Words

CHURCH

I would venture to guess, that for most people who are playing a word association game and the word church comes up they would give clues about a church building.  When we say, “I’m going to church”, most of us will picture in our mind a particular building.  However, for the first 250 years Christians did not gather for worship in buildings called churches or buildings built only for the purpose of worship.  They met in small groups in homes.  It would be almost 1,000 years before buildings resembling what we think of as churches would begin to be built.

Fast forward another 1,000 years and we are once again gathering in small groups in houses for the purpose of worship.  However, there is a new twist to these small group worship experiences.  The members of these small groups are staying in their own homes and are using electronic devices to gather together.  In addition, those who are gathering are coordinating telephone or written contact with other church members who are unable to join these group experiences.

I am reminded of that old proverb that says, “the more things change, the more they stay the same”.  However, I am not sure that truly applies in this case.  Perhaps for some who have not been able to experience “e-church” they will not “get it”; once it is safe to return to our buildings, they will just pick up from where they left off.

But for those of us who have been “coming together” electronically, I truly believe will be changed forever and will have a much different idea of what church is and what it can do and what it can be.

Let me close by saying that there is no right or wrong in all of this.  There are only different ways to experience the same thing.

Deacon Rich