CULTURAL ISSUES:

VIRTUAL CHURCH
BY COREY HISE
INTRODUCTION

• What is virtual church?

• This is a “new” issue!

• This issue must be tackled because of the sheer amount of people involved or interested in
attending virtual church services

• Thus, we need a biblical response to virtual church and biblical recommendations for the
local church regarding virtual church
THE HISTORY OF VIRTUAL
CHURCH

1890’s 1998 2016–2019

Audio recordings Live service Exponential
recordings growth of virtual
church

Birth and growth of

“online churches” COVID-19 and the
and “online requirement for
Video recordings campuses” virtual church

1950’s 2005–2016 2020-Today

THE CONCERN

• Two questions:
• Is it sinful?
• Is it viable?
• The concern is not just whether someone can watch a service online, but whether
a person be truly engaged in biblical community, experience life change, join
fellowship, and do the work of the ministry through a virtual church experience.
• Lastly, if it is viable, is it best?
 A BIBLICAL RESPONSE:
ACTS 2:42-47

“42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing
in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.
A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and
43 

wonders.44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They
sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped
together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with
great joy and generosity— 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people.
And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.” (NLT)
• Notice the two major concepts:
• “all” and “together”
• Clearly, there is power in the gathering of community
 A BIBLICAL RESPONSE:
“PRESENT IN SPIRIT”

For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see
“5 

how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.” (Colossians 2:5 NIV)
For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who
“3 

is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord
Jesus on the one who has been doing this.” (1 Corinthians 5:3 NIV)

• Paul is still an active part of the community even when he is not physically present
• We do not have to always be physically present to enjoy the benefits of community
 A BIBLICAL RESPONSE:
“EAGER HOPE”

I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—” (Romans
“11 

1:11 NIV)
“4  I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.” (3 John 1:14 NIV)
“4  Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy.” (2 Timothy 1:4 NIV)
“19  But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing” (1 Corinthians 4:19 NIV)
• These are some of many times where different authors write about their “eager hope” to be in
physical community and fellowship with the local church
• Clearly, the biblical authors hoped to be in physical community more than just spiritual community
• While spiritual community is acknowledged, it is clearly viewed as inferior to physical community
 A BIBLICAL RESPONSE:
SUMMARY

• There is power in the gathering of community (Acts 2)

• Spiritual community can exist without physical community (Colossians 2:5, 1
Corinthians 5:3, etc.) [it is legitimate]
• Physical community is heavily preferred to non-physical community (Romans
1:11, 3 John 1:14, 2 Timothy 1:4, 1 Corinthians 4:19, etc.)

Therefore:
• Virtual church is viable
• But it is clearly inferior to “gathering with the church as the church”
OTHERS’ • Cyberchurch (1996) by Patrick Dixon

POSITION • Bill Hybels and Rick Warren (2004)

S
• The Fundamentalist responses (mid-2000s)
• Jerry Falwell Sr., Elmer Towns, Jerry Vines, W.A.
Criswell

• The developing, popular response (2010’s through today)

• Darrell Bock, Jonathan Armstrong, Ed Stetzer, Thom
Rainier, Adam McClendon, Jared Lockhart
 • Andy Stanley (2020)
• Jesus never commanded the church to specifically meet in person
• Virtual church was the preference of his congregation due to
COVID-19
• “to love my people well”
• Virtual church is equivalent to physical church
• My response
• I cannot vehemently disagree as this is not crystal clear biblically,
COUNTER yet:
• The Bible clearly commands us to meet repeatedly (Hebrews
ARGUMENT 10:25 – “do not neglect to meet together”)
• Acts 2:42-47, Acts 2:1, Deuteronomy 31:12-13, Psalm 133:1,
Psalm 50:5, Matthew 18:20, 1 Corinthians 14:26, Colossians
3:16, etc.
• “loving your people well” does not mean always giving your
congregation what they want
• Online church can create apathy, seclusion, and isolation
• Pastors must push and envision their congregation on the
importance of community (and the importance of fighting
for it)
LOCAL CHURCH RECOMMENDATIONS

• Recommendation 1
• Communicate the “why”
• Clearly, dynamically, and repeatedly preach the importance of in-person community and fellowship

• Recommendation 2
• If you have a virtual service, laser-focus it on cultivating a personal and authentic connection
between viewers and between viewers and the church

• Recommendation 3
• If you have the capabilities to effectively provide a virtual service, do it
• Key word: effectively
 Biblical Review
• There is power in the gathering of community (Acts 2)
• Spiritual community can exist without physical
community (Colossians 2:5, 1 Corinthians 5:3, etc.)
• Physical community is heavily preferred to non-
physical community (Romans 1:11, 3 John 1:14, 2
Timothy 1:4, 1 Corinthians 4:19, etc.)

Conclusion Therefore:
• Virtual church is viable
• But it is clearly inferior to “gathering with the church
as the church”
In Conclusion
• The church must use virtual church services as a tool, not as a
replacement, for the body of Christ