Comments on: Online Church: It’s Catching On…But Should It?

By: Vicki Maheu

Vicki Maheu — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:02:44 +0000

I think its a great option for when you have a sick child at home, or if you yourself have poor health and can’t make it out. Its also a nice supplement if you can watch the services later after you’ve attended your own church, but it doesn’t replace going to church. It is not true fellowship with other believers.

By: Terry Cunningham

Terry Cunningham — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 09:33:44 +0000

@Paul – I would have loved to have access to LifeChurch.tv when I was receiving treatment for cancer – ultimately a bone marrow transplant. Instead, I was forced to watch endless cooking shows. During that time fellowship was almost non-existant – but I did learn a few recipes!
Terry

By: Terry Cunningham

Terry Cunningham — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 09:29:28 +0000

@Matt – People do scary things in church to0
Terry

By: Terry Cunningham

Terry Cunningham — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 09:28:28 +0000

It’s great for those who live in remote areas, those who are not well enough to attend church normally, and those who have been injured by a church and who might otherwise not attend church at all. But online church will always be inferior to real face-to-face contact, even though online community is much better than many of us are willing to admit.

Terry

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 07:18:33 +0000

People do scary things in front of their computer. I’m OK with Internet church.

By: Leon

Leon — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:46:46 +0000

Alan’s statement “high on communication low on community” rings true.

I think we begin to see a new kind of “homeless”, i.e. “comunity-less” sub-society.

Recently in Japan we have had several random killing events. A person of very typical appearance and background shows up at a crowded area and startes killing people.

After looking into the background of one of these young Japanese men they discovered that he had two cell phones. And since he had no friends that text him he would carry on a conversation with himself, texting from phone to phone. He is not the only one apparently who holds multiple cell phones.

My question is if God calls us to minister to the homeless, how do we reach out to the “community-less”. I do not see the internet church a good solution. It may provide a starting point to get into community (depending on their outreach to community,) but it does not appear missional to me. How does one reach through the camera and bring a meal, give them a hug, cry with those who are crying and laugh with those who are laughing???

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:59:50 +0000

I’ll second Paul’s response. It could have it’s place for those who can’t go to church. Church is not the building where you sit or stand but the people you worship with.

By: jk

jk — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:40:56 +0000

I think this sounds great. I am so fed up with the drama of church. I’m not good enough for anyone there not matter what I do, so yeah…being anonymously online sounds great.

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:38:35 +0000

I think it has it’s place for certain circumstances.. maybe someone who is ill and can’t physically get to a church, or those in remote places that still have internet but no viable option for going to a church. I was in hospital for 3 months and it would have been nice to be able to “attend” a church service of some description while I was bed-ridden.

That said.. I don’t think it should ever replace going to a real church and connecting with real people.

- paul

By: Rob

Rob — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:05:33 +0000

I hope I’m always just a little uncomfortable taking communion period, in view of who I am and who God is. So I probably would hesitate to do so with internet church. I thank God though that internet church exists because if it reaches one person who wouldn’t set foot in a church then praise God for that. I’ve attended a couple lifechurch.tv online services. I had a weekend where I couldn’t make it to church and was hungry for the chance to participate in a church service and lifechurch was a blessing. I think to only attend online services though would definitely leave me wanting face to face fellowship.