Can the church be the church without meeting?

By Editor | March 9, 2011 |

Have church services become obsolete? Is coming together to worship as believers no longer relevant in today’s world?
A few weeks ago on Rev Radio (a live call-in show hosted by the Rev. John Glennon and me on Wednesdays from 1:04 to 2 p.m. on WKRV 107.1 FM), we asked the question, “Why do people not attend church?” We received some enlightening comments and feedback from church attenders, but those who do not attend did not respond.
I guess the question we should be asking is, “Why should I attend church?” What is the purpose of church attendance, and is it necessary? Can I accomplish the same goal as church attendance through something else?
Let’s face it. We are fast becoming a society that avoids any form of personal contact. We use the Internet for shopping, banking, news, gossip and even seeking out personal relationships. Cell phones and texting have become the mode of interaction between not only strangers, but friends and even family. (The word texting is not even recognized as a proper word by my version of Microsoft Word.) Blogging, twittering and Facebook have become the substitutes for people coming to together to discuss, debate and interact on a personal level. And we wonder why church attendance has continued to decline over the past 20 years!
Now, new ways of communication are not bad. I do not use a rotary dial telephone any longer. I do not write letters or columns using ink and a quill pen. I do not use kerosene lamps or candles to see with at night. But have these new forms of communication made church worship irrelevant?
The Bible tells us in Hebrews 10:25, “not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Can we assemble together as a church via the Internet and cell phones? Can we encourage and be encouraged by other believers without physically being with one another? Can we minister to the needs of people if we are not a physical body together? Can people come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and grow in their faith and never attend a local church? Let’s find out.
I am going to launch a Facebook page under the title, “Vandalia Church.” Let’s see how it works to encourage people to come to and grow in their faith.
I believe you need the ministry of the physical church to truly grow as believers, but I am willing to see if God can use this new technology to reach the world.
I am still trying to figure out how to hug someone through Facebook. We’ll see.