Comments on: Can the virtual church replace the physical church? http://blog.ourchurch.com/2006/06/06/can-the-virtual-church-replace-the-physical-church/ A look at how trends in communication technology impact individuals and organizations. Sat, 17 May 2008 04:58:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.1 by: BluAngelGrrl http://blog.ourchurch.com/2006/06/06/can-the-virtual-church-replace-the-physical-church/#comment-71525 Tue, 18 Sep 2007 02:04:52 +0000 http://blog.ourchurch.com/2006/06/06/can-the-virtual-church-replace-the-physical-church/#comment-71525 LuckyStrike, Just wanted to say that despite being so personally attacked by "pastor" rudy, you continue to present what the Word actually says and not what you want it to say. Thank you. I learned a lot I didn't know, and I've been reading and studying the Bible since before I ever started going to Kindergarten. (I started reading very early!). Thank you for presenting God's word in a dignifed and logical way that is easy for anyone to read and understand and for linking the texts for us to read on our own. LuckyStrike,
Just wanted to say that despite being so personally attacked by “pastor” rudy, you continue to present what the Word actually says and not what you want it to say. Thank you. I learned a lot I didn’t know, and I’ve been reading and studying the Bible since before I ever started going to Kindergarten. (I started reading very early!). Thank you for presenting God’s word in a dignifed and logical way that is easy for anyone to read and understand and for linking the texts for us to read on our own.

]]> by: Ofreda http://blog.ourchurch.com/2006/06/06/can-the-virtual-church-replace-the-physical-church/#comment-59204 Thu, 12 Jul 2007 23:57:18 +0000 http://blog.ourchurch.com/2006/06/06/can-the-virtual-church-replace-the-physical-church/#comment-59204 Hi Luckystrike: I was kicked out of "Church of God in Christ " after fifty years for questioning my pastor about the lie of tithing. He accused me of not being saved. I am very much impressed with your knowledge of the bible. I am not educated with a PHD but I do study the word daily. I don't understand how my pastor can have a master in theology yet doesn't understand scripture interpreting scripture. Do you have any advice or pointers as to how I can be well versed as you are? Do I need to go to a seminary? Your blogs are priceless!!! If I don't hear from you. I just want you to know. Your blogs are nothing but the truth. Thanks for making my day! Do you have a website? Hi Luckystrike: I was kicked out of “Church of God in Christ ” after fifty years for questioning my pastor about the lie of tithing. He accused me of not being saved. I am very much impressed with your knowledge of the bible. I am not educated with a PHD but I do study the word daily. I don’t understand how my pastor can have a master in theology yet doesn’t understand scripture interpreting scripture. Do you have any advice or pointers as to how I can be well versed as you are? Do I need to go to a seminary? Your blogs are priceless!!! If I don’t hear from you. I just want you to know. Your blogs are nothing but the truth. Thanks for making my day! Do you have a website?

]]> by: Rev Len Bellamy http://blog.ourchurch.com/2006/06/06/can-the-virtual-church-replace-the-physical-church/#comment-6608 Tue, 28 Nov 2006 20:48:41 +0000 http://blog.ourchurch.com/2006/06/06/can-the-virtual-church-replace-the-physical-church/#comment-6608 I have read with much interest the comments that have been written - I have been a pastor for 30 yrs in large and small churches alike. The local church assembly is wonderful and I wouldn't have missed the experiences or the growth that belonging to a local church congregation has provided for me. In fact, I probably have gotten more out of being a pastor than I have been able to give. The people and the fellowship of the saints have been superb. I still pastor a small brick and mortar church these days. It is small because that is where God has called me to minister. However.......... He has also called me to be the Senior Pastor (along with my associate pastor) of a Live Online Church fellowship. Our Live Online Services are every Sat morning (so that people can still attend their local church if they choose to do so). We meet in a professional business conference room for praise and worship music along with the anointed preaching of the Word of the Lord. Does it work? A resounding YES! Are needs being met for the body of Christ? Most definitely! It seems as I have read through the postings that, what I am seeing, is judgements are being made based on little or no experiential facts. Is the Lord limited to an actual building? I think not! God is blessing this Live online ministry. People are getting saved and coming into a relationship with The Lord Jesus Christ (many brick and mortar places of worship have not seen conversions for years). People are being healed of sicknesses and diseases, miracles are taking place, and there is a definite fellowship of the believers. We are doing Live Online baby dedications, Partaking of communion together, and even hearing live testimonies of the wonderful works God is doing for and through us. We are reaching out the the visually impaired, physically challenged and shutins around the world. We are told over and over again when people enter the conference room that they are confronted with the presence of the Holy Spirit. We place no limitations on God, nor do we believe lables are important. If you love Jesus as we do, you are welcome to worship with us, period! I am firmly convinced that an online church can be a viable worship experience whereby people's needs are being met and a place where the Holy Spirit can minister to people. I have been in far too many churches (you know the brick and mortar kind) whereby someone forgot to ask the Holy Spirit to be there or prompty evicted Him when He arrived. Check it out at our website! http://www.liveonlinechurch.zoomshare.com Yes it is a freebie website - only until our new website is online & up & running. Let's give God the praise for whatever His doing whether it is online or in the local church assembly. Blessings! Len Bellamy (Rev) pastor_len@liveonlinechurch.com I have read with much interest the comments
that have been written - I have been a pastor
for 30 yrs in large and small churches alike.
The local church assembly is wonderful and I
wouldn’t have missed the experiences or the
growth that belonging to a local church
congregation has provided for me.

In fact, I probably have gotten more out of
being a pastor than I have been able to give.
The people and the fellowship of the saints
have been superb.

I still pastor a small brick and mortar church
these days. It is small because that is where
God has called me to minister. However……….
He has also called me to be the Senior Pastor
(along with my associate pastor) of a Live
Online Church fellowship.

Our Live Online Services are every Sat morning
(so that people can still attend their local
church if they choose to do so). We meet in
a professional business conference room for
praise and worship music along with the
anointed preaching of the Word of the Lord.

Does it work?
A resounding YES! Are needs being met for
the body of Christ? Most definitely!

It seems as I have read through the postings
that, what I am seeing, is judgements are being
made based on little or no experiential facts.

Is the Lord limited to an actual building?
I think not! God is blessing this Live online
ministry.

People are getting saved and coming into a
relationship with The Lord Jesus Christ (many
brick and mortar places of worship have not seen
conversions for years).

People are being healed of sicknesses and
diseases, miracles are taking place, and
there is a definite fellowship of the believers.

We are doing Live Online baby dedications,
Partaking of communion together, and even hearing
live testimonies of the wonderful works God is
doing for and through us.

We are reaching out the the visually impaired,
physically challenged and shutins around the world.

We are told over and over again when people
enter the conference room that they are confronted
with the presence of the Holy Spirit. We place
no limitations on God, nor do we believe
lables are important. If you love Jesus as we do,
you are welcome to worship with us, period!

I am firmly convinced that an online church can
be a viable worship experience whereby people’s
needs are being met and a place where the Holy Spirit
can minister to people.

I have been in far too many churches (you know the
brick and mortar kind) whereby someone forgot to
ask the Holy Spirit to be there or prompty evicted
Him when He arrived.

Check it out at our website!
http://www.liveonlinechurch.zoomshare.com

Yes it is a freebie website - only until our new
website is online & up & running.

Let’s give God the praise for whatever His doing
whether it is online or in the local church assembly.

Blessings!

Len Bellamy (Rev)
pastor_len@liveonlinechurch.com

]]> by: The LifeChurch.tv Internet Campus | dipnoi http://blog.ourchurch.com/2006/06/06/can-the-virtual-church-replace-the-physical-church/#comment-5034 Mon, 06 Nov 2006 23:31:35 +0000 http://blog.ourchurch.com/2006/06/06/can-the-virtual-church-replace-the-physical-church/#comment-5034 [...] The LifeChurch.tv Internet Campus I’m up in the Chicago area this week for the Acts 2 Conference put on by Willow Creek Community Church. The conference is an interactive learning experience in which 5 innovative ways of doing church ministry are presented and then discussed by a panel of forward-thinking pastors. Ideas being presented include the come-as-you-are culture, multi-cultural outreach, and community impact ministry. Craig Groeschel, senior pastor of LifeChurch.tv, spoke about multi-site ministry. LifeChurch.tv has 8 physical campuses in 4 states plus an Internet campus. Each campus has its own live worship band and its own campus pastor, and through the use of satellite technology Pastor Groeschel can teach at all 9 campuses simultaneously, including the Internet campus. To see a physical church making a real effort to create an online church really sparked my interest. A few months ago I wrote a blog article titled Can the Virtual Church Replace the Physical Church? which sparked a very, shall we say animated, discussion. In fact, I believe it’s the most commented article we’ve had so far this year. There are some very legitimate issues about whether a community of believers online can genuinely function as a Biblically-based church. Can a person be in true fellowship in an online community? Can a virtual community really engage in mutual service and bear each others burdens? Can spiritual growth, accountability, and evangelism be achieved to the same degree online as it can in a physical church? These are all important questions that need to be addressed. Between sessions I had a chance to talk with, Bobby Gruenewald, who’s a part of the LifeChurch.tv senior leadership team and very involved in the technical aspects of their Internet campus. We talked about some of these issues. When most people hear the term “Internet church” they think its more or less like watching a televangelist on TV, where “viewers” are completely disconnected with one another, but that is not the case with LifeChurch.tv’s Internet campus. While you can experience the service anonymously, LifeChurch.tv encourages people to register and login when they engage in a worship experience. After the service you can hang out in the virtual lobby and chat with other worshippers as well as the campus pastor. There is a real effort made to help people connect to the church and other people. Just like their physical campuses, the Internet campus has small groups, called Life Groups, which people are encouraged to join. Bobby told me the Internet campus has about 30 Life Groups, which are listed online. I was totally surprised to hear that many of these groups actually physically meet together during the week in places like St. Louis, MO and Charlotte, NC. But what about service? Using your God-given gifts to serve others is one of the most important parts of serving in a local church. You can’t serve others online, can you? Well, yes you can. LifeChurch.tv’s Internet campus provides numerous serving opportunities. People can start their own Life Group, help answer technical questions, or even go on a virtual missions trip to MySpace. I thought Craig Groeschel was kidding about the MySpace missions trip when he mentioned it in his talk, but no, it really took place this past Wednesday. Check it out. A bunch of folks from the Internet campus gathered in the chat lobby to talk about how to share the gospel in MySpace and pray. Then everyone logged into their MySpace account and began having spiritual conversations with their MySpace friends and inviting them to one of the Internet campus life experiences. At the end of the MicroMission they met back in the chat lobby to discuss what God did during that time and to thank Him for his work. Pretty awesome! I was rather skeptical that an online church could really function like a Biblical, Acts 2 church. But LifeChurch.tv may be on the path to doing just that. This is still very fresh and they haven’t figured the whole thing out, but they are committed to developing fully engaged, fully devoted followers of Christ through their Internet campus. What are your thoughts on the LifeChurch.tv Internet campus? October 27th 2006 Posted to Our Church [...] […] The LifeChurch.tv Internet Campus I’m up in the Chicago area this week for the Acts 2 Conference put on by Willow Creek Community Church. The conference is an interactive learning experience in which 5 innovative ways of doing church ministry are presented and then discussed by a panel of forward-thinking pastors. Ideas being presented include the come-as-you-are culture, multi-cultural outreach, and community impact ministry. Craig Groeschel, senior pastor of LifeChurch.tv, spoke about multi-site ministry. LifeChurch.tv has 8 physical campuses in 4 states plus an Internet campus. Each campus has its own live worship band and its own campus pastor, and through the use of satellite technology Pastor Groeschel can teach at all 9 campuses simultaneously, including the Internet campus. To see a physical church making a real effort to create an online church really sparked my interest. A few months ago I wrote a blog article titled Can the Virtual Church Replace the Physical Church? which sparked a very, shall we say animated, discussion. In fact, I believe it’s the most commented article we’ve had so far this year. There are some very legitimate issues about whether a community of believers online can genuinely function as a Biblically-based church. Can a person be in true fellowship in an online community? Can a virtual community really engage in mutual service and bear each others burdens? Can spiritual growth, accountability, and evangelism be achieved to the same degree online as it can in a physical church? These are all important questions that need to be addressed. Between sessions I had a chance to talk with, Bobby Gruenewald, who’s a part of the LifeChurch.tv senior leadership team and very involved in the technical aspects of their Internet campus. We talked about some of these issues. When most people hear the term “Internet church” they think its more or less like watching a televangelist on TV, where “viewers” are completely disconnected with one another, but that is not the case with LifeChurch.tv’s Internet campus. While you can experience the service anonymously, LifeChurch.tv encourages people to register and login when they engage in a worship experience. After the service you can hang out in the virtual lobby and chat with other worshippers as well as the campus pastor. There is a real effort made to help people connect to the church and other people. Just like their physical campuses, the Internet campus has small groups, called Life Groups, which people are encouraged to join. Bobby told me the Internet campus has about 30 Life Groups, which are listed online. I was totally surprised to hear that many of these groups actually physically meet together during the week in places like St. Louis, MO and Charlotte, NC. But what about service? Using your God-given gifts to serve others is one of the most important parts of serving in a local church. You can’t serve others online, can you? Well, yes you can. LifeChurch.tv’s Internet campus provides numerous serving opportunities. People can start their own Life Group, help answer technical questions, or even go on a virtual missions trip to MySpace. I thought Craig Groeschel was kidding about the MySpace missions trip when he mentioned it in his talk, but no, it really took place this past Wednesday. Check it out. A bunch of folks from the Internet campus gathered in the chat lobby to talk about how to share the gospel in MySpace and pray. Then everyone logged into their MySpace account and began having spiritual conversations with their MySpace friends and inviting them to one of the Internet campus life experiences. At the end of the MicroMission they met back in the chat lobby to discuss what God did during that time and to thank Him for his work. Pretty awesome! I was rather skeptical that an online church could really function like a Biblical, Acts 2 church. But LifeChurch.tv may be on the path to doing just that. This is still very fresh and they haven’t figured the whole thing out, but they are committed to developing fully engaged, fully devoted followers of Christ through their Internet campus. What are your thoughts on the LifeChurch.tv Internet campus? October 27th 2006 Posted to Our Church […]

]]> by: » The LifeChurch.tv Internet Campus http://blog.ourchurch.com/2006/06/06/can-the-virtual-church-replace-the-physical-church/#comment-4474 Fri, 27 Oct 2006 12:31:33 +0000 http://blog.ourchurch.com/2006/06/06/can-the-virtual-church-replace-the-physical-church/#comment-4474 [...] A few months ago I wrote a blog article titled Can the Virtual Church Replace the Physical Church? which sparked a very, shall we say animated, discussion.  In fact, I believe it’s the most commented article we’ve had so far this year.  There are some very legitimate issues about whether a community of believers online can genuinely function as a Biblically-based church.  Can a person be in true fellowship in an online community?  Can a virtual community really engage in mutual service and bear each others burdens?  Can spiritual growth, accountability, and evangelism be achieved to the same degree online as it can in a physical church?  These are all important questions that need to be addressed. [...] […] A few months ago I wrote a blog article titled Can the Virtual Church Replace the Physical Church? which sparked a very, shall we say animated, discussion.  In fact, I believe it’s the most commented article we’ve had so far this year.  There are some very legitimate issues about whether a community of believers online can genuinely function as a Biblically-based church.  Can a person be in true fellowship in an online community?  Can a virtual community really engage in mutual service and bear each others burdens?  Can spiritual growth, accountability, and evangelism be achieved to the same degree online as it can in a physical church?  These are all important questions that need to be addressed. […]

]]> by: Dave G Roberts http://blog.ourchurch.com/2006/06/06/can-the-virtual-church-replace-the-physical-church/#comment-3381 Sat, 16 Sep 2006 17:28:15 +0000 http://blog.ourchurch.com/2006/06/06/can-the-virtual-church-replace-the-physical-church/#comment-3381 I find this whole area fascinating... Thanks for the effort put in by the contributors to this blog... I am in a 3rd year of an Applied Theology Honours Degree, and my dissertation title is going to be something like "Is Virtual Church, Church?" based on the ecclesiology of Miroslav Volf... Once again, thank you and God bless you in abundance... I find this whole area fascinating… Thanks for the effort put in by the contributors to this blog…
I am in a 3rd year of an Applied Theology Honours Degree, and my dissertation title is going to be something like “Is Virtual Church, Church?” based on the ecclesiology of Miroslav Volf…

Once again, thank you and God bless you in abundance…

]]> by: Kevin LaPage http://blog.ourchurch.com/2006/06/06/can-the-virtual-church-replace-the-physical-church/#comment-3003 Mon, 28 Aug 2006 19:39:46 +0000 http://blog.ourchurch.com/2006/06/06/can-the-virtual-church-replace-the-physical-church/#comment-3003 It is my first time to this blog and I have sat and read it through. Many valid points having been brought up. The one person that sticks out is "Dr Rudy". You "pastor" need to get off the self righteous bandwagon stop preaching and read the bible. You may want to re-read the part of the blind leading. Repent and get outta the ditch. A man of Yah only seeks to give Yah glory not himself. Or did Messiah come down and present you with your doctorate? You seem so caught up in issues of tithing. O ye of little faith. I would want no part of your so called "God" by your own admission your "God" cannot provide for his or you would have no care of money you would trust in Yah that his will not yours is being done. You cannot serve 2 Gods you will either serve Yah or Mammon and you are serving Mammon. Another point you attempt is that of documentation, normally I would agree that all points list the exact place of scripture but since you have made the point to beat your chest and bathe in your self righteousness of how long you've been preaching I don't believe it to apply here. Since you (not Yah) have ordained yourself to preach. You are a wolf in sheeps clothing saying in one breath how learned you are and in the next breath chastising someone who didnt document verses for you. Which leads me to my question if you need these people to point verses to you what are you doing teaching anyone? May Yah's will be done not yours. A child of Yah! Kevin W. LaPage N1524 Old 26 Rd. Antigo, WI. 54409 It is my first time to this blog and I have sat and read it through. Many valid points having been brought up. The one person that sticks out is “Dr Rudy”. You “pastor” need to get off the self righteous bandwagon stop preaching and read the bible. You may want to re-read the part of the blind leading. Repent and get outta the ditch. A man of Yah only seeks to give Yah glory not himself. Or did Messiah come down and present you with your doctorate? You seem so caught up in issues of tithing. O ye of little faith. I would want no part of your so called “God” by your own admission your “God” cannot provide for his or you would have no care of money you would trust in Yah that his will not yours is being done. You cannot serve 2 Gods you will either serve Yah or Mammon and you are serving Mammon. Another point you attempt is that of documentation, normally I would agree that all points list the exact place of scripture but since you have made the point to beat your chest and bathe in your self righteousness of how long you’ve been preaching I don’t believe it to apply here. Since you (not Yah) have ordained yourself to preach. You are a wolf in sheeps clothing saying in one breath how learned you are and in the next breath chastising someone who didnt document verses for you. Which leads me to my question if you need these people to point verses to you what are you doing teaching anyone? May Yah’s will be done not yours.

A child of Yah!

Kevin W. LaPage
N1524 Old 26 Rd.
Antigo, WI. 54409

]]> by: Dr. Rudy Caldwell Ph.D. http://blog.ourchurch.com/2006/06/06/can-the-virtual-church-replace-the-physical-church/#comment-2250 Fri, 21 Jul 2006 21:02:44 +0000 http://blog.ourchurch.com/2006/06/06/can-the-virtual-church-replace-the-physical-church/#comment-2250 LUCKEYSTRIKE The greek word for angel is messenger [angelos] and the messenger of every local church is the Pastor, you need to get saved, give your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ, then the Holy Spirit will reveal the truths that are found in the Word of God, My interpertations from the Word of God are truth whether you believe them of not, have you every taking any Bible courses or are you just interpting the Bible like you want it to mean what you want it to mean? There has never been any error in any of my writings, because what I have written has come from the Word of God! You truly are as sad case, and need to get saved and learn the Bible before you try to teach someone else the interpution of any part of the Bible. A man who Jesus Christ died for to save. Dr. Rudy Caldwell Ph.D Countryview Baptist Church 1145 Amity Road Galloway, Ohio 43119 By the way you will address me as Pastor Caldwell or Dr. Caldwell from now on, you have no respect for any one, get real man or woman or what ever you are, you operate in darkness hiding your name, are you afraid someone will recognize who you are and expose you for what you are? LUCKEYSTRIKE
The greek word for angel is messenger [angelos] and the messenger of every local church is the Pastor, you need to get saved, give your heart to
the Lord Jesus Christ, then the Holy Spirit will reveal the truths that are found in the Word of God, My interpertations from the Word of God are truth whether you believe them of not, have you every taking any Bible courses or are you just interpting the Bible like you want it to mean what you want it to mean?
There has never been any error in any of my writings, because what I have written has come from the Word of God! You truly are as sad case, and need to get saved and learn the Bible before you try to teach someone else the interpution of any part of the Bible. A man who Jesus Christ died for to save.
Dr. Rudy Caldwell Ph.D Countryview Baptist Church 1145 Amity Road Galloway, Ohio 43119 By the way you will address me as Pastor Caldwell or Dr. Caldwell from now on, you have no respect for any one, get real man or woman or what ever you are, you operate in darkness hiding your name, are you afraid someone will recognize who you are and expose you for what you are?

]]> by: LuckyStrike http://blog.ourchurch.com/2006/06/06/can-the-virtual-church-replace-the-physical-church/#comment-2215 Fri, 21 Jul 2006 01:42:08 +0000 http://blog.ourchurch.com/2006/06/06/can-the-virtual-church-replace-the-physical-church/#comment-2215 Mr. Caldwell, you are erecting a <i>red herring</i>. The issue is not about <i>submitting to the Word of God</i>, but <i>submitting to your interpretation of the Word of God</i>. For instance, you claim that <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%202-3;&#38;version=31;" rel="nofollow">Revelation 2-3</a> addresses "the seven pastors" of the seven churches. However, nowhere does the Book of Revelation define "the seven angels" as "the seven pastors." To the contrary, your interpretation relies on inserting <i>non-sequitur</i> assumptions into the text. Now, are you capable of confessing your error? I will not move beyond this point until you answer my question Mr. Caldwell, you are erecting a red herring. The issue is not about submitting to the Word of God, but submitting to your interpretation of the Word of God.

For instance, you claim that Revelation 2-3 addresses “the seven pastors” of the seven churches. However, nowhere does the Book of Revelation define “the seven angels” as “the seven pastors.” To the contrary, your interpretation relies on inserting non-sequitur assumptions into the text.

Now, are you capable of confessing your error? I will not move beyond this point until you answer my question

]]> by: Dr. Rudy Caldwell Ph.D. http://blog.ourchurch.com/2006/06/06/can-the-virtual-church-replace-the-physical-church/#comment-2205 Thu, 20 Jul 2006 21:00:24 +0000 http://blog.ourchurch.com/2006/06/06/can-the-virtual-church-replace-the-physical-church/#comment-2205 LUCKYSTRICKE You are unsaved because you do not submit to the Word of God as the final authority and I rest my case because of that Dr. Rudy Caldwell Pastor of Countryview Baptist Church 1145 Amith Road Galloway, Ohio 43119 LUCKYSTRICKE
You are unsaved because you do not submit to the Word of God as the final authority and I rest my case because of that Dr. Rudy Caldwell Pastor of Countryview Baptist Church 1145 Amith Road Galloway, Ohio 43119

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