Cyber-Church?

JollyBlogger recently had some thoughts about the validity of a cyber-church concept in which believers would “meet” together as a church in cyberspace and not in physical places.

Let’s just not confuse the cyber-community with real Christian community. We need the incarnational, fleshly, sensual elements to be a real church and a real Christian community.

If JollyBlogger is correct, and I think he is, then what does that say about web evangelism efforts that are not born out of real Christian community? What does that say about web evangelism that does not result in new believers participating in authentic Christian community?

I try to always keep in mind that the ideal (although it’s not always possible, in creative access nations for example) is that people come to Christ through exposure to authentic, face-to-face Christian community and that our web evangelism efforts are most effective when they are introducing unbelievers to that authentic, face-to-face Christian community.

Posted by on 03/22/05 at 12:25 PM

The Collective Voice!

David Posthuma continues the discussion:

I defintiely think there is a place for the reality-church and the cyber-church...in fact, I think there should be a convergence of the two...they are both crucial to effective ministry in today’s culture.

My biggest hang-up with the reality-church is that the vast majority of off-line churches are not “real”. They are shows and programs. The “Church” is the body of believers in Christ, not our buildings, programs and weekly shows. In cases when cyber-ministry enables the body of Christ to meet together and grow in Christ together in relationship, then we have authentic Christ-centered community. In those cases where we have masses of people meeting in a building watching a programmed show, I believe we fail to have authentic Christ-centered community.

If the reality-church would become more “real”, then I believe fewer people would search for Christ online. But until that day comes, I believe the #1 way to do the work of evangelism and discipleship in our current culture is through cyber-ministry methodologies.

contributed on 04/09 at 06:52 AM

continues the discussion:

David:

Thanks so much for your comment.

I agree with a lot of what you say about “reality-church” (never heard it put that way!). Personally, my wife and I believe in a house church cluster model.

While I believe that online interaction can supplement and even facilitate face-to-face community, I am convinced that face-to-face community is the ideal and should be pursued aggressively. Some of the ways in which that ideal should be pursued involve addressing the inadequacies of the traditional model of church, some of which you have mentioned in your comment.

I guess I look at online community with a certain amount of reservation, primarily because if I don’t like what you say to me, it’s much easier for me “turn you off” in an online environment than it is in a face-to-face encounter. Does that mean we shouldn’t pursue online community? No, of course not. But I think we need to fashion online community opportunities in such a way that they encourage ongoing face-to-face encounters.

I do agree that online aspects of ministry are crucial in today’s environment. I also am obviously a big fan of digital evangelism. I just believe that online encounters should lead to face-to-face relationship whenever possible.

Thanks again for your contribution! I’d definitely be interested in hearing any further thoughts you have.

contributed on 04/10 at 08:53 AM

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You may be interested in reading these articles which enumerate core principles of the strategy we advocate:

Effective Church Websites For Emerging Generations
Investigating the various ways in which a church's website can be targeted toward unbelievers in a church's local community.

A Strategy For Local Internet Outreach
How can the internet be used for evangelism and outreach while maintaining an environment of authentic Christian community?

Flawed Follow Up Or A Flawed Philosophy of Evangelism?
The ease with which we can “share the gospel” online can actually short-circuit the God-ordained process by which unbelievers are brought to faith.

Should We Include A Gospel Presentation On Our Websites?
Should conversion be our immediate goal in our internet evangelism efforts?

A Strategic Opportunity For The Church
A proposed strategy in which a church would use short video profiles of members of their congregation to entice unbelievers in their local area to consider the value of a local congregation’s ministry in their own lives.

2 John 12
Is there something incomplete about digital communication?

Wed, December 03, 2008 at 07:19 am
Frank thoroughly impressed with the professionalism of the WebTrends Ad Director team http://ping.fm/EuHLl

Sun, November 30, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Frank interested in finding good resources (blogs, books, etc.) on cause marketing.

Fri, November 28, 2008 at 11:57 am
Frank contemplating a line from "O Holy Night" - in His name ALL oppression shall cease

Tue, November 25, 2008 at 08:31 am
Frank exhausted but gratified after today's Scene7 imaging launch on telescope.com!

Mon, November 24, 2008 at 08:05 pm
Frank @benwiles although you made me think about OneNote again. I think it might have feature to allow you to forward a website to OneNote

When the Luis Palau Evangelistic Association wanted to use the internet to promote their city festivals, they turned to Strategic Digital Outreach. Read more ....

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Web Development
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Content Management
Expression Engine

Web Hosting
DreamHost

Email Management
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We work with several different organizations in exploring ways in which digital means can be used to reach an increasingly digital world. Some of these organizations are more traditional clients. Some are friends. All are our partners in the gospel (1 Corinthians 3:9). Invariably, we learn as much from them as they do from us. Here is a sampling:

David & Linda Arzouni
Assemblies of God missionaries to West Africa, based in Mali (the land of Timbuktu).

Assemblies of God
The Northern California and Nevada District, based in Sacramento, California.

India Prayer Drive
A 21-day prayer drive through the nation of India.

IreneDias.com
Although the suffering they face is severe, this is not a story of despair, but of an incredible faith and even more of an incredible God who sustains His followers with lavish grace, extravagant kindness, and unrelenting love.

Luis Palau Evangelistic Association
Proclaiming the Lord's Good News to the millions of people who have yet to respond to the Gospel.

Sacred Ink
Joyfully declaring the gospel to the tattoo subculture.

Santa Cruz Bible Church
Their evangelism department focuses on marketplace ministries.

ShareFest Santa Cruz County
Churches in Santa Cruz County, California join together to become a bridge from the church to the community through work projects designed to bless the community.

TimeOut Conference
Enabling a deeper relationship with God and more effective relationships with people.

Wake Up! Santa Cruz
Presenting the claims of Christ to the business community in Santa Cruz, California.

These are projects which we have initiated (either individually or as members of a team) in our efforts to use digital means to spread the gospel:

MissionEquip
MissionEquip.com was established to provide resources to missionaries and short-term missions teams traveling worldwide.

ChristianCruz
ChristianCruz.com is a localized portal for believers living in Santa Cruz County, California.

Prodigal God
ProdigalGod.com, a work in progress, is designed to provide biblical instruction to the wider body of Christ through the use of video teaching segments and written articles.

Christian Screen Savers
ChristianScreenSavers.com offers a selection of high-quality, inexpensive Christian screen savers which reflect biblical themes. Proceeds from the sale of these screen savers are used to support the work of Strategic Digital Outreach.

Blogs I Read

Adventures Of A Web Evangelist
The Appian Way
BetaChurch.org
BlogMinistry
BlogRodent
Boyink Interactive
Carpe' Digital
Christian Web Trends
Church Beauty
Church Communications Pro
Church Marketing Sucks
ChurchTechToday
Church Website & Blog Ideas
digital.leadnet.org
Digital Ministry
The Digital Sanctuary
e-vangelism.com
Effective Church Web Sites
Effective Web Ministry Notes
Equip Blog
Evotional
GodBit
Goodmanson
Gospelcon
Heal Your Church Website
If Jesus Had A Website
Leave It Behind
MicroExplosion
Outside The Box Ministry
Sacred Digital
So You Want A Church Website?
The Ultimate Issue
Web Evangelism Issues

Cyber-Church?

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