Can you have an Online Church?

Having recently entered the world of Facebook I joined a group that states, 'The purpose of this group is to prove that church does not need to be in a building, and its time to wake up to post Christendom!' Clearly the feeling of those who set up the group is that a group of people in an online 'community' can be just as much a 'church', as a group of people who meet in a building on a Sunday morning each week.

Whilst I was prepared to join this group and have entered into a number of discussions I am now convinced that there is no way that this kind of 'group' qualifies for the title church in any way, shape or form. That is not to say that it is not a valid exercise and will be beneficial, encouraging, helpful etc to some. I am also not saying that every group that meets together in a 'church' building qualifies for the title church.

I guess the deeper question is about what it means to be church and what are the minimum requirements for something to be called church. I would argue that one of the markers of a Christian church is that the believers come together to celebrate communion/breaking of bread/eucharist regularly. Obviously an online 'community' can't do that.

But that's enough from me. Get your coffee and join the conversation. What makes church 'church'? Can you have an online church?

Harvest Thanksgiving - or do we take our food for granted?

There are a number of themes in Nehemiah 8. We learn about the importance of the Word of God as we seek to live lives that are pleasing to Him. How the reading of the word leads to repentance and worship. How understanding and applying the word leads to joy. Of how we, like OT Israel are called to be a pilgrim people, a people who are not at home here.

But we are also reminded, through the Feast of Tabernacles, which we read more of in Leviticus 23, that we are to be thankful to our faithful God for His provision in the harvest. But living in a city, where our food comes from the supermarket, it is very easy to become detached from God as the source of our food

As someone who has just started growing some of their own vegetables I have been very aware of just how much we rely on God for a good crop. Too much rain, not enough rain, too many harmful insects, not enough of the right sort of insects...they all have an impact on the harvest.



Let us be truly thankful for God's goodness and provision.

A New Chapter?

Here in the UK we're coming to the end of the 'summer' holidays. This is the time when many children and young people begin to think about the return to school, college or university. And for many of them they'll be going to somewhere new: some may be starting for the first time ... others making the transitition from a relatively small primary school to a much larger secondary school ... And it can be an anxious time. I know when I was moving to secondary school rumours abounded as to what we could expect - and most of them were unpleasant!

The first morning of any new experience can be an anxious and nervous experience, even though it is often exciting and we're looking forward to it at the same time. Whether it be a new school, a new university, a new job, a new house ... there is an element of the unknown, and somehow we often fill the unknowns with worst case scenarios.

In Numbers 13 we read of how the people of Israel were on the borders of the Promised Land, the land that God had promised that He would give them. They sent in 12 spies to see what the land was like. And the land was indeed fruitful and good BUT the people are stonger than us, their cities are fortified, we'll never defeat them... And all but Joshua and Caleb forgot that God was with them. They said, "The Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them." (14:9).

When we go into a new situation we need to remember that we do not go in alone. But God is with us to help us. He can take away our anxiety and give us His peace (Philippians 4:6-7).

Does God change traffic lights?

Here's a question that I was asked the other day. 'Does God change traffic lights?'

I think my response would be 'no - but He could if He wanted to'.

What is behind the question? I think there are some people who believe that if they are five minutes late for an important appointment God will make all the traffic lights green and then delay their train leaving the station by six minutes so they can still make it. But what about all the other people on the train who are now frustrated and six minutes late for whatever important things they have to do?

What does this say about our view of ourselves and our view of God. Who is the centre of our universe? Does the world revolve around me?

Then a second question. 'Assuming that God does change traffic lights and if you're approaching a junction and the lights change - are they more likely to go 'red' or 'green'. Speaking personally I think that they are more likely to go red, simply because I am always in a rush to get somewhere or do something, and it wouldn't hurt to sit quietly for a couple of minutes - an ideal opportunity to practice patience!

[I guess the proper answer to the second question is 'it depends - if the lights are amber then they'll go red, if red and amber then they'll go green'].

One final question for you. ''Assuming that God does change traffic lights and if you're approaching a junction and the lights are about to change to red why do you speed up rather than press the brake?