So 35,000 real estate professionals take part in online community, about 400 of them actively and daily. They argue, they debate, they challenge, and even cry in support
Now, they begin to have a desire to meet in person. To brainstorm, to see if the person is the same as they are online. There may even be some letdowns, as people may not be as cool in person. There needs to be a word for this:
- Adiasporalize
- Digi-personakoinonia
- Revercivilization
Reminds me of Andy's email last month that there is now a church meeting online at Second Life (online world) ... Will they grow to a point that they want to meet? Why? Are they a real church? Can they actually do church without meeting?
Problems? Dangers?
Opportunities?
2 comments:
From Alan,
It would be interesting to me to see if this group actually did get together in the flesh to see if there actions line up with there words. The same would be true for a virtual Church. It is much easier to say/write something that it is to live it out or even make an attempt in some situations.
It seems to me that we have a basic desire as humans to have physical interaction/fellowship something that God wired us for if you will. As I search the bible there are times of solitude and quietness but it usually is in preparation for a butt kick'in run in the "game".
I believe if that they will have a desire to meet at some point at least the ones that feel like they have a commonality of beliefs and interests. After all it is still pretty hard to hold someone's hand and to hug them when life gets real ugly in the virtual world the physical world is a powerful thing in ministry when used in a biblical fashion.
I don't know anything about them outside of what you have written but IF what they are doing is 100% virtual it would be difficult for me to say that they are a real, functioning healthy Church. So that answers your next question as will with the same assumption mind you I don't think you can be the Church the Lord designed without meeting.
I do believe there is a huge need for virtual ministries they do provide a safe place if you will (That should start some conversation). I do think that some folks can speak without restraint of real heart issues on line.
The 21st century confessional if you will. The same problem still exists there though however which is the instruction or guidance issue is it biblical or not?
I also think there is a great deal of use for the internet in the Church in a lot of areas in both evangelism and discipleship. It also seems to me that the Church has gotten on board with this means quicker then Her typical 20 year lag or so. But in the end I think it is just a tool and not an alternative to local church.
Alan
From Kathleen,
Alan said, "It is much easier to say/write something than it is to live it out or even make an attempt in some situations."
I like those words. Church is God's plan, but, wow, can it get messy! But, in my experience, it's the messiness that drives us to our knees, and changes us. We don't really know what Jesus meant when He said "...if a man forces you to go one mile with him, go two" (my paraphrase), until we meet someone in church with whom we simply do not want to work. Then, and only then, do we get our chance to be like Jesus, instead of just talk about being like Jesus.
I might be able to express ideas online, in a virtual community, but I can only prove the truth of those ideas in real one-on-one people relationships where I am committed to not quitting.
It's sort of like marriage, isn't it? Could a person be virtually married?
-Kathleen
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