Christian Chat Rooms???

What in the world? A couple of weeks ago, I read an article by an emerging church leader that I greatly respect. In the article, he encouraged people to enter into chat rooms in order to see what people are talking about. I thought this seemed like a pretty good idea.

So, I logged onto my AOL account and entered a few chat rooms. The first was one called "the coffeehouse." It was pretty interesting...mainly a lot of talk concerning politics, coffee, music, and movies. The next two rooms I logged into were both Christian chat rooms. I visited "born again" and "bible fellowship."

The term "Christian" when used with a chat room is obviously used loosely. The conversation in the Christian chat rooms really wasn't any different than the non-Christian room...well, except when people start talking politics. It's fairly well-known that many American evangelicals feel that to be a Christian one has to be a conservative Republican. I've searched the Scriptures and haven't found the basis for this line of thought. Well, anyone that would question the current leadership in the US was immediately attacked...called a follower of Satan...told that they could not be a Christian...and worse. Most in these chat rooms said Christian = Republican based on moral values. Well, if you start questioning moral values such as peace, war, education, poverty, and so on...these people start going on and on about abortion and gay marriage. As Jim Wallis points out...there are more than 2 moral values that Christians should be concerned about...like how we go into way and whether we're telling the truth about it...and how we care for the poor...and so on. People will start throwing out Scriptures that say you are to support governmental leaders. This is true. Of course, for many in these Christian chat rooms, this only applies to the United States. If you about leaders of other countries...like Castro or the guy in France that I can't even attempt to spell his name...well, they don't count...God didn't appoint them to leadership...or so they say. But, does supporting mean that you can't question what they do? For me, to support our leaders means to lift them up in prayer and follow the laws of the land.

Well, anyway, if you're looking for a good laugh and some theologically incorrect banter...Christian chat rooms are the place! Give 'em a try!