“For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10, NLT).
There was a TV show back in the 80s called, “MAX HEADROOM.” It was about a TV News Team that was given assistance by a televised talking head who was, in reality, a computer program. Though he was only a VIRTUAL PERSON, his co-workers had actually begun to care for him as if he were real!
Then there was the sci-fi thriller “TOTAL RECALL.” Schwarzenegger went to have a VIRTUAL VACATION implanted in his brain to give him the MEMORY of an exciting vacation that he had NEVER taken. But something overrode the program and he went nuts trying to discover if he was living in reality or living a make-believe life within his own mind.
Did you ever want to re-write the script for your own life? Get to tell people only what you want them to know. Keep your secrets to yourself. Maybe even embellish yourself from time to time. Get to be safely untouchable without having to make commitments.
It’s kind of like social media… We post a VIRTUAL PERSONA of ourselves. We don’t have to be invested in relationships that we really don’t want. And we get to have others respond to us and comment on our opinions or leave us alone, all at a very convenient arm’s length of emotional safety.
And it’s amazing how we can find LOVE without ever meeting face to face. Or we can make an enemy out of our best friend with the tap of our phones or the click of a mouse. All from the comfort of our own home. It’s non-threatening. IT’S SAFE. Right?
Well, what do you think would happen if we tried to have a relationship with a VIRTUAL JESUS? What if we POSTED our prayers instead of talked directly to Him? What if we tried to make Him believe that we’re someone we’re not – do you think He would buy that? What if we told Him that our SINS were only virtual and that they really didn’t happen?
The Bible verse above says that there is nothing wrong with money, but it is the LOVE OF MONEY that leads to evil. In the same way, there is nothing wrong with Virtual Communication, but it is HOW WE VIEW AND USE OUR VIRTUAL PERSONAS that can lead to the destruction of relationships with both people and with God.
People are REAL. Relationships are essential. Reality is not always pretty, but it’s REAL. Sure, there can be hurt and pain in living with each other, but there can also be love, reconciliation, satisfaction, contentment, and fulfillment that CANNOT BE FOUND in the Virtual Universe! All good things are possible because of the REALITY OF JESUS CHRIST!
David McCall
Executive Pastor
