Christian Post Blog _Peter Mattice_ (http://blogs.christianpost.com/the-pastors-eye/author/peter-mattice/) March 13th, 2012 Internet Church Killing Traditional Church The internet age brought us a lot of things. We can shop at home, work at home, watch movies at home and go to church at home. Instead of waking up early Sunday morning getting dressed and driving to church. We can grab a cup of coffee and sit in front of our pcs, iPads, tablets and smart phones and go to church. Church really isn't about the building it is in, it's about fellowship. Fellowship is about being part of the community praying together, worshiping together. That is something you can't get from church online. Now I know I am part of the internet thing. I post my videos on YouTube. I have my podcasts on itunes and stitcher radio. But I do have people in my building every week. I put my services online for the few parishioners I have that can't physically be in services for reasons like medical, work, etc. and its a good mix. Matthew 28:19 says: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. And the internet is great for doing that. I am not saying that internet church is bad, it has a ton of advantages . I am saying go to your local church as well as your schedule permits. And in the times when your busy or can't make it to church, then you can go online. With that being said, whether in the building or on your computer, the important thing is that you go to church. I am not saying to choose one or the other. I am saying have a good mix of online church and physical building . So don't tune out the physical building part of church, you can't duplicate fellowship. Fellowship is as part of worship as a pastor's sermons. And of course the basis of the Christian faith communion. There's not a lot of churches that put their communion on line. So when you decide on going to church make sure you have a good mix of fellowship in a church and online services. Physical churches offer services a few times a week. You can find a service that fits your schedule during the week or in the evening, and if not, use what services the internet provides. This way not only does online church flourish, but so does the traditional church. Everybody is happy that way. -- Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community <[email protected]> Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org
