Online Church

Online is better than no church at all - but attending in person , making friends, joining a Bible study group or participating with those friends in gospel out reach is best. Those friends can also be of help when you face some of life's challenges and need a Christian friends to support your efforts.

friendl said:

Hello,

Is it okay to have an online Church instead of going to a local Church?
I do follow a few online Churches.

Also I do follow Premier Christian Radio, which is a community of Christian listener, and they do service on the radio every Sunday.

Is that sufficient for being a member of a Church?

Regards,
L

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Is it okay to do this? sure. Is it sufficient? I couldn't say. I don't know your circumstances so I can't say if it is sufficient. For me, it would not be optimal or sufficient but that is dependent upon my circumstances as well as my desire. My opinion is that, if possible, one should be involved in the Church, not simply an observer. For me, it is very possible, for others it is not. There are numerous people that attend services or masses and are no more involved than you are. They remain observers. Where one observes from is irrelevant. If you are capable of more, I would say you would profit from doing more. If you are not, then don't feel guilty just because you don't go to some building to do your observation. The Church, after all, is not a building and God is not only present within a particular building.

Is that sufficient for being a member of a Church?

An assembly of believers (church or ecclessia) has many functions. Being instructed in doctrine is just one. Being available to exhort and encourage fellow believers is difficult to accomplish online. For this there has to be an investment in the lives of fellow believers. This does not necessarily have to be done in a church building. one can maintain individual Christian friendships through which one can minister to and be ministered by other believers. However, the relational aspect of Christianity should not be neglected.

Relational Christianity (free pdf booklet)

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