Cyber church?

[RobinB]

This is an interesting article--I've seen lots of Christian websites, but does anyone here "attend" a cyber-church? Experiences?




Alternative Forms of The Church Are Changing the Religious Landscape

For a rapidly growing number of Americans, a local church is no longer the place to go as their primary religious meeting place. A new study by The Barna Group shows that new forms of religious experience and expression are growing in popularity, drawing millions of people closer to God but farther from involvement in a congregational church. New ways of experiencing and expressing faith, such as through house churches, marketplace ministries, and cyberchurches, are becoming the norm for millions of people.

For most of the past century, the local congregational church was the go-to place for people interested in experiencing God and being part of a community of faith. The United States has more than 300,000 Protestant congregations and some 20,000 Catholic parishes that have been the primary gathering place for Americans. During the past decades, about two-thirds of the nation's adults have been attached to one of those congregations, with roughly 40% of adults showing up for religious services and programs in any given week.

www.prophecynewswatch.com

[Harley]

I'm all for alternative forms of gathering... home-churches, marketplace-churches, etc... But the operative word there is gathering. Unless they meet together physically for the breaking of bread, the fellowship of believers, and the preaching of the word - it's not a biblical church as far am I as concerned.

[antsinmypants]

I've done one service "long distance" through Pal-Talk when I couldn't attend my own congregation.

Due to being a carrier for a bad virus right now, I can't attend my congregation without endangering the health of quite a few very ill (more like low immune system) people and small children. I've been at work, and thus far no one is ill, and the Dr said that if we were around anyone and they aren't sick now, they won't get sick...

For now, all I can do is meet in the cyber sense for about a month. Is that not gathering with other believers, I don't think so... but it's also not "physical" either.

I think to meet with others at this point, would have to be on a one on one basis and with folks who wouldn't be "at-risk"...

It's a really tough call.

No worship with others, and no like-minded teaching, or meet online and get almost the same thing?

I wouldn't choose it over an every day worship service mind-you, but I do love the option for when i'm ill or can't attend.

[Franklin]

Unless they meet together physically for the breaking of bread, the fellowship of believers, and the preaching of the word - it's not a biblical church as far am I as concerned.

Is there scripture to support that?

[RobinB]

Unless they meet together physically for the breaking of bread, the fellowship of believers, and the preaching of the word - it's not a biblical church as far am I as concerned.

Is there scripture to support that?


Good question. Anyone??

[antsinmypants]

Hbr 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.


Hbr 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for he [is] faithful that promised;)


Hbr 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:


Hbr 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

[Harley]

Unless they meet together physically for the breaking of bread, the fellowship of believers, and the preaching of the word - it's not a biblical church as far am I as concerned.

Is there scripture to support that?
Antsinmypants provided the most obvious, but I'll fill in some more rationale.

Christ instituted his church, the ekklesia, those who are called out. Being called out has not only a spiritual dimensoin but a physical dimension as well. Ekklesia is also an assembled body.

The church is the divinely appointed means that links believers for correction, training in righteousness, and preserving apostolic teaching. As well, it is within the context of meeting together that lives are shared and church discipline employed. None of these things can take place in their fullness over the internet.

While I believe cyber-fellowships can serve a possitive function in the life of a believer, they are no substitute for believers assembling themselves together.

It reminds me of the gay marriage debate. If the State wants to institute some kind of civil-union for homosexual couples and give them familial rights under that title - that is the State's prerogative. I don't like the idea, but there are lots of laws I don't like. But when they want to call it "marriage" they are tinkering with thousands of years of tradition as well as completely redefining the word.

Call cyber-fellowships what you like, I have no problem with their existence, but don't call them "church" or arguee that they are a valid equivalent - like "gay marriage" that is tinkering with thousands of years of tradition as well as completely redefining the word church.

[carmen]

Kind of hard to serve others when you can't physically reach them. That's a huge part of being a believer--service to your brothers and sisters. In fact, the bible tells us one way we witness to non-believers is through that love for one another.

[Ladybug]

How would you observe the Lord's Supper, be baptised, etc? :noidea

[Harley]

How would you observe the Lord's Supper, be baptised, etc? :noidea
and worship...

... all these could be done cyber-ly, but I don't think it fulfills what the Lord had in mind for his church.