Online Vs In Person Church Service Attendance

 

Before I get into this topic here, I do want to make you aware that a podcast episode is going to come out on this topic. Which will more than likely be longer than this post. But I've been having an itch to talk about this now for a few days now after watching a video on YouTube on counting online viewer attendance. As well as should we count it. The video though I have yet to completely finish watching it (Which I will). Sparked this interest and questioning whether online service is good for the church. Rather than counting it as attendance. Which I will still talk about my personal thought process on that too of course. 

So, when thinking about this, whether or not online service is good or not. And whether or not there should only be in person church services. I want to share something that I've personally always have told my wife and the reason why. I've personally always told my wife, that if God called me to be a pastor and run a church that I would want it to be in person only. That I wouldn't want to live stream the services personally. Clearly, with this day in age and everything happening and showing up online. She asked me why wouldn't I want to. 

My honest and simple answer was, because I want people to come in and dedicate myself to the sheep that God would have given me. Clearly she was surprised by my answer. Since I have worked on live streams in the past and even now have a podcast and so on. Yet, to me this is different than the idea of having a temple of God to run with sheep that God has given you to take care of. I personally believe that NOT all but A LOT of churches, including smaller ones. Have dedicated their churches more to online services than in house services. 

I have my personal experience personally which is why I am saying this. Which I will more than likely speak about on the podcast episode. Even though I think there is a time and place for online services. I personally feel that going to the temple of God in person gathered around your brothers and sisters in Christ. While worshipping and praising the living God and gaining and listening to the word of God; can't be beaten. 

There's something about being in person and feeling the presence of God just move in the room. And watching how God touches each and every individual person. To feel the rush of the Holy Spirit when you're in communion with one another in His presence. I'm not saying that can't be obtained via live stream. Because like I say you can't put God in a box. Yet, I ask myself would Jesus approve this? Would He want us to not gather together in His name? 

Once again though I do believe there can be a time and a place for this. If you're sick or you had gone to a vacation with family and you don't want to miss the message of the week. That is one of those things I can see a good reason for not being able to make it in person. But then again at that point, would it be more ideal to find a local church and visit if your on vacation? See these are actual questions I think we should be asking ourselves. There are stats about how often people are attending online service rather than going to in person service.

Which I will talk about on the podcast and go a bit deeper about this topic. But at the moment I just wanted to share some thoughts about it. As well as my overall thinking process about it. If your thoughts are different about it. I would love to read why, so comment on this post or join the forum and let's chat about it. Thanks you all for reading.