Online services did not begin with the COVID pandemic, but they have certainly changed the landscape of how “church” is practiced. More and more people have become comfortable with the idea of staying at home and watching an online service rather than attending in person. Has this trend become a matter of convenience over community?
I think the opinion expressed by an article from AXIS Ministries is worthy of careful thought: “church is not simply about information and an experience to consume, but a community to invest in.” Even the use of the word “church” has given rise to a different understanding of the nature of community than the actual Greek word we translate ‘church’(ecclesia) in the Bible implies. Ecclesia may be best defined as “assembly”—a community-focused word. A loss of understanding the nature of “ecclesia” and being apart from one another to worship and fellowship comes at a steep cost.
We were made for touch and interaction with one another. That is no less true for the ecclesia—the body of Christ. As such, it is vital that we connect generation to generation, to be able to look into each other’s eyes, to share space where we experience the kind touch of another hand, to hear our voices joined not only in corporate worship but in face-to-face communication, and to experience the emotions and joined hearts in meaningful ways. These things cannot be experienced in the isolation of an online service.
I understand that there are those who cannot participate in group events because of physical conditions and vulnerabilities. It is not those rare situations that I am addressing. It is the growing trend of masses of people choosing to opt-out of community for the sake of convenience. I believe that is a dangerous option that the enemy would gladly have us embrace. Community can only happen in proximity—when we are sharing the same space and intentionally engaging with one another. Online services run contrary to the reality of community.
I get that being in the same room with people can be awkward and uncomfortable for some. But to quote an anonymous source concerning those of us who are the body of Christ, “we have to sacrifice our time and our comfort level to be “perceived” by others in real time. For if we don’t get up close and personal with other people, it seems certain that something is lost. The question is, is it something worth giving up?” I believe it is not!
I hope more churches will understand the consequences of not addressing this with their congregations. While I acknowledge that the discontinuation of online services will probably not happen, I challenge you to not allow yourself to fall victim to convenience over community. Do not forget that Jesus gave His life for us not only to redeem individuals, but to build His ecclesia. It’s why the apostle Paul speaks so often about us being the body of Christ in which every part of that body is important (Romans 12; I Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4). And the most powerful way we have to encourage and build up one another is in person—not online. We dare not let ourselves buy into the lie that says, “I have no need of you.”
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