Church in crisis

[vic66]

Not written by myself let hear your views on this

The shutdown for coronavirus protection has exposed the inadequacy of the modern way of doing church.

Pastors are talking about virtual church, digital worship and online services, as if they were something revolutionary. The reality is that these methods are far from the "body of Jesus" that Paul described.

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body... Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. As it is, there are many parts, but one body (1 Cor 12:12-14, 18, 20).

Paul was not describing a virtual church or digital body.

 

An online service is a good way for a pastor to speak to all his/her people at the same time, but the body of Jesus is more than a weekly sermon. If the people of the church need to hear from their pastor to know what to do in a new situation, something is seriously wrong. If they have been taught how to hear the Holy Spirit speak, he will tell them what to do. And if people start listening to sermons online, they will soon discover there is far better teaching available online that they can get from their pastor. And then tithing will stop, because why pay for something you can get for free.

Online services enable people to listen to the pastor praying and agree with the prayers, but it is far more important that they pray under the leading of the Holy Spirit themselves.

If people like to worship while listening to Christian music, there is plenty available online. They don't need their church worship team making their selection for them. They would be better following the leading of the Holy Spirit, who knows what will inspire and encourage them.

The internet can be used to communicate words and music, but it does not channel the Holy Spirit. He lives in the hearts of God's people, and that is where he works.

The stuff that strengthens the body of Jesus cannot be done in an online church service.

• The gifts of the Holy Spirit cannot flow.
• Sharing with people in need cannot take place.
• Discernment of spirits cannot take place
• Healing and deliverance cannot occur.
• The one another stuff is not possible.
• Discipleship cannot be done.

A digital church service is a very sub-optimal way for the body of Christ to function. Virtual church is not real church.

 

Paul used the technology that was available in his time to communicate with the churches he had established. He made extensive use of letters to connect with his friends and churches, but he understood the limitations of written communication. He wrote that he longed to be with the Romans so that he could impart a spiritual gift to them.

I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong (Rom 1:11).

Paul understood the limits of written communication. If he had lived in the internet age, Paul would have used it, but he would not have seen it as a substitute for meeting with people. He understood that the Holy Spirit prefers to move in the midst of a few followers of Jesus who love each other and have gathered to serve Jesus.

 

The church should be glad that it has had a trial run of a crisis. The current lock-down will end after a few months, but I can think of several circumstances that would cripple the church in a similar way.

• A prolonged period of persecution by the state in which church buildings are locked and pastors are arrested.
• A war that prevents people from moving far from their homes.
• An economic crisis that means people cannot afford to drive their cars to church.
• Economic sanctions that limit people's ability to travel.
• A fuel shortage that limits the use of motor vehicles.
• Weekend and evening curfews following a military coup.
• A serious epidemic that prevents all travel and movement
• Marauding thieving gangs that make all travel far from home dangerous.

The church has experienced these types of events frequently throughout its history, so they are not abnormal.

 

The coronavirus shutdown has demonstrated that the operating model of the modern church is only viable in good-times. The irony is that most Christians believe that there could be hard times ahead, but they have opted for a good-times church.

I hope that when the current shutdown comes to an end, pastors and church leaders will not just go back to their good-times way of operating. I hope that they will think and pray about discovering a way of being church that would remain viable through both good times and hard times.

One way that God is using the current bad situation for good is giving the church a trial run of hard times (without being life-threatening for most people). I hope that pastors and church leaders will take the opportunity to learn from the experience. If your pastors are not thinking seriously about this issue, then I suggest that you challenge them to do so.

Here is a truth that we cannot afford to ignore. A church that can only meet by people driving to a church building once a week will not be viable in hard times.

I presume that most church leaders are hoping that the crisis will soon be over so that things will go back to normal. If so, they are missing what God is saying to the church in this season. Getting back to normal is not getting back to good times. The bible teaches that tribulation is normal for the church. Jesus said,

In the world you have tribulation (John 16:33).

If Jesus said we will have tribulations, why would be happy with a way of doing church that is only viable in good times?

 

The current crisis is a fairly-mild, temporary trial, but it is a clear warning that a good-times model of doing church is really rather fragile. We urgently need a way of being church that can cope with good times, hard times and tribulations. We would be foolish to ignore the warning and carry on as normal.

 

Extra reading added by myself

1 Corinthians 12(KJV)

12 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

² Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

³ Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

⁴ Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

⁵ And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

⁶ And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

⁷ But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

⁸ For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

⁹ To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

¹⁰ To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

¹¹ But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

¹² For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

¹³ For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

¹⁴ For the body is not one member, but many.

¹⁵ If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

¹⁶ And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

¹⁸ But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

¹⁹ And if they were all one member, where were the body?

²⁰ But now are they many members, yet but one body.

²¹ And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

²² Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

²³ And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

²⁴ For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.

²⁵ That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

²⁶ And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

²⁷ Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

²⁸ And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

²⁹ Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

³⁰ Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

³¹ But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way

Edited April 3, 2020 by vic66

[Of the Kingdom]

Thank you for the article. It appears this was originally posted at:

 

Blessed Economist blog

[R. Hartono]

Just because Paul did not know what is internet doesnt make it useless for Gospel news to spread quicker passing all Borders of nations in this end Times situation.

[missmuffet]

Do Christians need a Church to worship Christ? He is with them where ever they go. You don't need a Church to have a daily relationship with Jesus Christ. 

[AnOrangeCat]

I have to disagree strongly with the article. God and His gifts aren't limited in the slightest by our technology or how far apart a given set of believers are.

[walla299]

9 hours ago, AnOrangeCat said:

I have to disagree strongly with the article. God and His gifts aren't limited in the slightest by our technology or how far apart a given set of believers are.

Agreed.

Some of the best worship times I've ever had were when I was alone (except for Him.) That does not mean its okay to forsake a gathering of believers when it is otherwise possible to gather (i.e. no quarantines.) The Church is those individuals who belong to Christ, not a mere building. Some of the best "church" services I've ever been to were the ones where a few believers got together where ever they were, be it an aircraft hanger in the middle east, the deck of ship at sea, in a barn, or other location, God always met us there.

[TheBlade]

Thanks for sharing.. I agree in part. But. we need to remember God is not in space and time. So be you there and me here.. praising worshiping Him... is still in ONE accord and this has no effect on the Sweet holy Spirit. What about all those that can't ever leave home.? yeah..God still moves. WONDERFUL to be together. Many nations can't have Church at all.. they still meet

[vic66]

8 hours ago, TheBlade said:

Thanks for sharing.. I agree in part. But. we need to remember God is not in space and time. So be you there and me here.. praising worshiping Him... is still in ONE accord and this has no effect on the Sweet holy Spirit. What about all those that can't ever leave home.? yeah..God still moves. WONDERFUL to be together. Many nations can't have Church at all.. they still meet

I agree God isn't limited Christ just spoke the word and the centurion servant was healed that same hour, but the needs of saints, personal counsel are best met face to face.

internet can be cut off or restricted if they don't agree with your message. 

[vic66]

On 4/4/2020 at 7:54 AM, missmuffet said:

Do Christians need a Church to worship Christ? He is with them where ever they go. You don't need a Church to have a daily relationship with Jesus Christ. 

Church fellowship, prayer meetings and exercising the Gift of the spirit are best practice in a group or house fellowship setting.

Psalm 133 (KJV)

133 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

² It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;

³ As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

Edited April 5, 2020 by vic66

[vic66]

 

1John1:5-7

⁵ This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: ⁷ but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Edited April 5, 2020 by vic66