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Post by Hummy Jones on Apr 19, 2010 15:14:07 GMT -5
My Bff and I were talking about church and the rise of technology. At her church, they have members across the globe in different countries due to the internet. All one had to do is email the pastor in requiring about joining, if they want to be saved or have a prayer sent to them or etc., all they had to do was go to the website and send an email. They are able to watch service online and pay their tithes through paypal.
I am still trying to think on how I feel about this. I feel like there is nothing like being in the Lord's house. Is this going to far with technology? Any opinions? Is this a good idea for churches or a bad idea?
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Post by peppermint on Apr 19, 2010 15:17:48 GMT -5
<---church offers tithing through paypal
<--- church has "online members" but isn't sure of the process to become one.
I spoke with a friend of mine about this a couple of days ago and we both concluded this lacks true fellowship. Like the thread talking about technology and road trips. Technology shouldn't take over every aspect of our lives. I saw a billboard for a "virtual" church. IDK if that means it's literally a "virtual" church or if they just have online services.
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Post by Hummy Jones on Apr 19, 2010 15:26:04 GMT -5
I agree... it does lack true fellowship. There is nothing like being in church. The atmosphere is totally different. Slowly but surely, technology is starting to take over our lives and even our jobs. I understand with catching church service if someone missed a service here or there due to valid reasons. But not actually joining a church on line. Give in take there could be some valid reasons for doing so, but why?
Wow, there is a virtual church online? I have to see this one.
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Post by DamieQue™ on Apr 19, 2010 15:46:35 GMT -5
Hmmmmmm... intriguing.
I can see how this could be problematic in some scenarios... but then again the body isn't brick and mortar. If someone receives the Word from a particular location and the move away but they feel compelled to stay attached to a particular church because they're being fed - I guess I don't see a problem with that.
Online membership? Hmmmmm... again intriguing. I guess it depends on what membership means to you. Sick and Shut in aren't considered "apart" from the church just because they can't make it in.
Lot's of different ways you could look at it (pro and con). I have to think about this for awhile. Good topic.
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Post by Alc 06 on Apr 19, 2010 15:59:20 GMT -5
*resists making the obligatory Creflo Dollar comment in this thread
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Post by LejaOMG on Apr 19, 2010 16:08:46 GMT -5
Online members, eh? Hebrews 10:24-25 immediately occurs to me.
Does opting for a majority virtual worship experience make for "forsaking" the fellowship?
Over the internet, can "2 or 3" be considered "gathered together" such that God spirit is present among them?
Interesting.
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Post by Hummy Jones on Apr 19, 2010 17:09:03 GMT -5
Online members, eh? Hebrews 10:24-25 immediately occurs to me. Does opting for a majority virtual worship experience make for "forsaking" the fellowship? Over the internet, can "2 or 3" be considered "gathered together" such that God spirit is present among them? Interesting. wow, those are some good questions.... |
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Post by LogAKAlly <3'n Keef on Apr 19, 2010 19:50:46 GMT -5
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Post by peppermint on Apr 19, 2010 22:16:15 GMT -5
I have personally met one of the "online" families. They are a military family who were stationed nearby at one point. They joined the church in person before being restationed. Rather than find another church they elected to become "online" members. Again, I'm not sure what that entails.
There was another online member who came to visit the church in person once. The first lady recognized her name so I'm assuming there is some record keeping of face to face and virtual membership.
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Post by Cambist on Apr 20, 2010 9:16:01 GMT -5
*resists making the obligatory Creflo Dollar comment in this thread Same here.... |
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Post by wambam89 on Apr 20, 2010 20:55:11 GMT -5
Being away at college I didn't want to just join a church here at school because I love my church back home...I was confused as to what I was supposed to do about tithing though and I asked my mom and she told me that me that with my church you can tithe online...I was so taken back because I felt like it just took away the whole meaning of it...I didn't know would actually reach them or if I would block my blessings by not actually being at the church to tithe myself so I just save my tithes until I went home on weekends and just paid in a whole lump sum when ever I came home to visit...
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Post by FatalDST on Apr 26, 2010 9:35:22 GMT -5
I dont do anything anymore through PayPal. Someone somehow was able to get to my bank acct, because it was linked I presume, and did 62 unauthorized transactions through PayPal.
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Post by Oren Ishii on Apr 26, 2010 16:09:34 GMT -5
I just feel some kinda way about this...
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Post by Mrs. Eyes on Apr 27, 2010 0:17:46 GMT -5
^ Get out of my head.
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Post by T-Rex91 on Apr 27, 2010 8:24:23 GMT -5
My church broadcasts online and accepts tithes and offerings through paypal (~20% of our overall collections). I have absolutely no problem with it because as others have said, we have people who "worship" with us from around the globe. We have out of state college students, sick and shut in, and soldiers stationed overseas who feel connected to the church and share with us virtually.
Maybe these people will be able to visit us in person one day but I love that they feel connected enough to not only watch services online, but support us financially.
I've used paypal a time or two myself. Yeah, I'm OK with it.
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Post by nsync on Apr 27, 2010 10:00:07 GMT -5
I'm okay with the pay pal tithing. Online memberships...not really sure how I feel about that. Maybe they should be considered a church associate or something.
One of the blessed things about my home church is that we have fellowship churches all over the place. Same with my current church.
So when I went away to college I attended a fellowship church. However, I started to get lazy at times. I went with my roommate to church, because she had a car. She was white. So was her church. I was the only black person up in there. The way they held services was so sterile to me. But it was one of those things that opened my eyes...and started my spiritual journey...
sorry for the tangent.
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