Why ‘Online Church’ Isn’t a Substitute for the Real Thing

Today there’s a growing trend toward attending church less, not more. According to statistics, those who attended church every week are now attending church three times a month. People who showed up twice a month are now showing up once a month. And those who go to church once a month now attend approximately six times a year.

Why are people attending church less often? One survey cites the following reasons: 1) they have children who play sports, and the events are held on Sundays or out of town; 2) they’re traveling more; and 3) they have online options.

People watch our services at Harvest from every imaginable place, and I think that’s incredible. If people are on the road or can’t leave their home for various reasons, I’m very glad there’s a way for them to stay connected. This was especially true when we couldn’t gather in person due to COVID-19.

But then there are able-bodied people who would prefer to stay at home and watch church in their pajamas. However, the church is a place where we can encounter God and His people.

I’ve heard people say they can commune with God outside of church while they’re out doing whatever it is they do. Yes, they can. And I hope they do. But that isn’t a replacement for church.

The writer of Hebrews addressed this by saying, “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near” (10:24 NLT).

Jesus started only one organization on Earth, and that is the church. He said of the church, “All the powers of hell will not conquer it” (Matthew 16:18 NLT). We also know that Jesus loves the church, because the apostle Paul wrote, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her” (Ephesians 5:25 NKJV).

I love my wife, and if you want to get on my bad side, then insult her. And if you want to get on the Lord’s bad side, so to speak, then insult his bride, the church. Jesus loves the church.

My friend, who’s also a pastor, recalls the story of someone walking up to him and telling him all the reasons they thought his church was awesome. Then they started listing all the reasons they thought their previous church was horrible. As they were talking, my friend began staring at his watch. Eventually, they asked him why.

He said, “I’m just wondering how long it’s going to take until you start criticizing this church.”

Do you know why all churches are flawed? It’s because people like you and me are in them. Even so, we still need to be an active part of God’s family.

Yet there are people who say, “I’m looking for a church that meets my needs.” OK, but at what point will they grow up spiritually and start saying, “How can I help meet the needs of others?” A true mark of spiritual maturity is when it stops being all about us and starts being more about others.

Jesus said, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45 NLT). When you begin to serve God in the church and use the gifts he has given you, you will benefit from it. And yes, others will benefit too, of course. But you will benefit as well.

In fact, the best place to get training for ministry is in the church. Just volunteer. Maybe you’re not gifted in certain areas, but you are gifted in other areas. And you’ll develop your gifts by using them.

You need the church, and the church needs you. But when you isolate yourself from other believers, you lose perspective. You can become fearful, confused, angry, and bitter. Think of Thomas, for instance, who was one of Jesus’ disciples. After the Resurrection, he didn’t join the others for worship. He was very disillusioned.

And when the disciples saw him afterward, they basically told him, “Thomas, you should’ve been there! Jesus showed up!”

Thomas replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side” (John 20:25 NLT).

However, the next time they were together, guess who was there? Thomas. And guess who showed up again? Jesus. (He always does when His people gather.) So Jesus told him, in effect, “Hey, Thomas, go for it!”

But Thomas simply said, “My Lord and my God!” (verse 28 NLT).

Thomas missed out when he was separated from other believers, and he received so much more when he joined them.

We find another example of this in the psalms. Asaph was grappling with an age-old question, but he gained perspective when he worshiped with God’s people in God’s house. He wrote, “So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is! Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked. Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction” (Psalm 73:16–18 NLT).

Asaph was saying, “I didn’t understand why things are the way they are, but when I gathered for worship, I found perspective.”

God reveals Himself in a special and unique way when we gather for worship and Bible study. And when we unplug from that, we’re missing out on something significant that God wants to do in our lives.

We should be a part of the church, because it’s where we hear the Word of God. It’s where we worship God and receive untold spiritual benefits. And it’s where we encounter God. The church is an oasis of hope in a desert of hopelessness.

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Learn more about Pastor Greg Laurie.

This article was originally published at WND.com.