Let Freedom Ring! | God help us

Joe Noland | no boundaries in the new cyberspace world

“Men feared… It is the function of speech to free men from the bondage of irrational fears.” (See previous post for full context)

When America’s founding fathers framed the First Amendment, it was with those future “irrational fears” in mind. Furthermore, they had no idea that a “blogging” phenomenon would one day develop, taking “fear” and “freedom ” into a whole other realm, heretofore unthinkable.

As I wrote in my latest book, Lean Right, Love Left: Balancing the Body: “We now live in a highly sophisticated technical age. The internet is the twenty-first-century equivalent of the Pony Express, except that this new phenomenon ricochets throughout cyberspace with split-second timing, reaching millions instantly. It has taken gossip, innuendo and vitriolic verbal stone-throwing to new heights.”

These words were written with a specific context in mind, but negatives are always balanced by corresponding positives, in this case a mind-boggling, infinitesimal forum for communication, creative expression and soul-saving evangelism - the “Eighth Wonder of the World” is it? William Booth would have embraced it wholeheartedly (With a nudge from Catherine perhaps). Joe the Turk’s “JESUS SAVES” rubber stamp would have transitioned from linens and jailhouse walls onto cyberspace (facebook) walls (No nudges needed). Frederick Coutts would have jumped all over it.

Whilst there are some visionaries out there, they are few and far between, with those few a bit worrisome to the “kingdom” people because well defined boundaries are being crossed. In this new cyberspace world there are no boundaries and that’s scary. Without boundaries there is a loss of control, and that’s even scarier. After all, if you avoid looking over the edge it won’t scare you to death!

This message is directed toward all evangelical denominational leaders, present and future: Let’s not fear it; Let us embrace this new opportunity magnanimously. The future growth of The Salvation Army, specifically, depends upon these freedoms being granted and encouraged.

My prayer: God help us to be ground breaking pioneers on these cyberspace street corners. Help us not to be irrationally fearful, oppressive and controlling. Rather, send us another twenty-first-century “Joe the Turk” (or an Army of them) and give us the courage to turn them loose on these street corners realizing that they won’t all necessarily act, think or look the same way we do. In fact, they might even respectfully disagree with us sometimes (And perhaps rightfully so now and then). Help us to be secure and confident within ourselves. Amen.

Writer: Commissioner Joe Noland’s ministry can be summed up in three words: chaos, creativity and controversy - three elements implicit in any successful innovative endeavor. Cecil B. DeMille, renowned producer of Biblical epics, once wrote, “Creativity is a drug I cannot live without.” Joe’s mantra reads, “Creativity is my drug of choice.”  Access Joe Noland’s complete bio, among other things, by clicking into his website.

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