Luke

I totally hear what you are saying. I don’t necessarily agree or disagree with your points. I’m just more mute on the issue, meaning I’m not sure what I think about the online space in regards to being a replacement/supplement for meeting in person.

Adam,

I guess I would say the same to you as well. I don’t disagree with you or agree…..

Here’s why:

I’m still thinking through this. I personally, like to meet in person, in the physical space. When the Apostle Paul talks about “assembling together” such as in Hebrews and 2 Thessalonians, I’m assuming he is meaning together, in person. But obviously he couldn’t have anticipated the idea/ability to “assemble together” in an online space either.

So though I want to be with people in person as well as online, I would never tell anyone (at this point) that the assembling together online is not appropriate, or that they need to assemble in a physical space for it to be Church, etc, etc. I don’t one is a replacement for the other….they are both spaces of assembling together, and in my opinion, as real and legit as the other.

Now Ben, I do agree that being in person/flesh, there is less of an ability to “hide” or put up a false image…certainly one can do that in person, but it is probably easier online. But I think true online community, like true in person community fleshes those things out. What we do online is simply a reflection of what we do in physical space in my opinion.

I like both of your points, but I’m still sifting through this.

thanks for commenting.

rhett

I believe that we are seeing more people becoming “socially retarded” towards others. And unfortunately, in a Secondlife atmosphere you can create a fantasy world of who you would like to be perceived as; what you would like to ideally look like; and how you can soley live in a world that is created in your mind and not within the image of how God made you.

I am not against the sermons, messages or overall online community but if this is replacing your time to physically go to a church, become friends, deal with other human beings and becoming vulnerable (in a sense) to a new surrounding, then I would suggest that the issue lies within you.

Here is where I would recommend a forum like Lifechurch:
1. If you are in Iraq; in the military and there is a lack of Christian witness around you.
2. If you are in a small town and a solid, Bible believing church is outside of a 30 mile radius and you can’t afford to make the trip.
3. If you work in a job that prevents you from attending church at all.
4. If you are physically not able to attend church.

Outside of those reasons (and there may be a few more) there really is no excuse for not committing to a local body of believers. May sound narrow minded but it’s how I see it.

Good post Rhett.