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New “ONLINE” Church… Your First Impressions?
Orginally published on Friday, January 07, 2005 at 5:00 AM
by Todd Rhoades
Chris Dillingham has started a new online church called Infinite Church. According to Chris, "This is more than just a Web site - it?s a blending of fellowship, prayer, service, worship, and Bible study within a virtual church building through a special program that you can download at our site. We?re aiming also to have a live worship experience that anyone around the world can participate in and contribute to. At the moment I?m in need of members and e-vangelists to greet people on site.?
Take a look and let me know your thoughts!http://www.infinitechurch.com/
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Posted by Bernie Dehler
Friday, January 07, 2005 at 11:39 AM
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Saturday, January 22, 2005 at 11:40 AM
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Posted by Chris Dillingham
Monday, February 07, 2005 at 11:55 PM
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Posted by
Wednesday, February 22, 2006 at 5:30 AM
Post Your Comments:I think it’s pretty much the same as those who worship by TV-- it doesn’t quite meet up with the admonition to not forsake the gathering of believers. The biggest obstacle is that they can’t do the primary thing that our Lord Jesus asked us to do: share communion (bread & wine). Fellowship is also severly hampered.
The Church has five functions, see how each is dealt with (order is not in importance):
1. Evangelism (yes)
2. Fellowship (limited)
3. Ministry (extremely limited)
4. Discipleship (limited)
5. Worship (limited)
It seems like none of these functions of the Church could be accentuated-- they are all diminshed… a maimed Church, if you will…
...Bernie
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/247/
Dear Pastor,
“Do unto to other as you would have them do unto you”, the question is how would you feel, if it were you or any family members? I know that it’s about job performance, relationship etc., but work with this person. And if for some reason you find yourself at same door than let him go.
RE: New “ONLINE” Church
While Bernie’s points about the new online church being limited is true (and he forgot to bullet “accountability") - from our perspective, I will remember to pray for this effort. Thousands of teens play games. Most of that virtual experience is centered around killing. (I am a game designer by trade with ten titles published). If a virtual church is one of the last little corners of the world to reach a few folks destined for glory - who are we to dis that.
So long as the final effort is not to get them hooked on virtual church, but motivated to find a RL ( real life) church to attend.
The main problem one faces with virtual worlds is accountability, and truth. Many guys play the roles of woman (I have also in some virtual games) and visa versa, some woman play the role of guys. The virtual world presents an opportunity to try out different POVs (points of views). It also presents absolute non-accountability in play. I have been working to counter this effect by designing the “Dynamic Conscience Inventory Tracking System” for my “Frontier 1859” virtual world proposal.
Let’s stand together in prayer for the online virtual church. Just like TV church, it’s a passive way to reach people who are on the net (and the air) anyways. Why not have something interactive that reminds people that God loves them on an internet filled with information that is passing away.
When I was playing ‘Dark Age of Camelot” I started a guild called “Shadow of The Almighty.” It was the only Christian themed guild in the land where two-hundred thousand people (all ages) role played knights and mages and other things together.
DO you know, that as I began conducting a prayer service around the ‘Round table” in Camelot, that we seemed to become more close knitted. I mean, to this day, I sometimes hear someone say - come back to DAOC and we’ll get the guild going again.
Even the un-believers in the group did not
speak against it. As I look back - I realize that the people responded first to “togetherness” and then by tacking our common ground -of being together, it was an opportunity to pray - and then in prayer, trickle in some scripture. Well we all know that faith comes by the hearing of the word of God. It is up to us to plant seeds, but only God can change hearts.
Let us help this brother be accountable, and yet support him in his effort to reach out on the internet.
2 Peter 3:9
Bernie, Thanks for your thoughts. I really appreciate your concerns. I really feel like I know more about you, and understand your passion for God’s glory, and for the institutions of the church. I guess you could say, I have gotten to know a little of your heart, and have been challenged at the same time to think.
But that is what fellowship is all about isn’t it. I’m glad we are part of the same community in a sense.
I would say, however, communion is ONLY ONE of the most basic institutions of the church. (How do you do an online baptism?)Anyway, I am glad there are forums to draw all types into discussion about and glorification of the Lord Jesus Christ. I can only think that the Holy Spirit will create a hunger for more community and greater glorification of God. Online isn’t for those who have gone on to better things, but great for those who have yet to develop a living relationship with Jesus in all forms, unless the mature are reaching a hand to the weaker and younger brothers and sisters.
Praise God for how Jesus Christ in working in so many ways and places today!
Without the Internet - you could not post your ministry, opinions and discussion. There would be no Todd Rhoades “Monday Morning Insight” and the mailing list would still be limited to a sort of church gentlemens’ club.
Online Baptism? That was pretty funny! You go dunk your head in the sink but remember to let go of the keyboard first
I definitely think this is some of the big problems you run into. I agree that web sites like these are great as has been said above but I also agree that nothing compares to being in a worship service with other believers. Or being in a accountability group with other guys who you can see face to face and encourage. One of my best friends and I have been accountability partners for sometime. We use to meet each week and share our praises, our sorrows, our blessings, ways we needed to grow in the faith and many other things but I have moved recently and even though we are still best friends it is not quite the same sharing those things over email or over the phone. I do believe that those online church services could be a big help to many people who are shut-ins and can’t always get out to worship. It could also help people who aren’t allowed to go to Christian churches like a friend of mine who recently went to Turkey but could continue to grow in her faith through something like this.
I truly believe that the virtual church is an excellent evangelism tool as well as a means of sharing fellowship and learning more about our Saviour.As far as forsaking the assembling of one another the word of God did’nt say that we had to all be in the same room for fellowship to take place.they also state that the website IS NOT intended to take the place of regular attendance at your own wowrship but to be there when you need that extra boost or want to FELLOWSHIP, OR TALK TO OTHER BELIEVERS AND YOU CAN’T GET TO YOUR OWN PLACE OF WORSHIP OR IT’S TOO LATE, ETC. I don’t believe that the fellowship IS limited because of the ability for the members to communicate through the chat room, worship service AND BIBLE STUDY. I believe it offers everything needed to enter into the presence of God as well as develope disciples through the Bible studies. We should see this as another way that God is using all possible means of reaching the lost.
Hi everyone!
I appreciate the honest feedback and the prayers. The goal is, as was suggested, to create a church that people would come to even though they’ve never had plans to attend a real life church. I’m hoping it will encourage people to attend a real life church, and ultimately find a real-life Jesus. And, to the extent that a internet church can replicate a real-life church experience, I would like to recreate it.
)
Oh yeah… and about the baptism thing - although I’m hoping we’ll have plenty of occasion to convert new believers and animate a baptism as a chance for the other users to celebrate it, I don’t pretend to think that it’s a substitute for real life baptism. (just in case anyone was questioning my theology.
In Christ,
-Chris
I have to say that myself and my husband started going regularly to Infinite Church about a year ago. We still go to our regular church service, but this is like a supplement for us. However, there are those who come to IC, who would never step foot into a RL church. I have seen people come to know Christ there. And yes, even witnessed a virtual baptism. Chris and the rest of the staff do emphasize however, that this does not take the place of a RL baptism, it is just a way for us to rejoice with them with their public confession of faith. Please give it a try and check it out. My husband and I have since become volunteers there. It’s a great opportunity to share God’s love with people you would never really meet otherwise.
Agape,
Amanda
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