I found this article, on a site that was advertised on the
Christianity Support Forum {I'll post a link} It is a site with some rather controversial material, in my mind anyway. So I thought I'd get everyone elses opinion...
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Standing Up For Jesus on the Internet
I think one of the most challenging places to "stand up for Jesus" is when one is in a group setting with other believers; even in "places" on the internet, such as list servs and discussion forums.There is a lot of peer pressure being in a group, even in an electronic format, and we must guard against hiding our light for fear of getting flamed from "fellow believers." Many of these "Christians" on list servs and discussion forums are occultists posing as Christians so they can get as much anti-biblical, New Age attitudinal change accomplished in the church as possible. This may sound shocking, but it is true, and quite common.
It is very easy to pose as a Christian on the internet. One just needs to know a bit of Christian "jargon", and that is not hard to pick up. Sometimes they do not even bother to make much of a show of being "Christian." This is sad, because it shows how believers are not judging them to be Christians by fruit, but only by profession. They will use a handle and/or a graphic that gives clues as to whom they really serve.
The "higher up" occultists do know the scriptures and are dangerously clever at twisting them and making it seem like they are "rightly dividing the word of truth." Whether they work hard to play the part or not, they usually have one thing in common: they try to get the Christian to question God's Word, which is absolute truth, and to render it relative. This is the key to getting the Christian to eventually depart from the faith. These "posing as Christians posters" literally make merchandise of God's people by using the internet! They use the oldest trick in the booke: "Yea, hath God said?"
Often they will alert their friends to come in with a show of force and assist them in doing "damage control" when a real Christian begins to post things that could be used of the Lord to get someone saved or brought back from the backslidden way. They get quite angry and will usually retaliate in various ways when the Christian poster is exposing false doctrine and occultism that has crept into the church.
When wrong doctrines and sinful lifestyles are being promoted by professed Christians, and we fail to speak up about them, we are agreeing with them by our silence, and actually become accomplices. If we do not speak up and counter their lying doctrines with the truth, who knows how many hearers will be subverted? If God has given us light and we refuse to let it shine for fear of persecution from other believers we are not seeking first his kingdom, but rather seeking first our own kingdom of self. Every single day there is an opportunity on the internet to stand up for Jesus and be a soldier of the cross. Are we doing this or are we shirking this responsibility because of the fear of man?
Speaking up must be done without sarcasm or unkindness. The infiltrator tries to get the Christian riled so that the truth he has brought to the discussion will be overshadowed by angry words typed in frustration. They will push buttons until the Christian snaps and retaliates with harsh words. Purpose that you will not resort to sarcasm or angry words, while continuing to stand firm for the truth as written in God's Word. Remember the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
Often I have been led to just post something and leave it alone. They will try to "undo" the truth, but the readers of the posts are not unintelligent, just deceived. The Holy Spirit has a way of showing his children the truth, no matter how much someone tries to destroy it with twistings and turnings.
Satan's agents post letters on a daily basis that are designed to damage the faith of true Christians. They are on every Christian discussion list and forum I have ever been on. They have a network and do keep tabs on everything that is going on in the church. They want to know exactly where the Christians are weak in doctrine so they can zero in on them and start to work to make merchandise of them. They take their "internet ministry" very seriously and work together on discussion forums, list servs, news groups, etc. to try to ridicule and discredit Christians who are "standing up for Jesus" and speaking out against the broad road that they exhort Christians to walk down, while all the while teaching them they "shall not surely die."
Day after day these deceivers post letters that put a question mark on what God has actually made very clear in the Bible. Their fellow deceivers, also posing as Christians, respond to their letters with affirmation, and the Christians who read these posts wonder if perhaps they are out of touch with what God's Word really says. Maybe the road they are on really is too narrow, and they need to loosen up a bit. Perhaps they are missing out on the fun of life by denying themselves and taking up their crosses. After all, these other "Christians" don't see things in such a narrow-minded way, now do they? They follow Jesus too, and yet they do not stop conforming to the world. And nobody speaks up and corrects them, do they? No, not a word is said, and little by little, another Christian's faith is finally shipwrecked, and another occultist puts another notch on his belt for Satan.
Take the Harry Potter craze for an example. The Bible is very clear about occultism, abstaining from the appearance of evil, and about casting down imaginations that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God. End of discussion. Or it should be. But that is where these "attitudinal changers" come in. Their job is to get the church to accept occultism, or at least tolerate it, and they will not rest in their quest to achieve this goal. They must achieve this goal for the simple reason that this gives Satan "place" in the life of every Christian who will fellowship at the table of devils by reading and defending the Harry Potter books. This also primes the church for accepting the New Age and New Age Christ much more easily. That is why you will see this subject frequently brought up on Christian forums and list servs. These people want Christian's attitudes to be changed, and this takes time and much repetition to accomplish this. If every God-fearing Christian (there is no other kind) would stand up for Jesus and say Harry Potter is occultic and off-limits for a Christian--absolutely-- they would not be able to accomplish this attitudinal change in the minds and hearts of Christians!
Whether these posters are deliberate infiltrators or are merely misguided; we must boldly contend for the faith as the Holy Spirit leads us, and not allow "attitudinal changers" of whatever kind, to succeed in getting our brethren to depart from the most holy faith once delivered unto the saints.
Christians, stand up for Jesus on the internet! Satan's followers are not afraid to stand up for him! He is only a created being, and yet we serve the creator, the Most High God. Let us get some Holy Ghost gumption and stand up for Jesus who is worthy to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
May God bless and strengthen his people, strong in love and Bible knowledge, to minister on Christian message boards and discussion forums and newsgroups-- even if you are not really liked there and not accepted as part of their group. That is where you are needed the most: to exhort the brethren to continue in the most holy faith and not fall away to the most unholy faith these infiltrators promote.
Stand up for Jesus!