The Internet

[Twinky]

I was looking at the Internet thread today, which seems to have veered off in a different direction from that which might be expected (no news there) and started thinking about the benefits (and detractions) of the Internet.

How many church teachings are available over the Internet? If you go to a church, you may well find the sermon or perhaps the whole service on your church's website. Some of the people posting on this very website have their own sites where they post teachings, research, or whatever. We all know that some sites are very helpful, and some are rubbish. But they are available. Not kept secret.

But a certain valiant organization, which thought it could "move the word over the whole world," and then thought it was in a position where the "word was prevailing over the whole world" ... dare not post its own sermons/teachings/research for public consumption.

WHAT IS AVAILABLE?

Sunday Teaching Service

On Sunday afternoons, the accuracy and integrity of God’s Word reaches out to believers across the world. From prayer to the singing to the teaching of the Word, each service held at our International Headquarters is designed to build enthusiastic believing in God’s magnificent Word. Whether one attends the service live or dials in on a phone hookup or receives the DVD or audiocassette later that week, the teaching of the Word enables the believer to continue to establish a firm foundation in that Word.

(emphasis added)

Say what you like about the splinter groups, at least some of them expose their teachings to public criticism or acclaim by posting them on the net for all to hear (or even to view). CFFM does, and STFI/CES posts some teachings on the net. Other splinter groups also post their material.

But all TWI does is post a printed article which presumably is a reprint of the main Waymag article for that month.

Never mind the cost (expense) of purchasing the tapes/DVDs and packing material. Never mind the time that is spent putting these tapes/DVDs in envelopes and addressing and stamping them (all "moving the word," doncha know?).

Still hiding, and not using their people's time wisely. Not exactly redeeming the time. Not exactly making manifest to the saints (Col 1:26) - or even to some of the saints!!

Very sad.

[Tzaia]

Twinky, your insight should (but probably won't) give every "innie" cause to pause and consider. If what you are being taught beyond PFAL (or whatever the heck it's being called now) can only be understood within the context of PFAL, then there might be (is) something wrong with what you are being taught (indoctrinated). Furthermore, if your 15% is not covering the cost of weekly/monthly teaching materials, then perhaps your money is not being well-stewarded by TWI.

[chockfull]

<sarcasm>

No, you mean they could do away with the "Tape Duplicating" department, the DVD recording department, half of A/V, bookstore personnel, packaging / shipping personnel all by just offering a "subscription" option on the web to download an audio or video file of the STS?????? Or to post it up free?

You must be joking. </sarcasm>

But that would require actually acknowledging the times, and adjusting to them. Not going to happen.

[Twinky]

Ha ha, Chockfull, if numbers continue to dwindle, it may be that those departments will lose so many staff that TWI will have to put their services on the net. In a "password protected area", of course, lest their pearls of wisdom should fall among swine, Christians in general, the people really searching for answers, etc.

What a truly worldwide tool they are so carefully avoiding using.

Isn't this the organization that was at the forefront of so many areas of progress and whose ideas were copied by the world at large?

...The AoS performance, which was "copied" by a famous performer.

...The latest and greatest in equipment (in its time) - probably way out of date now.

Use of the Internet is something so simple that young schoolkids can access it and check out all sorts of sites. What a great way to reach out to the young people of today. But TWI doesn't even have a Children's Fellowship page on its website. Let alone access to its teachings, pitched at whatever level.