17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,
20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
We have been called into the body of Christ - His church, brought together in unity to wear and to bear His name. Because we are Christians, God not only has an individual purpose for each of us, but He desires to work collectively for His glory. We can gain a sense that we are not alone in the body of Christ, and He calls us into fellowship with one another, so that we can encourage and strengthen each other in the Lord. He desires to bring glory to His name as He expresses His nature through His people.
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In Hebrews chapter 10, we read about the connectivity of the body of Christ, coming together as we seek to grow in Christ:
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
There has been plenty of analysis and speculation as to how the growth of technology will impact the worship experience. And, while there are many who go to the internet to receive spiritual information, there are indications that there is a growing acceptance of the online worship experience becoming a primary way to relate with the Lord.
According to Christianity Today report on a new survey by the Barna Group, nearly half of Protestant senior pastors - 47% - agree that at least some people will experience their faith exclusively through the internet within the coming decade. And, the prospect of such a digital experience is becoming more accepted: nearly 9 out of 10 pastors (87%) told the Barna Group it is "theologically acceptable" to seek "faith assistance" or "religious experiences" online. Nearly 4 out of 10 pastors (39%) say they now do so themselves, according to Barna's recent survey examining the online actions and attitudes of more than 600 pastors.
By comparison, in 2000 only 78 percent of pastors felt online religious experiences were theologically acceptable, and only 15 percent used the internet for their own religious experiences.
Also, the survey indicated that around 1 in 7 pastors (13%) say the risks of the internet being used to "spread spiritual heresy and distort Christianity" outweigh its potential to "spread authentic Christianity." By comparison, 17 percent felt the same in 2000.
Also, over half of pastors (55%) believe that churches will have to have a significant website or presence on the internet in order to remain effective. In 2000, only 1 in 4 (26%) felt the same.
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
There has been plenty of analysis and speculation as to how the growth of technology will impact the worship experience. And, while there are many who go to the internet to receive spiritual information, there are indications that there is a growing acceptance of the online worship experience becoming a primary way to relate with the Lord.
According to Christianity Today report on a new survey by the Barna Group, nearly half of Protestant senior pastors - 47% - agree that at least some people will experience their faith exclusively through the internet within the coming decade. And, the prospect of such a digital experience is becoming more accepted: nearly 9 out of 10 pastors (87%) told the Barna Group it is "theologically acceptable" to seek "faith assistance" or "religious experiences" online. Nearly 4 out of 10 pastors (39%) say they now do so themselves, according to Barna's recent survey examining the online actions and attitudes of more than 600 pastors.
By comparison, in 2000 only 78 percent of pastors felt online religious experiences were theologically acceptable, and only 15 percent used the internet for their own religious experiences.
Also, the survey indicated that around 1 in 7 pastors (13%) say the risks of the internet being used to "spread spiritual heresy and distort Christianity" outweigh its potential to "spread authentic Christianity." By comparison, 17 percent felt the same in 2000.
Also, over half of pastors (55%) believe that churches will have to have a significant website or presence on the internet in order to remain effective. In 2000, only 1 in 4 (26%) felt the same.
And, 54% of pastors believe that developing a significant presence on the internet is a good investment of their church’s money. In 2000, only 1 in 3 (31%) felt the same.
It is a challenge to determine how best to use the tools of the digital age to facilitate and promote spiritual growth, while making sure that people are not become disconnected with each other personally while they become more connected virtually. The Bible teaches that we are called into community and that we are to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together. Does such assembly online constitute community?
I think we have to take a close look at how the Bible defines community and make sure that our virtual activities do not become an inferior substitute for the authentic fellowship that God prescribes for the body of Christ. I do believe that social media is a wonderful tool for promoting and engaging in spiritual growth, but we have to guard against becoming isolated from true fellowship by its digital counterpart.
I also echo the concerns of that small number of pastors who indicate that you could connect to spiritual heresy and distortions of Christianity through the internet. That is why it is so important that the basis for our spiritual growth should always be centered on our own personal study of God's Word. Internet Bible study and spiritual information accessed online can be rich and instructive to us, but we have to make sure that we are grounded in truth by the personal study of the Bible and the faithful, accurate teaching of God's Word.
We can be reminded that Faith Radio represents a technological tool through which spiritual growth can occur. The sound, reliable teaching of God's Word that can be found there on a daily basis, and that teaching, along with music that can enhance the worship experience, can bring a greater awareness of how God wants to operate in our lives.
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