Page 7 - Digital Church in a Lonely World

WHA T POR TUGUESE CUS T ARD

T AR TS T A UGHT ME ABOUT DIGIT AL

CHURCH

A bold new dawn has risen on humanity. For those of us who pastor within the local church, it has
presented us with a swirling collision of societal trends, cultural upheaval and accelerated change.
Technology has given us a new way of life, but it has also burned a hole in the fabric of our culture. It

has amplified the deep need for real community and friendship. And, if the Church embraces it, we can
be a unique part of meeting this need.

This new age presents pressing questions about how to “do church” in the 21st century: How can we
build authentic community in the digital era? Is online church a viable biblical model? Will the future
of the Church be online, in person or a hybrid of both? How do we turn the tide of Millennials and
Gen Z walking away from the Church? Are online tools the answer to this generational exodus?

The digital revolution has been in motion since the 90s. For pastors and church leaders, it may feel like
it has arrived suddenly, as we have not felt the level of disruption that other industries have. When
COVID-19 hit, it didn’t create the tension of digital vs. in person, it simply pushed the conversation to

the forefront. It became an inflection point that forced us to have a long overdue discussion—how can
we create genuine community in the era of social media, smart phones and technological innovation?

Technology has given us a

new way of life, but it has also
burned a hole in the fabric of

our culture. It has amplified the
deep need for real community

and friendship.

DIGITAL CHURCH IN A LONELY WORLD 7