e-Vangelism: Disinhibition

You’ve probably noticed already that people behave differently online; namely, they lose some of their inhibitions. The causes of this disinhibition are debatable, but the results are easy to see. For example, if your Facebook friends list is anything like most people’s, each day your news feed is filled with political diatribes and links to specious, barb-filled rants. These are friends who can, in person, have completely normal, civil conversations about politics (or politely avoid the subject altogether), but something about being online seemingly turns them into nut jobs! That is disinhibition, and it means a great deal for us when we share the Gospel in an online environment. The same effect that turns a normal person into a complete punk online can make an ideal environment for spreading the Word.
The negative effects of disinhibition are the easiest to see, and several new terms have developed to describe particular antisocial behaviors: flame wars, trolling, cyberbullying, griefing, and digital piracy, to name a few. In online interactions, individuals are more likely to abuse trust, engage in illegal activity, lash out, and take extreme positions. The devil has plenty of weaponry at his disposal thanks to disinhibition. This would make it seem as though the internet is the worst place to conduct evangelism!
However, there is a flip side to the disinhibition coin. When interacting online, people are more likely to form friendships, open up to new ideas, self-disclose, and trust. For a Christian, it’s an amazing opportunity. In online conversations, people are more likely to open up about their lives, insecurities, and problems. This means there are more obvious opportunities to apply the message of grace. When you share that message, a person will generally be more receptive than in face-to-face interactions. If you are encouraging someone to give church a chance, it’s easy to provide a link to a congregation’s website or a pastor’s sermon, and the recipient is likely to give it a look.
Many of the principles of witnessing online are the same as they are in person. Consider Facebook again. Just as using a bullhorn on a street corner is not the most effective witnessing strategy (in fact, it’s likely to turn people off), frequent, particularly pointed or belligerent status updates are not likely to win people for God, even if they are of a religious nature. Another person’s aggressive post, however, may serve as an opportunity for you to reply, ask questions, or show interest and care. The conversational interaction is more likely to bring about results. And this effect is not limited to Facebook. Most people will know others through games, blogs, message boards, or one of the other ways that we interact online. This means that opportunities for witnessing range from talking to a guildmate in an online World of Warcraft game who is going through a rough time, to engaging in a gentle conversation with someone who just posted something insulting on their blog.
Best of all, the effects of disinhibition extend to you as well. Most of us have a hard time sharing the Gospel in person. Oftentimes we beat ourselves up, wish we were more outgoing, or feel guilty that we’re not doing all we can. But the nervousness that we feel in face-to-face encounters is greatly reduced when we have these conversations online instead. Since much online interaction is written, you have time to consider your responses carefully, so everything has a less intense, immediate feel. If you’ve lamented the difficulty of engaging others with Jesus, try online witnessing instead, and turn what the devil often uses as a weapon into a tool for building God’s kingdom.
Brian Klebig is an ELS clergyman enrolled in graduate school at the University of Central Florida.