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Now here’s a church that you probably won’t get kicked out of.

Hilarious! But sad if anyone really thinks it would actually count.
 
I've seen a number of sketches by that comic. He's hilarious... unfortunately his poking fun is too true...
 
Well, thats American Christianity distilled down into a gizmo.
 
On a serious note - why not?
Here we all are discussing God on an internet forum.
Imagine if we could be discussing God and worshipping together regularly online, as if we were standing in the same room together. Wouldn't that be awesome.
Imagine if we could worship with our brothers from around the world.

There are dangers in all new technology. You can make it superficial. You can choose to only interact with people who believe the same as you and form a cult of the only 8 people in the entire world who believe your own brand of nuttiness and still worship together every weekend and think you're doing church right. But you could also use it for great good.
 
FollowingHim said:
You can choose to only interact with people who believe the same as you and form a cult of the only 8 people in the entire world who believe your own brand of nuttiness and still worship together every weekend and think you're doing church right.
Click to expand...

Well, why not? Worked once before. .. ;)
 
FollowingHim said:
On a serious note - why not?
Here we all are discussing God on an internet forum.
Imagine if we could be discussing God and worshipping together regularly online, as if we were standing in the same room together. Wouldn't that be awesome.
Click to expand...
As funny as the video was, after I stopped laughing, I kinda had the same reaction as Samuel. Paul delivered virtual sermons remotely, using the most advanced telecommunications technology of his day: written letters. Its easy to take the written alphabet for granted, not to mention the network of well-built Roman roads, but there are still corners of the third world where missionaries wish they had it so advanced as Paul.

"For though I am absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ."

In fact, you know that whole thing where people say things online that they wouldn't say in person? Paul struggled with that too:

"Now I Paul, myself, entreat you by the humility and gentleness of Christ; I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you."
 
Because Paul was just communicating knowledge, he didn't pretend that he was replacing the fellowship of church with a letter.

This seems like a reasonable idea given our current conception of church; but it was meant to be so much more.
 
Consumer Church (aka McChurch) extrapolated to its obvious limit.

Church is not about what we're looking for; it's about God looking for us. We need to be at work in meatspace. Work where you are. Key word: work.

This internet thingy is great for communication and validation, but it is a horrible substitute for real life. Virtual fellowship makes as much sense as virtual sex.
 
But with virtual reality, it's now getting almost like you really are standing in the same room and talking to each other. Like a video call but in 3D. Many of us do video calls, and although a poor substitute for in-person meeting they're still a lot better than a letter or a phone call. This is just one step closer to being actually in a room together. It could be really useful.

We could have a monthly retreat where we actually seemed to be standing in the same room together, with people from all over the world, without leaving our homes.

Think of the amazing potential of technology like that, particularly for those of us who are most isolated from fellowship by distance.
 
FollowingHim said:
But with virtual reality, it's now getting almost like you really are standing in the same room and talking to each other. Like a video call but in 3D. Many of us do video calls, and although a poor substitute for in-person meeting they're still a lot better than a letter or a phone call. This is just one step closer to being actually in a room together. It could be really useful.

We could have a monthly retreat where we actually seemed to be standing in the same room together, with people from all over the world, without leaving our homes.

Think of the amazing potential of technology like that, particularly for those of us who are most isolated from fellowship by distance.
Click to expand...

I’m with you on the idea for occasional meeting with distant friends... but agree with Andrew it’s not a reasonable idea to replace actual real life assembly...
 
FollowingHim said:
But with virtual reality, it's now getting almost like you really are standing in the same room and talking to each other. Like a video call but in 3D. Many of us do video calls, and although a poor substitute for in-person meeting they're still a lot better than a letter or a phone call. This is just one step closer to being actually in a room together. It could be really useful.

We could have a monthly retreat where we actually seemed to be standing in the same room together, with people from all over the world, without leaving our homes.

Think of the amazing potential of technology like that, particularly for those of us who are most isolated from fellowship by distance.
Click to expand...
This seems like a great next step to more fellowship. I'm in.
 
Phillip said:
Where do I send my virtual tithe to?
Click to expand...

Where?

1 Cor 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by [tithemia 5087] him [not the preacher or ekklesia] in store, as God hath prospered him,

Beneficiary?

Eph 4:28. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.†.

Obviously this tithemi was not intended for those who didnt work or were Christ salesmen.
 
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