There are some churches that are still arguing over whether or not drums and guitars should be allowed in the church. There are other churches that still think it’s a sin to wear jeans to Sunday service. And then there are churches that are ready to send someone to the moon or hire Bible-quoting androids if it means bringing more people to Jesus.
You might want to sit down for this one…
Perhaps you’ve heard of the Internet-based virtual world known as “Second Life”. It’s a pretty recent phenomenon, developed by Linden Lab, that basically allows you to create an online persona known as an “avatar” that can live and socialize in a virtual world. These avatars can communicate through local chat and instant messaging, and can travel by walking, vehicle, flying, or teleporting (yes, teleporting). By purchasing “Linden Dollars” with your own American money, you can even buy things from real life companies who have bought real estate in this virtual world.
(Side note - if you’re the kind of person who still hasn’t figured out how to get your remote control to work, you may want to read that last paragraph again. Slowly.)
An example of a Second Life avatar:
a male human appearance
customized with black wings.
All of which begs the question: when God sent His only Son into the world, that whoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life, did that include avatars?
And will the day come someday when our church will begin supporting a missionary avatar who will go and live among these avatars? Remember that God Himself took on flesh to come and dwell among us; is it too much to ask for someone to put on some virtual skin and make their home in Second Life?
As I said in the introduction, there are some churches out there that are probably still using electric typewriters and mimeographs and consider themselves high tech. And then there are churches like the multi-site LifeChurch.tv, who this past Easter Sunday launched their newest campus in the virtual world of Second Life. Yes, they actually purchased a virtual island (a Second Life island costs anywhere from US$5-$295/month) and constructed their own church campus there to minister to those who are more likely to visit a virtual church then actually come to a real-world church.
It’s moments like these that make most of us want to say “Slow down, world, you’re moving too fast!”
Ladies and Gentleman, virtual church!
Pastor Craig Groeschel preaching to fake people
If you’re intrigued about this, you can read about their Easter service at www.terrystorch.com. Apparently it was attended by all sorts of Satan worshipers, Jesus fans, and Second Life celebrities (whatever that means).
Worshipers at the LifeChurch.tv Second Life Easter service
Is anyone else’s mind blown yet? I’m curious to hear what you think of this whole thing. LifeChurch.tv is obviously on the extreme cutting edge of church, attempting to reach out to those who are more likely to check out a virtual church than a real one. But it certainly seems almost comical, doesn’t it? After all, they’re ministering to fake people!!! If an avatar responds to an altar call and gives her life to Jesus, what does that mean??? I’m pretty sure I can’t remember anything in my theology books that prepared me for that, and I’m having trouble locating “avatar” in my concordance. But LifeChurch.tv knows that behind these fake people are real people who may never be reached any other way, and as I shake my head in wonder I have to give them credit for boldly going where no church has ever gone before.
Top Five Suggested Verses for the (inevitable) Second Life Bible (SLB)
5) Galatians 3:28 - There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, human nor avatar, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
4) 2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old boring real-life self has gone, and the new virtual self has come!
3) Job 19:26 - And after my virtual skin has been destroyed, yet in my virtual flesh I will see God;
2) Hebrews 10:25 - Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing (even though we’re not REALLY meeting together since we’re all sitting alone at our computers)
1) John 6:19-20 - The disciples saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water, and Peter said “Big deal. I can teleport.”
May we all be so inspired to think outside the box in our goal of connecting people to Jesus. If you have any thoughts or comments, please post a comment so that others might hear your insight!
Posted by Eric Stillman on April 10th, 2007 under 
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