ONLINE CHURCH #02

This is my second write-up with regard my thoughts on ONLINE church. As you read, keep in mind what I wrote previously: that OFFLINE (on-site) church will never fade away. ONLINE church had made its debut and is here to stay even after this pandemic. The church has a need to go hybrid and in these articles, I am helping us understand what it means to go hybrid and what an ONLINE church really is. What we are experiencing today is only a replica of church services online. I am looking beyond. So stay with me on this journey in rediscovering church.

 

Since the beginning of creation, God has reached out to mankind. After the Fall in Eden, God continued reaching out. He established covenants, raised up a people and a nation for Himself for the sake of others. Till this day, through Jesus' incarnation, God continues with His mission - “seek and rescue”. God is always on the move. He is still seeking, not attracting.

 

The difference between “seeking” and “attracting” is the marked difference between the ONLINE and OFFLINE church. For centuries, one of the major tasks of the church is centered on its buildings. This involves real estate (prime locations) and facade (spicing up its buildings). The idea is to convert a property into a “house of God” and the mission, to attract people into its buildings. This represents the OFFLINE church. To understand ONLINE/OFFLINE church further, let us go back to the days of Tent and Temple.

 

The concept of temple ministry started with God. It was God’s idea to build a sanctuary. The reason was clearly stated: “so that I may dwell among them” (Ex. 25:8). In the building of the Tabernacle, God took the effort of going to His people. This sanctuary was built to be simple, mobile, and temporary. It was built a tent. In contrast, Solomon’s Temple was a permanent building, lavishly built at a fixed location. It is important to note the building of Solomon’s Temple was man’s idea, not God. God never asked for it. After a short discourse with David, God allowed the building of the temple through Solomon, David’s son, thus it was called Solomon’s Temple. Whether it was the Tent or the Temple, the emphasis was not so much about the structures. It was about the priesthood ministry.  

 

Since the Tabernacle was a mobile tent, it was not confined to a fixed location, unlike Solomon’s temple where one had to travel to Jerusalem to grace the House of God. The Tabernacle can be moved anywhere, anytime. That is the marked difference between an ONLINE and an OFFLINE church. One is “mobile” while the other is not. One “seeks” while the other needs to “attracts”. For a long time now, churches have invested heavily in their buildings, trying to keep them attractive. We want people to come visit. We hoped they would like it enough to stay and be part of the church. I am not suggesting this is wrong, but if we truly want to be fishers of men like we are called to be, then we need to GO where the fishes are. They are out at sea and we need to go find them. Today, Christians are more comfortable at being keepers of the aquarium (forgive the pun) than being fishers of men. The dynamics of the church in the book of Acts are so different from today. We would rather attract than seek. We have evolved from a movement into an institution. I am speaking generally.

 

Christians are in a dilemma. Sundays are sacred and faithful Christians are expected to be in church on Sundays. For the un-churched, the church does not matter. With only one weekend per week, they had plans to chill, to catch up with family and friends. Many travel during extended weekends or they do  stuff like marketing, breakfasts away from home, cycling, hiking, shopping, lunches, etc.. These “fishes” are out at sea. How do we fish them unless we are willing to go out to sea? Lamps need to be placed on lamp stands and strategically located for it to be useful.Why do we place our “lamps” in places where it is already brightly lit and not out there in darkness where it is much needed? Light is necessary for "fishing". Light attracts fish. If we are to be the light of the world, then we need to be where we are needed. This is where Online church comes in handy. Having no church buildings, its purpose was to seek, not attract. That was how the early church grew into a movement. Being "mobile" like a tent, they met anywhere and anytime. During His earthly ministry, Jesus did not have a fixed location to attract people. He was always on the move seeking out the lost.Jesus was a movement.

 

This pandemic has helped me grasped what I have been trying to figure out for a decade. We are now into a new season. We need to adapt and evolve. I no longer feel institutionalized. On weekends, you will find me in church. And if I am not, then I am probably "out fishing" and I am bringing church with me. Most nonbelievers do not care about church. They do not care about our buildings (except maybe as tourists) or our services. Occasionally they may pop in for functions and invites. Instead of trying to attract them into our church, why not we follow after them? When Jesus came, He did not come to attract. He came to seek and to save that which was lost. Instead of focusing on attracting, we need to focus on following. This is what seeking is all about. ONLINE church seeks to follow.

 

Having laid these foundations, next week I will endeavor to explain my understanding of Online church. For now, understand this. Online church is not here to replace On-site church. Neither is it designed as an alternative church for convenience sake. Church is serious business. In today's digital world, online church has become a necessity. Our world has evolved. Digital platform has been around for quite awhile but the church has not really got on board, not until this pandemic. Things are pretty much online nowadays. From shopping to dating, we are experiencing a new normal. In as much as online shopping has become a norm, shopping complexes will always remain. We need both OFFLINE and ONLINE church. Time for the church to evolve and going hybrid is not only necessary but is the church for the future. My journey in rediscovering church continues. God bless.