Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

I recently heard of a pastor who has an Internet safety person on their church staff. All church members are required to have filter software installed on their computers, which logs their online activity. It is mandatory that church members email reports of their online activity to the Internet safety staff member, who then reviews the reports. If he finds anything questionable, he notifies the pastor who then addresses the person in question.



I understand the reasons for having an Internet accountability partner, but is having a dedicated staff member really necessary? Would you sit under a pastor who had this type of accountability system in place? In my opinion, having an Internet accountability partner should be a decision a person should make on their own, not dictated by their pastor.

Re: Pastoral Internet Regualtion & Control
 

maybe this guy pastor's a small congregation making this at least feasible.

Re: Pastoral Internet Regualtion & Control
 

It gives the pastor too much control in their lives, now there are some who in counceling it wouldn't be a bad idea to do a situation similar to this because of the particular need for counceling ...But for most normal people, no way.

Re: Pastoral Internet Regualtion & Control
 

I would be willing to do this if they would also take on this responsibility in other areas as well... if I go to the library, I expect them to read every single book in advance of each visit, and remove any questionable books from the shelves, etc. Or I guess, they could just have the librarian send over a list of books you have checked out (hmmm, reminds me of something...)

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

A requirement for church members such as this would have to be explained repeatedly, handed in written form to newbies, and discussed often. I can't imagine having to hear this for the first time or have to read it in the church rules/guidelines for members.

Maybe the pastor should be prayed up enough to discern which members are sinning online and call them in for questioning. If a pastor needs a hacker or internet security policing to herd his sheep then he might need to take a refresher course in pastoral care.

I've only known two pastors who beat their sheep this hard. Most pastors would never consider such a requirement.

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

Too much control. My question is if everyone in the church has to be accountable to someone on there internet use.Who is the pastor accountable to for his use of the internet.

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

I think if a pastor is doing this he has a bigger problem than worrying about the internet use of his congregation.

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

I would be worried if the Internet Officer was named Festus...

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

Or Bubba.

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

Y'all don't want to know what I think.

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

Besides being a control freak, he most likely is the one with the problem. I guess some pastors believe if they have a problem with something everyone else must also.

PS No, I would not sit under someone like that. I have control issues

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

Well, look, to be fair, there could be a PROBLEM in the church regarding internet use that we are unaware of.

I don't fault the pastor for trying (over-zealously) to protect his constituency from the internet, which is much more dangerous than television.

An accountability program is good, IMO. However, it should be a voluntary program. Lots of churches have accountability programs for the internet--or is that a surprise to everyone? Ever heard of Covenant Eyes, Safe Eyes or XXX Church? They function by emailing an accountability partner an unaltered copy of your visited websites on a regular basis. You can't edit the results, and the only sites that will show up on the email are questionable sites.

The only part I disagree with here is the mandatory nature, but like I said--we may not know the whole story.

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

I have inadvertantly gone to a website while doing a search for something entirely innocent. What if you refuse to do this? Do you get your church membership taken away? Big invasion of privacy. If the government was doing this most people would be very upset.

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

This pastor has SERIOUS control issues. Who does he think he is demanding that people in HIS church, (I assume he takes ownership) hand over their private lives to him? The only acceptable solution would be for him to do the same thing publicly for his life for all the congregation to see. I'll bet there ain't a "snowball's" chance of that happening.

If he really believes he has that many problems, I guarantee you that those same people will find a way around it! :D

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

I don't care if there is a problem in the church or not. I'd tell him exactly what he could do with his monitoring program and it wouldn't be pretty.

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

I agree with you, Rico. :) I do think that voluntary accountability programs are a very good thing. Making it mandatory defeats the purpose.

Hopefully he is not excluding himself from the program, at the very least.

You can't force morality. It just burdens those who are already doing right, and forces those who are immoral into hiding.

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

I just believe that I have got to take personal responsibility for my walk with God and if I have a problem than I should go to the Pastor or someone or maybe no one--sit myself out of being involved and work it out. I don't think I should have to report to a Pastor about anything or less I'm one of his department heads and that would only be reporting about church related stuff. To me, we should be adults--we know if we are doing something that is against the Bible. To me, a pastor is to teach me the Bible, my husband has the last say and we must all answer to God.

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

If someone wants to do something like that it's entirely up to them. If I can't control what I am doing on the internet then I need to get off the computer and go find a place to pray. Believe me, there was a time when I had to do just that and thought I was going to end up taking a baseball bat to my computer, tv, and vcr, all at the same time. Once I realized the problem wasn't the computer, tv, or vcr, but me, I found the strength I needed to overcome.

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

I have to throw in my lot with Miss Brattified. What we ae hearing is a simple report of what a pastor instituted. We have nothing of the specifies, justifications, background, or even if this was originated within the assembly as a "universal request". Judging by appearances (partial information, omitted or slanted opinions and/or viewpoints, etc.) can lead us into errors in judgments.

Having said all of that, I simply would not comply. If it becames truly "mandatory" for fellowship, I would leave. That kind of environment is not a fellowship. It does not support mutual trust, respect, or honor among believers. Rather, it has become a jail where suspicion and doubt replaces love and compassion as the assembly's defining characteristics.

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

Someone has WAY too much spare time on their hands! You cannot legislate morality. If it's in a person's heart to do evil, they will get around the "police state" mentality and do it anyway.

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

Okay, I have heard of this. There are ultra conservative churches
here in California that are doing something like this. I believe that
Bro Morton's church may have been the catalyst for the others to
do this.

Actually, I don't think it's such a bad thing. It provides the
disciplne, accountability and protection that many people
need

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

Then you should sign right up for it, I am sure they would be happy to offer their services.

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

OR Guido...

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

Why don't they just put an ankle bracelet on them too, then they would know where they are all the time. In that they are only allowed to go to work, home, church, and maybe the grocery store, you know in case they need to eat.

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

It's a good thing that God put an electric fence around the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden... oh wait -- He didn't

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

If there's nothing to hide then why would anyone have
a problem with it ??

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

yeah....and serve them KOOL AID!!!!

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

Mark, are you saying this is MANDATORY for all members of the church?

or is this some ministry/service being offered?

this is a very important question.

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

I was going to say the same thing! But I didn't want people to think I was like that Baron guy!
:crazywalls

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

You are scaring me, Mark.

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

I don't know for certain but I do remember hearing
that it was mandatory for all membership. they had to
sign some kind of agreement ???? Don't hold me to this
but that was my understanding.
I recall a few years ago that the members were given 6 weeks
to sign up and get a specific filter for their internet

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

ME TOO! (Sherri, Sorry about not making it to Love and Truth last night...my brother in law came in to spend the night with us....)

Blessings!

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

I think I would have just started another church across the street and told all the members that if they thought dude was too controling to come to the new church.

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

And to think, He wants us to go out into the world. And tell people about Him and His saving grace.

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

For the same reason I wouldn't be on staff at a church that required me to keep surveillance cameras in my home, in order to supervise my activities. :coffee2

Like I said, VOLUNTARY accountability is a very good thing...but mandatory? The pastor is being over-zealous at best. There may be some circumstances that are prompting him to take this action, but in the end, it won't bring about the results he's after anyway.

Mandatory morality is just tossing away the NT in exchange for the Old. If a person doesn't pursue purity and morality from a point of his own love for and consecration to God, then it's a moot point. Remember the scripture about a man looking on a woman...with lust...has already committed adultery? You can make all kinds of rules, but if the heart isn't right, the rules accomplish nothing.

To be blunt, a man who can't look at porn because his pastor is looking over his shoulder can still THINK about porn if the heart problem isn't fixed.

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

well, where I would differ is, I think it should be
voluntary.

what if a person was having problems with some kind
of moral issues and maybe it created marital problems-
don't you think something like this could be beneficial ?

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

:gaga I nick named him Bubba.......:toofunny

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

what she said.... Mrs Bratified is often the voice of reason.

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

Forced accountiblilty is not very effective....look at our judicial and penal systems. Recitivism is rampant. If someone is offered help from a loving standpoint and not a judgemental standpoint, ones chances of recovery from whatever problem is greater. "Perfect love casts out all fear"
I've had more success with helping people by revealing my hurts, pain, addictions, screw ups, etc., than by pointing out their sins.
Just food for thought......
Before I get the splinter out of your eye, I must get the telephone pole outa mine!!!!

Re: Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control
 

I got that... :gaga
That is actually what my daughter has always called her brother (He is going into high school, she into middle school)