Is it proper to use the Internet to spread the gospel? Jesus seemed to share it face to face, not computer to computer.
Jesus mandated that we should bring the gospel to the world (Matt. 28:18-20). He did not mandate every aspect of how it was to be spread. While he did use a face-to-face approach much of the time (e.g. the woman at the well in John 4:1-42), he also is responsible for the very Bible itself, which is not face to face. The Bible speaks about letters being delivered to the churches (1 Cor. 16:3; 2 Cor. 7:8; 10:10-11; Gal. 6:11; Heb. 13:22) as a means to understand the word of God. Moreover, in Numbers 22:21-36 (KJV) a literal ass is used. Some may call this a face-to-face approach, but it can be seen that God uses different media to spread His word!
A part of Third Millennium's mission is to teach God's word from a biblical and Reformed position by using several different forms of media. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 9:22: "I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some." Centuries later the early Protestant Reformers followed Paul's example by using the cutting-edge technology of that day - the movable type printing press - to spread the gospel and to teach the ways of Christ. We seek to follow the example of Paul and the Reformers by utilizing what is available to us today - technology and teaching devices to bring advanced Christian education to underprivileged nations.
Dr. Joseph R. Nally, Jr., D.D., M.Div. is the Theological Editor at Third Millennium Ministries (Thirdmill).