As mentioned yesterday, we’re kicking off an in-depth conversation about online church. Over the next several weeks, we’re going to “focus on specific issues and aspects of online church one at a time. The objective is not to definitively prove whether virtual churches are legitimate churches or not, but to help the church become better by discussing where virtual churches have unique the potential to advance the kingdom of God and where they face challenges to becoming healthy, fully functional churches.”
I think the place to start this conversation is by looking at what specifically an organization must be and do to be a “real,” biblical church whether online or offline.
In his book SimChurch (affiliate link), Douglas Estes explores several definitions of church:
Estes starts by defining a church as “a localized assembly of he people of God dwelling in meaningful community with the task of building the kingdom.”
He quotes Martin Luther who defined a church as “the gathering of believers, in which the gospel is purely preached and the holy sacraments are administered n accord with the gospels.”
John Calvin added to Luther’s definition saying a church must include correct church government and discipline.
In his book Purpose Driven Church, Rick Warren defined a church as having 5 specific purposes: evangelism, worship, discipleship, fellowship, and ministry.
So, which of these do you believe is necessary for a church to be a biblical church? And why?
- Evangelism
- Worship
- Discipleship
- Fellowship
- Ministry (Serving those within the church)
- Missions (Serving those outside the church)
- Sacraments
- Authority (Established/overseen by a denomination or similar organization)
- Government (A charter or bylaws establishing organizational structure within the church & membership process/rules)
- Discipline (correcting members who behave in appropriately and rooting out false doctrine)
- Gathering together on a regular basis
- Preaching by an ordained minister
- Sunday school or small groups
- Nifty Fifties
- Motorcycle ministry
- Others?
Please help spread the word about this discussion specifically to those involved in the development and pastoring of online churches. We’d want as many people and perspectives involved as possible. And don’t forget to vote in the poll in the right sidebar.
43 Comments
Second is that we are the "Body of Christ." The gathering is not just a bunch of people who come together once a week to sit in a room, sing, listen and then go back to "normal life." We are called to be Christ's hands and feet, eyes and ears, mouths and noses. That implies more action than contemplation. Christ Himself did not put a focus on gathering in a building. Instead, He put the focus on being out with people and serving them. Hmmm … if we are to be imitators of Christ, that would imply that we are to be out serving people, not putting our focus on sitting in a building. (continued)
Third is community. We aren't supposed to be "rugged individualists." This comes back to "being in the world but not of the world." If you watch TV, or look at the "ideal" that the world sets out as being "best", you see a lot of focus on the "lone ranger – the person who can be a success all on his/her own." That is in opposition to who God calls us to be. We were given community; in Genesis we are told that "we were created in Their image." The image of God is not singular, but is plural. Christ re-emphasized this in calling people to be together; "where two or more are gathered" isn't saying that God won't be there for the individual, but instead that He wants us to come together. THAT was the key of the early church of Acts 2-4. A community of people that are there to support each other, and welcoming to others. That gathering is there all the time, not just as a convenience. (continued)
So that brings me to the whole issue of "online" or "virtual" churches. One the one hand, the internet does provide an opportunity for "community" for those who wouldn't otherwise go out of their homes; however, at that point are we spending too much time focusing on finding a "gathering of convenience"? The problems of the internet is that there is no real sense of intimacy. Instead of seeing "real people as they really are", you only get to see that which someone is willing to expose (not unlike the "traditional brick and mortar church" come to think of it). Unfortunately all too many people online create an "online persona" that has nothing to do with who they really are. There also is no sense of permanence. When something new intrudes in life, all of a sudden the "virtual church" takes a back seat (hmmm … again not unline the "traditional brick and mortar church"! Maybe we're seeing a trend here?).
Pastor Johno, thanks for your thoughts on what a biblical church is. Your last set of comments made me realize I left out an important topic when putting together the schedule for this series – whether genuine community can be formed in an online setting. I tweaked the schedule and added a post on that topic for Dec. 15.
At the end of the day, it's not about the building (or lack thereof), it's about the people!
…John Harden; Pastor, Dirty Feet Ministries (http://dirtyfeetministry.org); Guitar and Vocals, Body Parts – 1 Corinthians 12 (http://bodyparts.dirtyfeetministry.org)
At the end of the day, it's not about the building (or lack thereof), it's about the people!
John Harden
Pastor, Dirty Feet Ministries (http://dirtyfeetministry.org)
Guitar and Vocals, Body Parts – 1 Corinthians 12 (http://bodyparts.dirtyfeetministry.org)
Pastor Johno — I take issue with the idea that "there is no real sense of intimacy" on the internet. My own experience has proved this to be false. I have developed and maintained intimate relationships with friends online and members of my online church community.
Just because you've never experienced intimacy online, or can't understand how that might be possible, does not make it impossible. I personally don't understand how God works in the world—but that doesn't make God's working in the world an impossibility.
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