Does Online Church Just Give Lazy Christians an Excuse to Stay Home?

During the COVID pandemic, churches everywhere were pretty much forced to take their services online.

But, now that COVID is behind us (for the most part), a lot of churches are debating whether to continue online church or live streaming their services.

Online Church – Good or Bad?

On the one hand, some pastors and church leaders see online church as a good way to reach people who might not be willing or able to attend a church service in person, and they are choosing to continue online services.

On the other hand, some pastors and church leaders think Christians are opting to stay home and watch services online instead of coming back to the church building, they view this as a negative, and are discontinuing their online services.

A lot of articles have been written making the case for or against online church based on theory and conjecture, but I wanted to take a different tact and look at 3 stories of actual people in real world situations.

(Insert standard disclaimer that names and some details have been changed to protect the anonymity of the people and their stories.)

1. Old Friends

I recently had dinner with some old friends. One of these friends I knew from a time when our families had both been a part of the same church. But several years ago they left that church and started going to a megachurch not far away.

During the meal I asked one of them how things were going with their new church.

He replied with a tinge of regret he and his wife hadn’t really gotten connected at their new church. They weren’t serving, they weren’t in a life group, and they really hadn’t made any new friends. The only people they knew were some other families who had also left the same church.

His wife is going through some health issues, so he leaves it up to her to decide each Sunday if she wants to attend church in person or watch the live stream.

2. Distant Friends

I have some other friends who, after they moved out of the area, continued to watch our church’s live stream.

After a few months, they posted a comment to our live stream saying they hadn’t found a new church yet and missed us all so much.

It’s been over a year now, and I still see them on our live stream from time to time.

To add some context, even before they moved they were hit or miss for our Sunday gatherings. So, I wonder how many churches they have visited in their new area, or if they just found it easier to stay home and watch our church’s live stream.

To be candid, I haven’t asked.

3. Young Friends

Even though our church is pretty small, we have several families with young kids, but we don’t really have a nursery or children’s ministry per se.

There is a “cry room” where mothers can go with their babies and toddlers and they can watch or listen to the live stream in that room.

Some weeks, those families gather with us in person, some weeks they don’t. Some of those families gather with us in person about 50% of the time, other families it might be 10% or less.

In situations where kids or parents are sick, the live stream is the only way they can participate in a church gathering.

In other situations where they are feeling tired and just not up for everything that goes into getting babies and toddlers out of the house, maybe they could gather in person but the live stream is an easier option.

Life Preserver or Inflatable Lounge Chair?

As you read these stories, you might be inclined to see online church as a life preserver thrown to drowning people, people in need of a Savior (spiritually and figuratively).

Or, you might be inclined to see online church as an inflatable lounge chair which people are using to relax in the pool when they could (or should?) be swimming laps, leading a swim class, or rescuing others drowning around them.

Maybe it’s both depending on the person.

Are we asking the right questions?

A big part of the reason pastors and church leaders are having these discussions about live streaming is because many just assume that the most important thing a Christian should do every week is participate in a Sunday service.

For some churches, the main metric used to measure whether the church is healthy, successful and growing is Sunday attendance.

Why is that?

• Is the Sunday service (whether in person or online) really the best opportunity for spiritual growth?
• Is it the best opportunity to build community with other believers?
• Is it the best opportunity to serve?
• To share the gospel?
• To engage with scripture and pray?
• To wrestle with difficult issues and how they apply to our lives?

To quote Billy Sunday…

Going to a church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car. -Billy Sunday

So, here is my challenge to you…

If your church is offering online church or live streaming your Sunday services, what are you doing to help people online get better connect to other people and to God during the week?

• Are you getting their contact info?
• Adding them to email and text lists so you can regularly share opportunities with them?
• Do you facilitate online life groups and bible studies?
• Are there other ways you’re helping them go deeper?

If you’re not doing church online, consider asking and discussing the same questions regarding the people who are attending your Sunday services in person. Because…

Following Jesus isn’t something we just do for one or two hours a week by participating in a church service – whether its online or in person.

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