We’ve discussed before about the positives and negatives of streaming church services.
On one hand, it’s a great tool to let visitors experience your services without risk. More people can visit you more easily than before, a great way to reach the local community. It can also be a great tool for church members who are ill, out-of-town, and even foreign missionaries.
However, with those positives, there are some negatives.
A whole pool of believers regularly attend churches via weekly streams and daily blog posts, yet never step foot on campus; forgoeing all opportunities to develop servant-hood and engaging in deep discipleship. Online church is a great portal, not a great sanctuary.
So, is technology leading the church into activity or apathy?
Lisa Miller recently wrote a Special to CNN titled, “My Take: How technology could bring down the church“, where she surmised that Bible’s on smartphones and Rob Bell on iPod’s would lead to the demise of the organized church:
Without a doubt, this represents a new crisis for organized religion, a challenge to think again about what it means to be a “body” of believers.
At this point in the game, I think we can clearly state that this is a “glass-half-empty” viewpoint. Of course, that leaves plenty of room for “glass-half-full” and “glass-half-empty and cracked”, but the truth remains the church is far from dead and it certainly isn’t going to be Facebook that puts the final nail in the coffin.
Miller states:
With Scripture on iPhones and iPads, believers can bypass constraining religious structures – otherwise known as “church” – in favor of a more individual connection with God.
This can be a double-edged sword. Living in Italy, I can see how the Catholic religion binds the people. In an Old Testament model, only the priest can hear from God, completely ignoring the fact that Jesus tore the curtain. A personal relationship with a living God should not be constrained by religious structures. It should be more of an individual connection with God. So, then, what might be the second edge?
When we are left to our own devices (no pun intended), it is easy to falter and become lost. As I stated before, those who have sequestered themselves to an online church experience completely cut themselves off from personal discipleship. After all, we should not forsake the fellowship. Living face to face and being actively involved in one another’s lives is a model to be followed.
As for Miller’s statements of absorbing teaching on the go, she says this:
They get their religion – like their meals – on the run.
How is this bad? If this is your only brush with the scriptures, if this is the deepest you enter in studying God’s word, this is a problem. Just like if you always eat on the run, you will become sick and fat. This goes for our spiritual state as well. Unlike McDonald’s, however, if you are listening to your favorite teacher on your mp3 player while at the gym or driving to work, this is simply added benefit! This is extra calories for your spiritual diet! As long as this doesn’t become your primary means of spiritual food, you’re ahead of the game.
Please, don’t get me wrong. I’m not against Miller’s article. She brought up some great points, and has pointed out some spots that could grow out of control and cloud our vision to how we should be living. It would seem as though what she really might be inferring is that established religion is what may be hurt by all of the easy access to personal study and surveying of our faith. If that is the case, I’m all for it. After all, that’s what Jesus did.
The technology at hand is neutral. It is neither good or bad. It is what we do with it that makes it one or the other. As technological tool handlers, let’s be sure that we are increasing the Body of Christ’s activity and not its apathy.
[HT @TerryStorch]
Jonathan Gardner says
Miller’s article should be taken with the grain of salt, that she is a practicing Jew, following the “Old Testament model” as you put it. In Judaism the rabbi, prophet, or other spiritual leader is the way to hear from God, similar to Catholicism.
Take a look at the comments which Michael Wright and I have on this article over at ChurchLeaders.
http://www.churchleaders.com/pastors/pastor-articles/151194-is-technology-bringing-down-the-church.html
Eric Dye says
Thanks for the link. 🙂
sdesocio says
So where did you get that bottom picture? Thats an amazing church.
Eric Dye says
I know, right!?!
Here’s the source.