I have recently heard a disturbing trend in the USA – many who claim a Christian faith are becoming addicted to ‘electronic’ church. The USA has almost 100 TV stations broadcasting exclusively Christian media. While this may seem at first a good thing, it seems to be producing a new type of Christian – one totally dependent on the medium of television to provide their ‘worship’ experience.
The problem is made worse as folk no longer venture out into the world of real people and things. ‘Live’ church cannot compete with the spectacular effects that vast amounts of TV money can provide. However, it is difficult to see the difference between an addiction for TV soaps and this new addiction as fact and fantasy narrows.
God encourages His children to remember we are part of a family. While it is not always easy to live together families enable growth as we share ideas and support one-another. We cannot make it on our own – we were made for one another (Eph 3:18; Heb 10:25). It may be easier to worship in the comfort of our living-rooms, but our community needs the Church to serve openly, encouraging one another and inviting people to Jesus by word and deed.
Pastor Bob