Finding a Balance Between Online and Traditional Church

 

    Connection is imperative when it comes to parts of the body. The fingers are only as good as the hand they are attached to, as well as the arm, chest, heart, and mind. Each body part serves a purpose, yet all parts belong to one body. “So, in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others” (The Holy Bible, New International Version [NIV], 2011. Romans 12:5). This scripture was written by the Apostle Paul to encourage various parts of the church to serve in the capacity it was tasked with, but to recognize that they are part of a grander design called the body, which is the church as a whole. When a finger is severed from the hand, the blood no longer flows, causing the tissue to decay and eventually die. During the pandemic of 2020, disconnection of the body took place as online services that were intended for connection became the norm. The previous metaphor is used to express this essay’s intention to educate the reader regarding the need for physical church attendance compared to the isolation that online church provides. In this dissertation, consider the questions of why not online church, how does online attendance effects salvation, and is there common ground for online and physical service to exist?

Why Not Online Church? 

    When looking at the word communion, “Communion comes from the Latin word communis, which is the root word for community” (Etymonline.com, 2005). In the Gospels, Jesus intended for the gathering of his followers to partake in the sacrament of remembrance, to mark his upcoming sacrifice, by participating in communion, or as others refer to as The Lord’s Supper. In an advanced society, participating in the sacrament of communion online is possible, if one has unleavened bread and the elements of wine present in home, while following along with the Priest or Pastor. Yet this is not what God intended. In a journal article about online church goers in Finland participating in online communion, the authors states, “Communion is believed to strengthen the bonds between Christians as a community. The ritualized sharing of bread and wine is a practice of the love of neighbor, creating unity and breaking borders between individuals and the social body” (Mikkola & Kallatsa, 2023). The importance of gathering was so important, in Galilee, Jesus stated, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (The Holy Bible, NIV, 2011, Matthew 18:20). This is because Jesus intended for people to do life together, to lean on each other.

How Does Online Attendance Effects Salvation?

    In the Garden of Eden set the first of many aspects of life. The first words spoken by God to cause matter to form and develop into the earth. Then the first breath exhaled from God into Adam to bring forth human life. Yet, God said that man should not be alone in the second chapter of Genesis. Seclusion was not God’s forte. An article addressing “Is online church really church?”, the author (Giese, 2020) states,

“Paul’s metaphor of the church as the temple of God, as example of the Old Testament temple and the temple in eschatology is a place in the literal meaning, gathered physically. God did not create humans as disembodied souls. The soul and body are both crucial in Christian anthropology, redemption and ministry.”

Giese statement brings to light that being part of the body of believers is a redemptive factor, including the requirement of baptism. Jesus spoke to Nicodemus about the importance of baptism saying, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit” (The Holy Bible, NIV, 2011, John 3:5). Baptism is a public display of laying down one’s former life and rising anew. This is required for salvation and cannot be accomplished in solitude.

Is There Common Ground for Online and Physical Services to Exist? 

Common ground is possible for the existence of physical and online services. Pastoral leadership would need to take proactive steps to explain the importance of attending church physically and using online as a last option. Before streaming, in the world of televangelism, (Giese, 2020) states,

 “40 years ago, though Jimmy Swaggart and Jerry Falwell broadcasted services, they reminded the public that these services were for those homebound, traveling who could not find a Bible-believing church nearby, or those who were already in a church on Sundays, yet wished to experience even more teaching, throughout the week.”

A way to bolster physical church attendance is for church leaders to encourage the benefits of congregating together, praying for one another, and participating in the sacraments. Online services with the growth of technology are here to stay. However, “The church isn’t just a particular building or congregation, but the spiritual fellowship of all who belong to Jesus Christ. If we belong to Christ, we also belong to each other” (Billy Graham, as cited by Long, 2022). Both physical and online services can have a balance, but it is up to Pastors to encourage benefits of physical attendance.

Conclusion

In closing this dissertation, a case has been made as to why physical church is important, how neglecting physical attendance affects salvation, and how physical and online services can coexist. Physical church is not going anywhere soon seeing that statistics show, “Christians who watch services on screens and attend in person overwhelmingly say they prefer going in person, by a margin of 76% to 11%. An additional 14% say they have no preference” (Pew Research, 2023). Though online church services are a reality, consider carefully using this option of connection as a last resort while not forsaking the assembly. The Apostle Paul wrote,

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and even more as you see the Day approaching” (The Holy Bible, NIV, 2011. Hebrews 10:24-25).

 

References

Etymonline.com. (2005). Origin and history of communion. Douglas Harper. https://www.etymonline.com/word/communion

Giese, R. L., Jr. (2020). Is “Online Church” Really Church?: The Church as God’s Temple. Themelios, 45(2), 347–367.

Long, L. (2022). Watching Church from Home? Why It May Be Time to Reconsider. Billy

Graham Evangelistic Association. https://billygraham.org/articles/watching-church-from-home-why-it-may-be-time-to-reconsider?ri=wc

Mikkola, S., & Kallatsa, L. (2024). Preserving and transforming the ritual: The question of online Communion in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. Studia Theologica, 78(1), 44–61. https://doi.org/10.1080/0039338x.2023.2288311

Pew Research Center. (2023). Online Religious Services Appeal to Many Americans,

but Going in Person Remains More Popular. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2023/06/02/online-religious-services-appeal-to-many-americans-but-going-in-person-remains-more-popular/

The Holy Bible. (2011) New Internation Version. Matthew 18:20. Romans 12:5. Hebrews 10:24-25. John 3:5.  https://www.bible.com/bible/111/ROM.12.5 https://www.bible.com/bible/111/HEB.10.24-25 https://www.bible.com/bible/111/MAT.18.19-20 

https://www.bible.com/bible/111/JHN.3.5