Image by Giara via Flickr

I was reading a blog at Out of Ur about Virtual Church – you know, the trend to put church services online.  And I do agree that while the main problem with a virtual church is the inability to relate to others, which is very difficult in an online church service, the discussion about it got me thinking. In particular this sentence got my attention – “And while internet campuses provide a great sermon delivery vehicle, and even allow you to virtually raise your hand in response, what they don’t do is allow you to be known and missed”

The problem I have unfortunately seen is people not being “known and missed” in a physical church – with real walls and real people.  The larger the church the easier it becomes for people to fall through the cracks. Real people with real feelings and real needs – their absence becomes unnoticed among the throng and when they may need some people from their church the most, their church fails them in their need.  It’s not on purpose or by any plan – it just happens.

Think back – see if there is someone that you have lost track of. Someone that used to be in your life every Sunday. You know what to do.

Steve

That was one of the subjects on twitter the other day – What do you think when you hear the word #Church (Ignore the # – it’s a twitter thing).  I didn’t see many of the responses but I was mulling over possible responses in my head.  As a partner in LifeQuest Church in Macon, I thought it was something that I should consider.

Personally for me it is something to look forward to.  Of course there are some exceptions, making sure that the media is ready to go is part of my responsibility and I have been up at 2AM early Sunday morning trying to get things right for Sunday morning.  But like other Christians I think that sometimes it becomes a responsibility; something that is expected of us rather than something we look forward to.  If we as Christians maybe sometimes cringe when we hear the word Church what is possibly running through the minds of others.

Is this possibly what may be running through the minds of certain people groups?

Teenager – Is church a place that is relevant to me. It seems like we learn about all those ancient guys- almost as bad as school but at least we don’t have tests.  Not my type of music. I can’t wait till I’m an adult and I can decide where I go and where I go probably won’t be to Church on Sunday mornings.

College Student -  Church, yeah I sometimes go with Mom and Dad when I’m home for the weekend. When I’m away at school I just never have the time for that. Church isn’t that important in my life right now.

Young Couple with small children – I was raised in Church.  I also believe my kids should be brought up in Church too – I want them to be exposed to religion even though I don’t always agree with the Church’s stand on certain issues.

Alcoholic, Drug User, etc – I have messed up too bad for God to want to have anything to do with me – and those Church people – they may come around sometimes like they want to help, bring a meal or something like that – but what I really feel from them is that this dirty filthy sinner better not get not to close to them. I think they come here to us sometimes so they can feel better about themselves without the likes of me dimming the door of one of their buildings on a Sunday morning.  Pretty much lets me know I was right in the first place – I’ve done too many awful things for God to forgive me.

Homosexual – Yeah – like I would go there. I have heard hate the sin but love the sinner enough. Hope that makes them feel better – I don’t think there is a church around here that I could walk into without sneers and snickers behind my back.  Such love of God these people exemplify.

What thoughts do you think of when you hear the word CHURCH??