• Watch
  • Listen
  • Study
  • Articles
  • Links
  • About
Sunny Slope Church of Christ
  • Watch
  • Listen
  • Study
  • Articles
  • Links
  • About

Alternative Church?

2/28/2021

 
By: Gary L. Hutchens
​   The face of our culture is changing before our eyes.  The evidence of this fact can be observed by looking in a number of different directions.  Computerized technology and the internet may be the biggest influences affecting and shaping much of the change.  It seems that only our imaginations limit us as to what continued changes lay ahead.
​   A major change has been a shift from manufacturing to information as perhaps the most basic focus of our economy.  Information is power!  Not long ago people got their news by reading the daily newspaper.  Major cities commonly offered several daily newspapers from which to choose.  Only three major television networks existed, and their national news broadcasts lasted only fifteen to thirty minutes each evening.  There was no such thing as cable television, talk radio, personal computers (or much of any other kind of computer) or the internet with all of  its social media.
   Ever advancing technology has brought increased emphasis on convenience and speed.  We want most everything to be easy and fast.  We don’t want to have to spend much time or expend much effort get what we want.  Instant gratification is our goal.
   It should not be surprising that this mind-set has made an impact on many people’s Christianity.  According to a fairly recent Barna study (Barna tracks religious trends similar to what Gallup does in tracking political and social trends), an increasing number of people are turning to alternatives to being involved with a traditional church setting.  The study found that 89% of adults believe engaging in faith activities at home with family is an acceptable alternative to participating in the conventional services and activities of a church.  Being active in a house church was acceptable to 75%, watching a religious television program to 69% and listening to a religious radio program to 68%.
   Scoring lower but still significantly high, were interacting with a faith-oriented website (45%) and participating in live events over the internet (42%).  All of these alternatives are viewed by those indicated in the percentages listed as being “a complete and biblically valid way for someone who does not participate in the services or activities of a conventional church to experience and express their faith in God.” 
   Those percentages represent people who see these various activities as taking the place of the church in their lives!  If structured properly these activities can be good works.  But they cannot scripturally take the place of the church, the possible exception being a house church, but only if it fulfills the scriptural model of what the church should be.
   Now, add to the mix the restrictions against gatherings imposed during the COVID pandemic.  Congregations rose to the challenge in an amazing way, utilizing computer and internet technology to allow members the ability to worship together virtually.
   But we must not be lulled into spiritual laziness, thinking God will be pleased with us indefinitely laying on the couch in our pajamas, watching worship over the internet, and think we’re still being the church.  The church is pivotal in God’s plan for man’s eternal salvation (Eph. 3:8-11; Acts 2:47).  Vital to the church’s strength and effectiveness is its family-hood, fellowship together (Heb. 10:23-25). The idea that there can be an alternative to God’s design for the church is unscriptural and therefore ungodly.  We must eventually make the commitment to come back and take our active place in God’s church.  

Comments are closed.

    Author

    Gary L. Hutchens

    Categories

    All
    Dennis Stackhouse
    Gary Hutchens

    Archive

    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    March 2008
    February 2008
    January 2008
    January 2007

Member Login
SUBMIT PRAYER REQUEST
© 2019 Sunny Slope Church of Christ | All Rights Reserved
3606 N. 108th St., Omaha, NE 68164 | (402) 498-8397 | Contact Us
  • Watch
  • Listen
  • Study
  • Articles
  • Links
  • About