15 Reasons Why Virtual Church is No Church
This past weekend I heard a news story on a Christian radio station regarding the ministry efforts of a Florida church. The story related their efforts at providing people in their area with the option of doing church via the internet. Unfortunately, they are not the only group attempting this kind of ‘church.’ When asked about those participating on-line rather than in person, one of the pastors stated, ‘…this will give people the full affect of church.’ Is this true? Are people able to get the ‘full affect’ of church by participating in such a format? Maybe this question itself betrays an error in contemporary thinking related to church. When we ask what people ‘get’ are we not focusing more on what they are able to take away from church than on the obvious Biblical emphasis of God’s people serving, giving, supporting, building up, etc.?
I believe the Biblical response to the claims of churches like the one in Florida, is that there is no way for us to claim that virtual church is church at all. Consider the following:
1. ‘Biblical’ community is absent.
2. The ordinances are absent.
3. Accountability and discipline are absent.
4. Genuine support and encouragement are absent.
5. Encouraging one another in the singing of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs is absent.
6. Using one’s spiritual gifts for their intended purpose is absent.
7. The unity of the body is absent.
8. Serving Christ together in ministry and evangelism is absent.
9. Building each other up is absent.
10. Pastoral oversight and protection is absent.
11. Christian fellowship is absent.
12. Living out the ‘one another’ passages of Scripture is absent.
13. The Biblical picture of Christ’s work is absent.
14. The characteristics of every Biblical metaphor regarding the church are absent.
15. The most significant aspect* of worship is absent.
Can ministry be accomplished on-line? Certainly! Church however cannot. We can spread the Gospel, reach those incapable of physically attending, and maintain a daily presence of ministry to individuals, but the church cannot be what God describes in Scripture in a virtual world. Incidentally, I don’t think that many would be satisfied with a virtual cross, a virtual salvation, or a virtual Heaven; why then are so many satisfied with a virtual church? Maybe they are because they have a virtual love for Christ and His work.
* The most significant aspect of worship is seen in Romans 15:5-6, where we are encouraged to worship God in one accord with one voice and one mind. This unified worship brings God glory in ways that individual worship can not. We see this matter dealt with throughout the book of Romans and then again in a very pronounced way in the book of Ephesians. Unity in worship requires a corporate context where mutual love, patience, grace, and Christ-honoring conviction are practiced.