Web Based churches
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You've apparently not been to too many Holiness churches. Sometimes I think it makes some people feel better to judge and talk about others instead of looking at their own short comings. I've been in some church services where I can tell the preacher has looked over the crowd and prepared a sermon on something silly that isn't even in the Bible. Like men shouldn't wear short sleeve shirts because it is a sin or I could go on with all kinds of other nonsense they preach, but yet you find out later that they were doing much worse things and actually were committing sin.
Not saying all holiness churches are like that, but there are some. They'll scare the daylights out of you and tell you that God's out to get you for ever little thing...they don't preach a loving God who helps you to overcome. They preach a God who is there to beat you down for every little mistake. They preach works and you must do it all perfectly and if you slip, then you're gone. God's gonna cut you off.
Then again, I've been to the other churches where they tell you it's all good don't even worry about it. Party through out the week, cheat on your spouse, or whatever. They say do whatever you want and as long as your butt is in the seat on Wednesday and Sunday then it's all good. They preach a God that loves you and don't even care what you do. You can just sin and sin and don't even need to care about growing in the Lord because he loves you and don't care what you do. They preach grace as a license to sin.
I go for neither of those teachings and there has to be a middle ground because neither one of those is biblical.
So yeah, I guess these are the two scenarios in which I say run away from the Church, and find a good Biblically sound church to attend.
And I can see why some folks might want to run to an internet Church...but it really isn't the answer. And I know people do it for different reasons, so I probably shouldn't even be judging.
Not saying all holiness churches are like that, but there are some. They'll scare the daylights out of you and tell you that God's out to get you for ever little thing...they don't preach a loving God who helps you to overcome. They preach a God who is there to beat you down for every little mistake. They preach works and you must do it all perfectly and if you slip, then you're gone. God's gonna cut you off.
Then again, I've been to the other churches where they tell you it's all good don't even worry about it. Party through out the week, cheat on your spouse, or whatever. They say do whatever you want and as long as your butt is in the seat on Wednesday and Sunday then it's all good. They preach a God that loves you and don't even care what you do. You can just sin and sin and don't even need to care about growing in the Lord because he loves you and don't care what you do. They preach grace as a license to sin.
I go for neither of those teachings and there has to be a middle ground because neither one of those is biblical.
So yeah, I guess these are the two scenarios in which I say run away from the Church, and find a good Biblically sound church to attend.
And I can see why some folks might want to run to an internet Church...but it really isn't the answer. And I know people do it for different reasons, so I probably shouldn't even be judging.
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I get a bit of confuse on that score. There are definitely those that only have an online availability in their country: either they watch videos of church services or are able to chat with others like on here.
But like having services on a chat site or a discord server? I don’t get that...I mean it’s on a case by case basis I suppose but....I don’t know...
But like having services on a chat site or a discord server? I don’t get that...I mean it’s on a case by case basis I suppose but....I don’t know...
Agreed til the end. Sometimes when you feel that isolated you feel as though you almost have no choice but to take a stab in the dark and trust him to lead you. Periods where we can only focus on his light...which is lovely but we are also in the body as well...and we need people too. Nowhere in scripture was anyone ever completely isolated (except for a period of time). Leastways if you can find an example I would be glad to hear it. Even the lepers had each other.
I'm sure the Israelites "felt" isolated when they were required to be outside the camp when they were unclean, but there were probably others there to. Together alone kind of thing.
The internet is much like that, but I've found when you find real believers it's almost the same as in person. That's me though, I don't go to church for the teaching. I go for fellowship/edification/agreement. Is it in most churches? Nope.
I feel your heart somehow about most of this, there are some ugly things out there in churches. There are some negatives to technology...it isn't the same people say. It isn't, but I've also felt connections through technology in ways that have encouraged me when I'm parched for encouragement in ways that I haven't ever in person.
Late night radio at 3 AM where I just want to be near someone and pray but oh hey everyone's alseep...then turn on a station and wow...someone is praying and I've felt the spirit in it in ways that I rarely do when I'm in person with people. It's like I can just resonate alone but together.
I think there is such a thing as the long-distance body. Some people almost joke about it and it makes me sad. Like "I was there in spirit" regarding an activity they missed or some such.
I've been there in spirit late at night just crying out and have been met.
^That's one part of it.
I have no idea how I interact with the body. I usually have a specific need and it gets filled but it is rarely easy or rarely do I know where to look. I start with the word(usually) and finish (usually) but that in between stuff with people is mostly a mystery. The marriage hasn't occurred yet in it's fullness. We are in union...but faith is not yet sight and it's not over yet. Different discussion but I'm glad that I'm not in this alone is all I can really say at present
Tried to be brief but there's just so much to say. I'm starting to see things come together. I speak less out loud and listen more. It has certainly made a difference.
I'm sure the Israelites "felt" isolated when they were required to be outside the camp when they were unclean, but there were probably others there to. Together alone kind of thing.
The internet is much like that, but I've found when you find real believers it's almost the same as in person. That's me though, I don't go to church for the teaching. I go for fellowship/edification/agreement. Is it in most churches? Nope.
I feel your heart somehow about most of this, there are some ugly things out there in churches. There are some negatives to technology...it isn't the same people say. It isn't, but I've also felt connections through technology in ways that have encouraged me when I'm parched for encouragement in ways that I haven't ever in person.
Late night radio at 3 AM where I just want to be near someone and pray but oh hey everyone's alseep...then turn on a station and wow...someone is praying and I've felt the spirit in it in ways that I rarely do when I'm in person with people. It's like I can just resonate alone but together.
I think there is such a thing as the long-distance body. Some people almost joke about it and it makes me sad. Like "I was there in spirit" regarding an activity they missed or some such.
I've been there in spirit late at night just crying out and have been met.
^That's one part of it.
I have no idea how I interact with the body. I usually have a specific need and it gets filled but it is rarely easy or rarely do I know where to look. I start with the word(usually) and finish (usually) but that in between stuff with people is mostly a mystery. The marriage hasn't occurred yet in it's fullness. We are in union...but faith is not yet sight and it's not over yet. Different discussion but I'm glad that I'm not in this alone is all I can really say at present
Tried to be brief but there's just so much to say. I'm starting to see things come together. I speak less out loud and listen more. It has certainly made a difference.
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I kinda like what you mentioned @Mii about the “long distance” church body. I love how we can be so far away from others but we serve the same God. Such different ways we were raised, different life directions, yet we’re brothers and sisters in Christ no matter where we are. It’s awesome. My brain can’t even really grasp it honesty.
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Web based ministries....
Well I feel that forums like this are a good way for believers to share and encourage each other. Ive been online christian forums since 2011 a few different ones and have been blessed by them.
They dont replace the church but just a wider expression of it.
Is it the new generation well you might be surprised about the number of seniors that have taken to online. I dont think its only the preserve of the young.
When Jesus said to spread the good news to the ends of the earth...at the time people had no way of knowing just how big the earth really was...people were not as connected as we are today. I think its a great thing that we can spread the good news almost instantaneously these days across the planet.
Well I feel that forums like this are a good way for believers to share and encourage each other. Ive been online christian forums since 2011 a few different ones and have been blessed by them.
They dont replace the church but just a wider expression of it.
Is it the new generation well you might be surprised about the number of seniors that have taken to online. I dont think its only the preserve of the young.
When Jesus said to spread the good news to the ends of the earth...at the time people had no way of knowing just how big the earth really was...people were not as connected as we are today. I think its a great thing that we can spread the good news almost instantaneously these days across the planet.
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Also just a testimony a girl online witnessed to me and THAT was when I really did hear the gospel and got saved.
I was in this onlinesupport group for depression and the group started talking about spiritual matters and faith. There was one girl who was a christian so I asked her how did she have faith.
Im sure other people may have told me before but this girl online...she had prayed and she had the words. We had an email conversation. So dont think you have to physically be in person to speak the gospel to someone else.
I was in this onlinesupport group for depression and the group started talking about spiritual matters and faith. There was one girl who was a christian so I asked her how did she have faith.
Im sure other people may have told me before but this girl online...she had prayed and she had the words. We had an email conversation. So dont think you have to physically be in person to speak the gospel to someone else.
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One of the best benefits of online church is that you can dedicate much more time hanging out with other believers than a regular church. Instead of planning, getting dressed, driving, driving back. I mean I can't even drive and just moved to a place that you need a car for everything because there's no public transport here, so even though my SO has been on same page that we should go to church sometime, I don't want to badger him to go places since he works a lot right now and really just wants to rest when he gets home so I'm being patient we will go when he rests up. Plus online church works 24/7 and you can ask someone a question and they can answer later, it makes things really convenient. You should meet people in person too, but most of the time practicality wins for me. I don't feel pressed to meet live with believers every single time.
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The Holy Spirit has ministered to me and I’ve decided to rejoin this thread.
1 Corinthians 4:5 KJV
[5] Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
1 Corinthians 4:5 KJV
[5] Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
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