In recent years there has been a move towards doing church online. The argument goes like this. People are busy, disconnected, aren’t coming to us, let’s make it easier by going to them virtually. The internet age has birthed internet ministries and now internet churches. Instead of joining a local congregation you join a virtual one. Why go to a building when you can go to church in your very own living room?

In the 1980s my first experience with virtual church occurred. It was watching Jim Baker on PTL. He fascinated me as a kid. I still remember him shouting out “In the name of Jesus, be healed.” I felt like he was talking to me. I use to go around imitating him with my stuffed animals. I was six. Regular church was boring. I thought that this would be the wave of the future. In a way I was right. People got use to the idea of not joining in a local community. It became acceptable for more than shut-ins. Faith could be accessed by the flick of a wrist. People could hear preaching. They could give an offering via postal mail. They even could write letters and call to make a connection. This is the predecessor to virtual faith.

In the late nineties I got involved with a group of Christians in IRC chat groups. Google IRC if you don’t know about it. I also frequented AOL Christian chat rooms. I met and listened to a lot of different people and views.
Our common theme was a disconnect with the local churches in our distinctive areas. We chatted. We got to “know” one another. I even met a few people in real life. The problem was none of these groups ever lasted. I don’t even remember those people’s names. I doubt they remember mine. Virtual community including virtual churches can not exist long term because they can not foster lasting relationships as God intended. The connection of souls and ideas is good but God created the souls to exist in the context of human bodies. Be it televangelist, IRC, or AIM chat groups it just isn’t as good as the real thing. God loves the physical.

Those early televised virtual communities are now looked back on by most with a mocking or sorrowful attitude or regret. IRC and AIM are ghosts of a bygone era. What can the newest incarnation of this idea bring that will not in a decade be looked back on with similar views? A virtual only expression of faith is a disconnected expression of faith. It is not what God ever intended.

In the next post in this series I will delve into the reasons why I can not see it working long term and why. I believe it may even be dangerous to biblical spiritual growth. Unless circumstances beyond personal preference dictate so, it is still best to put your pants on and go join a local church. What are your views?