Page 24 - Digital Church in a Lonely World
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There are some things that digital can do as well as, if not better than, a traditional church service. It
can help connect people in a deeply significant way. Take evangelism, for example. The ability to create
content that reaches people in multiple cities and even nations is truly incredible. Online expressions
of church may also be a highly effective way for someone to visit your church for the first time. Yet, as
remarkable as online opportunities are, I believe there are three ingredients of community that, at this
point, are better achieved in-person.
If our model of church does not somehow include all seven of these ingredients, we are replacing a rich
historical form of community with an inferior modern variant. In short, not all community is, in fact,
community. We must be precise with our definition if we literally build church models around these
words.
With most churches live streaming, providing mobile apps and doing online experiences, there is no
shortage of church content. But, if people define church as content, church becomes a commodity.
Church becomes about the best preachers, the best live feed, not local community. And yet, it is
community that is most desperately needed.
We are replacing a rich, historical form of community with an inferior
modern variant. In short, not all community is, in fact, community.
The greatest growth in my life has not come from lying on a beach eating custard tarts. I think back to
moments in actual church services where, as a young adult, people prayed for me and I experienced the
spirit of God move in my heart. I think of moments in gathered worship where tears filled my eyes as
the unified song of a congregation reverberated through the room in praise of Jesus. I think of moments
where I saw prodigal children respond to the gospel and come home to the love of the Father.
I think of the handshakes and hugs, the moments of physical human interaction that encouraged me
and brought warmth into my life. I think of the stories I have been able to listen to, the conversations
in church foyers, where people spoke about the pain that drove them to church, and the ensuing
transformation that happened in their lives.
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