Should a Christian use a VPN or is that sort of like lying?

[Bible Highlighter]

You are taking it a little too far.

Others have given the reasons why it is not as you said. Can it be used to win, sure so can anything else we use, including the Bible. It's the intent behind it.

If you're doing it to keep your wife in the dark, that is a sin, but keeping your computer and life safely hidden sure isn't.

So lying is okay (or not a sin) for the believer when it involves them protecting themselves?
If this is what you are suggesting, then what other sins can Christians do so as to protect themselves?

 

[Tom 1]

Should a Christian use a VPN or is that sort of like lying?

VPN is a virtual Private Network that attempts to tell others that you are in another location other than the one that you are at.

If you are still unsure of what a VPN is, here is a trailer promotion for a VPN company (Promoted on a Christian website).

Basically if you live in Denver Colorado, and you wanted to use a VPN (while you surf the internet), you would choose another city to show other people online that you actually were surfing the internet from a different city or location like say: Tampa, Florida.

It's a security measure, like not using your photo or real name on an internet forum. Who do you think you would be lying to by routing your connection through a different server? Why would anyone want to know what your real location is? Unless you are involved in some activity that requires you to give your true location from some reason, in what way is it a lie? That's like saying if you park your car in a different street you're lying because that's not where you live.

 

[Isilwen]

So lying is okay (or not a sin) for the believer when it involves them protecting themselves?
If this is what you are suggesting, then what other sins can Christians do so as to protect themselves?

Okay, if you want to take it that far. Is your real name Bible Highlighter? Shall I call you Bib or Highlight?

 

[Bible Highlighter]

It's a security measure, like not using your photo or real name on an internet forum. Who do you think you would be lying to by routing your connection through a different server? Why would anyone want to know what your real location is? Unless you are involved in some activity that requires you to give your true location from some reason, in what way is it a lie? That's like saying if you park your car in a different street you're lying because that's not where you live.

A VPN is technically lying about your location. If we lie about our location on the internet, then we can lie about other things.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Okay, if you want to take it that far. Is your real name Bible Highlighter? Shall I call you Bib or Highlight?

This is just silly. I have talked on internet forums since 2004. Nobody regards a "username" on a forum as a real person's name. It is obvious by the type of names used. A username is kind of like a nickname that you would like to give yourself to discuss things without announcing to the world in who you are. So it's not the same thing as naming a real location for your IP address when you are not in that real location.

 

[Tom 1]

A VPN is technically lying about your location. If we lie about our location on the internet, then we can lie about other things.

Lying to who? About what? What requires you to supply your location unless you choose to do it voluntarily? Providing your router's location is not a moral requirement of using the internet, it's an IP function. No-one is interested in where you are unless you enter into some kind of arrangement for delivery or whatever, in which case can supply your address. The fact that a mindless server activates some switches to route your connection to this place or that has nothing to do with anything. Tell your keyboard you're an apple. Do you feel bad about lying to your keyboard?

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Lying to who? About what? What requires you to supply your location unless you choose to do it voluntarily? Providing your router's location is not a moral requirement of using the internet, it's an IP function. No-one is interested in where you are unless you enter into some kind of arrangement for delivery or whatever, in which case can supply your address. The fact that a mindless server activates some switches to route your connection to this place or that has nothing to do with anything. Tell your keyboard you're an apple. Do you feel bad about lying to your keyboard?

The thing is that other people can track you (even legit people like the government), and you would be lying to them about your real location.

 

[Isilwen]

A username is kind of like a nickname that you would like to give yourself to discuss things without announcing to the world in who you are

See that part where you stated "without announcing to the world in who you are?"

What do you think a VPN is?

If you think that a VPN is lying, then you need to start using your real name when posting on the forum. If you don't you're lying to us about who you really are.

Don't give me the line about it being acceptable either, because just as usernames are accepted, so are VPNs accepted as a way to protect ones self.

 

[Tom 1]

The thing is that other people can track you (even legit people like the government), and you would be lying to them about your real location.

Track you for what? If you do something that flags you up with a govt agency they are not going to have any problem finding you. If you think someone else is tracking you then that's a good reason to use a VPN. You could write to the WH apologising for using a VPN if you like, they might send you a pencil or something.

 

[Isilwen]

The thing is that other people can track you (even legit people like the government), and you would be lying to them about your real location.

If you don't think that the government couldn't find you behind a VPN I have some beach front property to sell in you in Arizona.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

See that part where you stated "without announcing to the world in who you are?"

What do you think a VPN is?

If you think that a VPN is lying, then you need to start using your real name when posting on the forum. If you don't you're lying to us about who you really are.

Don't give me the line about it being acceptable either, because just as usernames are accepted, so are VPNs accepted as a way to protect ones self.

You are making a case that simply does not exist. I have talked on internet forums since 2004. Nobody has ever thought that a "username" is a person's real name, but they take it like a nickname. Having a nickname is not lying. We can call ourselves whatever we like when it comes to a nickname. Have you ever heard of a person at school being referred to by a nickname before? This may not be their real name, but it is a name they can go by. It is not lying to refer to a nickname. It's nowhere near the same thing as lying about one's real location on the internet like with a VPN. So no. I respectfully disagree, friend.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

Track you for what? If you do something that flags you up with a govt agency they are not going to have any problem finding you. If you think someone else is tracking you then that's a good reason to use a VPN. You could write to the WH apologising for using a VPN if you like, they might send you a pencil or something.

It's a matter of principle. God knows if you are being honest before the government or others online or not. Saying you are in a location that is fake when you are not in that location online is a lie. It would be like saying you are from Sweden on the forums when you are actually from Australia. Nobody would really check it and maybe even care. But it would still be a lie. It would still be a lie before God's eyes. For God is watching what we do even in privacy. I know. We can fall short of His glory. But that is why we need His grace. Grace to battle against sin, and not to justify it.

 

[Hammster]

You are making a case that simply does not exist. I have talked on internet forums since 2004. Nobody has ever thought that a "username" is a person's real name, but they take it like a nickname. Having a nickname is not lying. We can call ourselves whatever we like when it comes to a nickname. Have you ever heard of a person at school being referred to by a nickname before? This may not be their real name, but it is a name they can go by. It is not lying to refer to a nickname. It's nowhere near the same thing as lying about one's real location on the internet like with a VPN. So no. I respectfully disagree, friend.

Except with nicknames, people already know your real name.

 

[Isilwen]

You are making a case that simply does not exist.

Pot meet kettle!

Nobody has ever thought that a "username" is a person's real name, but they take it like a nickname. Having a nickname is not lying.

Having a VPN is looked at as the same thing no one thinks of it as lying accept for perhaps you.

Do you know that for many businesses a VPN is needed?

My girlfriend works for the State Revenue Department. She deals with people's business accounts and bank account numbers. In order for her to work from home the state had to install a VPN to her work computer so she could use it at home. With such sensitive material being worked with, do you think that the state is lying because of the VPN usage?

 

[Hammster]

It's a matter of principle. God knows if you are being honest before the government or others online or not. Saying you are in a location that is fake when you are not in that location online is a lie. It would be like saying you are from Sweden on the forums when you are actually from Australia. Nobody would really check it and maybe even care. But it would still be a lie. It would still be a lie before God's eyes. For God is watching what we do even in privacy. I know. We can fall short of His glory. But that is why we need His grace. Grace to battle against sin, and not to justify it.

You have your location listed as Top Secret on your profile. Is that the truth?

 

[Isilwen]

It's a matter of principle. God knows if you are being honest before the government or others online or not. Saying you are in a location that is fake when you are not in that location online is a lie. It would be like saying you are from Sweden on the forums when you are actually from Australia. Nobody would really check it and maybe even care. But it would still be a lie. It would still be a lie before God's eyes. For God is watching what we do even in privacy. I know. We can fall short of His glory. But that is why we need His grace. Grace to battle against sin, and not to justify it.

You are so very wrong!

 

[Tom 1]

It's a matter of principle. God knows if you are being honest before the government or others online or not. Saying you are in a location that is fake when you are not in that location online is a lie. It would be like saying you are from Sweden on the forums when you are actually from Australia. Nobody would really check it and maybe even care. But it would still be a lie. It would still be a lie before God's eyes. For God is watching what we do even in privacy. I know. We can fall short of His glory. But that is why we need His grace. Grace to battle against sin, and not to justify it.

Using a VPN is not saying you are somewhere else - the purpose is not to pretend you are in a different location, the location of your router is not the issue, it is a privacy measure. Location only comes into it because that is how privacy is achieved. You are not telling anyone you are in some other place, you are protecting your online privacy using software that disguises your location for legitimate security purposes.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

I school: There are lot of kids who did not know the real name of the guy who they gave a nickname to.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

You are so very wrong!

Blessings to you in the Lord.

 

[Hammster]

I school: There are lot of kids who did not know the real name of the guy who they gave a nickname to.

How many kids gave themselves nicknames?