I admit it. I flinch and get a bit irate and frustrated when I hear people talk about or use the term “on-line community”  I understand and acknowledge to an extent, that those making connections through social media platforms and are involved in forums where members have common interests or goals, like an affinity group do experience a pseudo type of “community. “But let’s not kid ourselves and think we are developing deep relationships and the kind of community that we are created for and called to engage in that the Bible describes.  

Making connections via the internet and living in community are not the same. There’s a vast difference between true community and the superficial version subscribed to on-line. Most on-line “conversations” aren’t conversations at all, they’re monologues. There is rarely “real time” interaction. It’s not true engagement or a dialogue but more like verbal ping pong with extended time between serves.

Posting a picture of your dinner on Facebook or Instagram is not remotely close to sharing that meal around a table with a group of close friends. We are created for community. God Himself is community. Before the creation of the universe God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit enjoyed community together. As believers it’s impossible to participate in the “one anothers” commanded in Scripture without spending face to face time together. Notice I said face to face not Facebook.

One of the unfortunate consequences of thinking you can have true community on-line is it allows users to “hide” behind their digital avatars. How many of the millions and millions of social media “profile” pages are the “real you”? We develop false personas of what we want others to see, rather than being real, authentic, and vulnerable with one another. You can’t cultivate that that kind of authenticity with others on social media platforms in a public forum. This kind of relationship building happens in one-on-one relationships with a few others. Even Jesus modeled this. He had a group of 12 and an even smaller inner circle of 3. It’s impossible to experience intimate community with 100’s. It’s about a smaller group, living life, doing life, and serving one another together.

Our government’s Orwellian overreaction to Covid devastated communities in our country and in the church. In a post-Covid world millions who attended church and were part of local congregations have failed to return. They remain content to “watch” church through streamed services. The fact that they haven’t returned is rather revealing. Perhaps it exposes something at a more foundational level. Not returning to church is more of an outward symptom of a greater root cause. Maybe the issue is that prior to Covid the masses went to church week after week, year after year “attending” services without ever really engaging in true biblical community.

They were content singing 3 or 4 worship songs and listening to sermons delivered from a stage by the pastor with all the chairs and heads facing in the same direction. They would greet each other during the welcome time, perhaps shake a few hands and smile, but never really getting to know the person in the chair or pew next to them. Occasionally they might attend a potluck dinner, but never cultivated deep abiding relationships. Going to church was more perfunctory or the cultural thing to do. Don’t get me wrong, participating in corporate church services is an essential part of body life. However, we also need to pursue next level community in a small group environment.

I struggle with the practice of continuing to stream church services post Covid. If you are sick, a shut in, or can’t drive, that’s one thing. In fact, the body of Christ should be coming to you! However, if prior to Covid you attended a local congregation, get your butt off the couch or Lazy Boy recliner and return to church. I know what you’re thinking. Someone is going to say, “The church is the people and not a building.”  To which I respond yup, the church is the people, sitting at home in isolation isn’t part of the solution, it contributes to the problem. Please don’t settle for an existence that lives life in front of screens and electronic devices, leading to loneliness, and a life devoid of true community.

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