church regularly gathered together for fellowship on a daily basis (Acts 2:47). Today, we can provide more opportunities for people to attend church and fellowship with believers. This could include daily services tailored towards different purposes. Or it may include teaching or meeting sessions for different subgroups, prayer meetings, cell groups, discipleship classes and such the like. Giving these different opportunities increases the possibility for people to interact and receive ministry in the real world.
Use Digital Tools To Entice
Now, I am not saying to abandon the use of digital tools. Modern technology can b used as a medium to draw people to the abundant life of fellowship with other believers. We should not use these digital tools to replace in-person gathering but rather to supplement in-person gathering, and draw people to in-prison ministry and fellowship. The Apostle Paul used letters to communicate with churches in his absence because it was the tool available to him. But he did not view it as a replacement for in-person ministry, as he often spoke of the longing to be among them. Even so, we use digital tools to spread the word of God and draw men into the physical reality of Christian fellowship and ministry.
