I work with a variety of churches and more often than not my role is to help the ministry advance online. This can be in a variety of ways such as websites, online streaming, Internet church campuses, online video, online donations, social media, Internet TV, mobile websites, mobile apps and much more. I believe that technology/Internet plays a major role in the distribution of information, and therefore the important information that is “The Gospel” should utilize all methods of distribution to get the message to the masses.
Since my role is a technology based role, I very rarely have to address theological issues regarding technology because my job is to help distribute the message online, not change it. But, as technology progresses at a rapid rate, there are more questions arising that have theological ramifications concerning technology, and this is an issue that I find myself having to explain more often than not to decision makers.
Issues such as:
- Can you be saved Online?
- Can you assemble Online?
- Can you actually go to church online?
- Will the online church enhance or replace the church building?
Digital ministry enthusiasts like myself believe the answer is “yes” to all of these questions. We believe technology enhances the ministry and we want to use it to reach the world, but unfortunately from a biblical perspective, there are church leaders that will say the online aspect of church is outside of the building and thus not “church.” Or they may believe that the online church (digital delivery of the Gospel) will try to replace the traditional church just like iTunes replaced Tower records.
Overall, I don’t believe Internet church will replace traditional church, it’s an extension of traditional church delivered in a digital format (audio, video or social media) to your preferred device (laptop, desktop, mobile or television). But if the church is going to take ministry to the people and really step outside the walls, then it has to have an Internet component to it that allows it to be accessible from anyone, anytime, from anywhere in the world, and that is how you take the Gospel to the four corners of the globe.
[via Scott Beale via Compfight cc]
Alexander Truong says
It is true you could have a gathering of believers and church functions online. But there is a danger here. In the first few years of my growth in Christ, I was a solo guy. Never had fellowship just took in messages and Sunday service stuff. This slowed my growth so much. I was majorly still the same cold guy I was before but with a yearning to love and learn… just didn’t know where to go from there.
Fellowship and community are important foundations of Christian Living and while a select few can do it online and have real relationships, it’s not enough for me to be convinced to say “We can have an online church”, only to have online components instead. Pretty much what you said in the last paragraph. It adds on to. Also, it’s easier to hide away online, sometimes we need to be convicted and called out. I know I needed to. Sometimes we shouldn’t have an “ignore” option.
Jason says
Great answer Alexander, I totally agree
Gregory A. Hayes says
I don’t believe that streaming church online will ever replace going into the the Lord’s house. Just like online college will never replace a brick and mortar university. I feel that adding a digital component to your church will enhance the overall experience that the church members have at their disposal. Church’s should start looking at it as a good thing. It is no different then having your service broadcast on TV, it is just online now. Same difference if you ask me. Plus, think about the sick and shut in that might not have the ability to get to the Sunday service, or sit in front of the TV – them or their loved ones may have a tablet or smart phone that will allow them to still be a part of the service. We are in a new age these days, and the churches that choose not to get on board will end up being left behind.
Jason says
Exactly Greg, it appears that a natural technological progression is taking place and the church is going to need to get on board.
Espen says
“And God became digital, and dwelt among us”
The fact that God become flesh and blood and dwelt among us, is not separate from the gospel message itself. Jesus was himself the good news that he proclaimed. And I think in a way that the gathering in flesh and blood is not totaly replaceable. We are his body, may mean a body.
I also has a suspicion that the way we relate to the web is very much up to our own choosing, and do not force us to meet things we do not like. Or if we meet that, there is always easy escape. To meet other people in a bodily fellowship I think help us to not escape the hard stuff that easy, that often is what we really need to grow as christians. I think in a way the bodily fellowship has a stronger social force to keep together than a cyber fellowship. But maybe i have to little experience of cyber fellowship.
Jason says
Hey Espen, thanks for your response, I wonder how many people are able to relate better digitally then they are physically. That would be an interesting study to conduct.
Espen says
Yes it would! I think indeed that many of us often feel more comfortable communicating threw writing, and I also think that digitally fellowship often do things better than physical fellowship. More open maybe, more thinking before choosing words, more available over time, not troubled by thinking low of how we look and more.
One of the problems with those going into gaming for too long, is that they meet friends there that become long distance friends. It is good as long as you don’t lose closer, those friends that is able to knock your door when you need it. Long distance I think generally make less feeling of responsibility. As in globalization where the factory owners living in another country don´t care about moving they’re factory to another place to get cheaper production.
And still, why did God choose to reveal himself in flesh and blood and not threw the hi-tec scripture of the time?
Chad says
Much like Social media, the internet can only give you the illusion of community. As a society, we’ve never been more technologically connected, yet so disconnected relationally.
Jason says
what makes you think it’s an illusion chad? The reason I ask is that with all the technology if you ask the youth and young adults, they feel connected to more people and part of a larger community due to technology
Chad says
I would argue that being “connected to more” is an entirely different quality of interaction compared to physically being in the same place and interacting with others in a Church community. Social media and technology can be tools to expose people to Christ, but online media and presence does not replace the need to physically worship together with the Church community. In fact, I would argue that online church communities could lead to isolationism which isn’t the model that is demonstrated in the Bible. Can it be a supplement, of course. Replacement, no.
I run an IT Consulting firm and deal with social media, remote office/telepresence work on a daily basis. My boss who is one of the partners, is in a different state and we video conference on a daily basis. Yet, the quality and efficiency of interaction is not even comparable to the quality that is inherent in his visits to my office.
I also work as a youth coach in my church and regularly interact with about 240 students each week ranging from 6th through 12th grades. Our 27 coaches all leverage social media to provide students with updates, content, and gathering points which all supplement our weekly gatherings. Many of these students have hundreds of friends in social media communities probably equating to 40,000-50,000+ people total. Yet the vast majority of these connections do very little in terms of actual interaction or relationship building. The sense that I get from these students is that while they have never had so many connections before, they generally feel isolated until (which is not the case during our weekly services). Sure they can see what people are doing in their lives, but for the most part it’s simply looking in through a window which is not community.
I agree that the Church needs to leverage social media and technology to draw people together and lead them to a physically community of believers, but I don’t think that it will ever replace the need or the purpose of physical community. Can people be saved through Facebook? Of course God can use that, but I don’t believe that is the design that He put into place to draw people to him.
Paul Alan Clifford (@PaulAlanClif) says
I agree that you can hide online, but you can hide in person too. Leaders in churches with online campuses need to make sure community is part of the online experience, just as leaders must do their best to make sure people don’t show up on Sunday for the service, slip out at the end, and never interact with anyone else.
I’ve led into people I’ve met online and eventually two of them visited from several states away and one gave his life to Christ. Eventually, they both found churches nearer to them, but their steps included our church online.
Jason says
Yep Paul, the lines are blurring between offline and online
ThatGuyKC says
I’m a social media manager for a church and I come up against these types of questions on occasion. Loved this sound bite of yours “I don’t believe Internet church will replace traditional church, it’s an extension of traditional church delivered in a digital format”.
I’ve told folks that social media and online church experiences are a supplement to connecting with community in real life, not a substitute.
Jason says
Great response, the entire reason I wrote this article was that I found myself explaining (and defending) internet church during a meeting with the leadership who were not familiar with the concept at all.
Jeremy Silbernagel says
eChurch is not meant to be a complete replacement for brick and mortar churches, but rather an opportunity to reach millions of people who do not have access to the Word of God, or true worship and fellowship in their surrounding community. Contrary to popular belief, good churches aren’t on every corner. Can we share in fellowship & develop true community online? Can we experience worship online? Can we engage online congregants and help them grow? Absolutely! I am an ePastor, and we do just this sort of thing every week. People really do connect in eGroups, they really do worship online, and they really do grow spiritually. While I still believe that brick and mortar churches are absolutely necessary, I also believe strongly that eChurch is a great opportunity where opportunity otherwise may not exist. Great article Jason!
Jason says
Thanks Pastor, your kingdom work is greatly appreciated!!