ONLINE CHURCH #03

Previously I laid some foundations for an online church based on the book of Acts. A quick recap.

Online Church #01 – Church without location (church buildings) nor fixed time (services). They met anywhere, anytime.

Online Church #02 – Church that seeks, not attracts. It was a movement, not an institution.

 

Today I want to lay down some basic blueprints as to what I think an Online church ought to be.

Online church is not a replica of an Offline. Broadcasting Sunday services online do not make it an Online church. Online church is driven by two main thrusts. It is about empowering and engaging. When the church started in the book of Acts, they were without buildings or hierarchy. Like ants without a commander, churches (gatherings of Christians) sprung up everywhere in houses throughout the entire Asia Minor. How did it happen?

EMPOWERING

In an institution, there is always a hierarchy. At the very top is the CEO (head). Everything flows down from there. The empowering of the organization comes from the top and accountability from bottom up. Like a spider, if you thumb the head, the spider (organization) dies. Basically, this is how the church functions today. There is a flow chart with the senior pastor right at the top. Everything else (church board, pastoral team, etc.) flows down from there and all accountability flows upwards. The church in Acts did not have a “head” – command and control centre. It functions like a starfish. A starfish does not possess a head nor brain, yet every tentacle manages to coordinate with each other and move as a singular unit towards a common goal. If you cut a starfish radically (right across the center) into five parts, the five parts will regenerate into five starfish. It does not die. That is how the early church survived and thrived during severe times of persecution. Having no head to thumb, no hierarchy to disrupt, no church buildings to tear down, the church thrives anywhere, in whatever conditions because you cannot stop people from coming together. A church can be as small as a family unit of two or three. Like the starfish, each member can function in any of the five-fold offices and various ministries as the Spirit of God empowers them. The house churches moved as a single movement in a divinely coordinated fashion. There was no stopping the church of Jesus Christ, not even the gates of hell.

As an example of empowering, members of Online church ought to be given the freedom to use their tithes for "fishing". To a “fisher of men”, the tithe is a powerful tool. Like in the book of Acts, it can be used to help people find their way to God. The generosity of the early Christians towards their communities caused many to turn to Christ daily. Having no building to maintain or a big budget for staffing, Online church empowers its members to personally  and effectively fulfil the role of “fishers of men”. "Fishing" will take on a whole new dimension! In contrast to Offline church where everything revolves around the church, tithes and offerings are brought into the church and the church is empowered to manage it as it sees fit. Usually, big portions are set aside for buildings, administrations and staffing.

 

Again, I have need to state my stand. I am not suggesting our current church model is wrong. In any organization, there is a need for hierarchy and management. As long as there is transparency and accountability, it can function well. I am just bringing to your attention the concept of Online church the way I see it. Church in Acts was a powerful movement until it was institutionalized. There is a big difference between a river and a lake. In my personal opinion, I see the need for church today to go hybrid if we are going to be effective and relevant for the future.

Offline church's primary responsibility is towards its congregation. As can be seen in this pandemic, the immediate response of the church was to find ways to reach out and stay in touch with its congregations. It dedicated much of its resources towards its congregations. Online church on the other hand, do not incur much expense. It is simple, duplicable, and not in need for big budgets, either for start-ups or maintenance as it is a church without buildings. Its primary responsibility is the harvest fields. Online church do not gather. It decentralize. That's the power of the internet. It connects people via social media no matter where or when. Most people are engaged in social media. The church needs to hop on board. We need to go to sea in order to fish.

On the side, let me emphasize the fact that although anyone can start a “church” (as in Ecclesia) online, we must not neglect working with others. In the spirit of the Bible, we practice servant hood - the attitude of stewardship and accountability. I do not condone independent spirit. We are designed by God to interact with others. We are stronger when we walk and work together. The smallest unit of accountability must be towards at least two or three. There is safety in numbers. The devil is prowling and looking for the stray aways. Online church is not meant to be an independent entity. As churches sprung up in Jerusalem and other regions, they still move together as a single unit. The apostles formed a council (not an organization) and cultured a spirit of check and balance. The apostles travelled to where Christians had gathered and they preached and taught the Word. The early Christians allowed themselves to come under an umbrella of safety, of check and balance as they yield to the counsel and influence of the apostles. Somehow, by the Holy Spirit, like the starfish, they were able to move as a single unit of hearts and minds. Today, it is hard for us to imagine a church without hierarchy. It is even harder to see the church as a movement because mostly, churches work independently of each other. Perhaps this pandemic has shaken the church a little. we need to rediscover church and fall back to the core of its existence. Try envisioning the church Jesus initiated. To me, it does look different from the church we know today.

I am sure you would have questions popping into your mind. You can post it in the comments section. Next week, I will write about engaging. The Online church seeks to engage, not attract. It practices the “School of Elisha” - a concept I introduced into Vineyard some years back. God bless.