Cyber Dangers

The modern advances of the Internet have transformed how people relate.Some men and women who would never dare strike up a close friendship with a member of the opposite sex, knowing it's possible dangers, may not think twice over sharing daily personal letters with a cyber friend. While the Internet can be a wonderful research and learning tool, just as we exercise caution in real life, wisdom and discretion should also be applied over the Internet.

Like any big city, the Internet contains certain communities which are best avoided. Roam in to these areas, and you may find yourself exposed to words and behaviors which could weaken and tempt your moral character. Just as you would avoid a high crime area of town, why allow yourself to drift in to areas on the world wide web which could put your spiritual welfare at risk?

The same is true with who we associate with on the Internet. Because we have no way to really know who we are dealing with in the cyber realm, individuals have been known to be deceptive about their age, marital status, physical attributes and motives. We have all heard the stories of husbands and wives who get unhealthily close to an attentive member of the opposite sex, and before you know it they are abandoning their marriage, and emotionally devastating their children as they run off with some stranger from the Internet.

Once again, many of these heartbreaks can be avoided if we would be wise enough to see possible temptation before we enter these danger zones. If you wouldn't tell your life story or marriage problems to a complete stranger off the street, why do it to someone you hardly know on the Internet? If you wouldn't pursue an intimate friendship with someone you are clearly physically or sexually attracted to face to face, then why think there is less threat posed by a similar situation over the world wide web?

The gift of friendship, and the ability to share thoughts, ideas, hopes and dreams with another human being is a beautiful thing, but let us not place the importance of friendship before godly wisdom.

If you are involved in a relationship that you could not proudly display before God and your loved ones, won't you consider offering yourself something better than sin? God can and does forgive those who call out to Him in repentance, and this is one relationship you can be proud and honored to hold up before all of mankind!

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Contributed by Melanie Schurr (Copyright (c)2003 Melanie Schurr) Melanie Schurr is author of "Ecstatic Living Ecstatic Loving: How to have more peace and joy in marriage, and life in general by walking in harmony with God," and "Son Salutations: A refreshing collection of modern inspirations for those who seek God each day." For more information, visit her web page at www.angelfire.com/mi/melschurr