Hidden Nook
"Because in Cyberspace, no one can hear you scream."
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Alternative Forms Of Church
[Media Source*]
(The Christian Post) For a growing number of Americans, especially Boomers, the local church is no longer the place to go for worship, according to research by the group whose published polls are most quoted within Evangelical circles.
New forms of doing "Church," such as house churches, marketplace ministries, and cyber churches have now drawn 50 million Americans, bringing them closer to God, but farther from a local church, reports The Barna Group.
Although this report may "freak out" pastors, this should not be met with alarm as the article is revealing that people are seeking other ways to be satisfied spiritually, perhaps in ways that some churches are lacking or unable to fulfill. The purpose of church is to help an individual become closer to God (not to mention the "inner peace" thing) and if someone is receiving that elsewhere, then the faith has not suffered loss.
(The Christian Post) Now, 50 million Americans have revealed their participation in new forms--which, in the last 2-3 years, has seen "significant growth," [The Barna Group] indicated. [...]
"It is not uncommon to find people who attend an alternative church gathering regularly but maintain some loose connection with a congregational church," Barna said. "Often, that connection is retained to satisfy the expectations of a family member. In their minds, though, it is the alternative church that emerges as their dominant form of church."
While some may view cyber churches as the fellowship of slackers, these areas of worship may be more convenient for people as either work, gas prices or other reasons may prevent them from darkening the doorway of a church building. Although most cyber churches are simply basic websites, (with chat rooms, forums, etc.) it appears that one congregation, entitled Church Of Fools has gone 3-Dimensional.
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By Darnell Clayton ⢠8:46 PM ⢠Email Post ⢠â¢
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