“The Church in Cyberspace”
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“You Christians are all alike! Holier than thou
narrow-minded people who think that your way is the only way and you look down
on those that have a different opinion…
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“I’m trying to contact as many churches as possible.
I am thinking about suicide and this is the only way I know to work through the
pain!”
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“I have been facing many challenges recently, one of
which involved signs and symptoms of cancer. I was in so much pain…”
All three people approached me within the last few days. All are suffering and need to be reassured in a way only God can offer. One could have been burned by a church or minister. Another suffers with emotional and physical disabilities. The third has been told of having a life threatening illness and is seeking healing. Their problems are not unique. How they found me is. I’ve never actually met any of them. All three approached me over the Internet by email. Why?
It is truly a different world! Surveys show heightened interest in spiritual issues. The phenomenal popularity of “Touched By An Angel” on television and the “Chicken Soup of the Soul” book series illustrate the general public’s newfound interest in God. Religious websites offering devotions, Bible study, chat rooms and prayers are the fastest growing segment on the Internet. Yet the typical mainline church is still declining and hundreds are even closing. In other words, many people seeking God are going someplace other than their local church.
In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the story of a business owner going on a journey and entrusting various sums of money with three employees. After a time the owner returns and asks the three for a report. The first two employees give glowing accounts of how they doubled their boss’s original investment. The owner is very pleased and invites them to join the company as full partners. The third employee, however, afraid of failure, did nothing. The reaction of the owner was righteous anger as he took the money away and the timid one was sent into the darkness.
Jesus has gone on a journey and has entrusted the church to
act as His holy messenger. The lesson clearly favors those churches that
respond to today’s needs by creatively applying and teaching the active and
penetrating Word of God. Churches that do not adapt, like our timid employee,
will face a dismal future of too many funerals and too few baptisms.
Why are so many becoming tuned in to God yet being turned
off by God’s church?
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They don’t understand my situation: The church is considered to be out of touch with typical career and family concerns. For example: More than fifty percent of unchurched adults are single. Yet few churches support any kind of singles ministry.
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All they want is my money: A group of men were asked to describe what the church expected of them. They said: Attend worship, write a check and don’t make waves.
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Worship is dull: Television, movies and sporting events offer exciting entertainment so worship services can easily be perceived as dull by comparison.
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Church members are eager to judge and slow to help: Most of us find God in the midst of great struggle or tragedy, yet the church often seems ill equipped to provide real aid.
If most folks think we are dull, badger them for money and
offer criticism rather than understanding is it any wonder why they stay away? Yet,
God’s church offers the reassuring message of God’s continuing love and grace
to a world desperately seeking hope! But we must be willing to adapt the methods
used to present that message to a changing world. Three people sharing their
concerns through email and the Bible story of three employees investing their
boss’s money vividly reminded me that we as the church can and must do better.