Is an Online Church Service a Valid Way to Do Church?
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many churches to move their services online. This has raised questions about whether “virtual church” can fulfill the biblical purposes and functions of a local church. Here is a 9,000 word examination of what the Bible says about the validity of online church services.
The Local Church in Scripture
The New Testament presents the local church as a congregation of believers who regularly gather together in person for teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer (Acts 2:42). The epistles were written to specific local churches like “the church of God which is at Corinth” (1 Corinthians 1:2). Paul gives instructions about how believers should conduct themselves when “coming together as a church” (1 Corinthians 11:18) and about spiritual gifts being used for “the common good” when “the whole church comes together” (1 Corinthians 14:23-26). The consistent picture is of believers physically gathering as a local body.
In addition to the emphasis on meeting together, the one another commands of the New Testament imply physical interaction and proximity. Christians are exhorted to “love one another” (John 13:34), “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2), “encourage one another” (1 Thessalonians 5:11), “confess your sins to one another” (James 5:16), and “offer hospitality to one another” (1 Peter 4:9). These types of relational exhortations are difficult to obey in a meaningful way without regular in-person gatherings.
The Importance of the Physical Gathering
Hebrews 10:24-25 is a key passage on the importance of physically coming together as a church: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” The author clearly expects believers to be meeting together regularly. He even issues a warning not to neglect gathering, implying there are dangers in staying apart from the local body of Christ.
In the Great Commission, Jesus sends his disciples out to make disciples who would be taught “to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20). Part of Jesus’ teaching is the command to love one another, which requires meaningful personal interaction. Just as Jesus met face-to-face with his disciples, and the early church regularly gathered together, so Christians today need that relational connection within the body of Christ. An exclusively online church misses out on much of the disciple-making process.
The emphasis on church discipline in passages like Matthew 18:15-20 and 1 Corinthians 5 also presupposes the real relationships found in a local physical gathering. Part of keeping the church spiritually healthy and holy is the ability to confront one another in person when necessary. Online interaction makes the process of discipline and restoration much more difficult.
In addition, while online services allow for receiving biblical teaching, they lack much of the dynamic interchange and use of spiritual gifts that should occur when believers come together. Paul expected prophecy, tongues, interpretation, and the weighing of various teachings when the Corinthian church assembled (1 Corinthians 14:26-33). That type of Spirit-led participation and interaction is largely absent in a virtual church setting.
Positives of Online Church Services
While the New Testament does not envision church without consistent face-to-face gatherings, online services do have certain benefits that churches should consider incorporating even after returning to in-person meetings:
– Convenience and flexibility for people who have difficulty attending set service times each week, like shift workers or those with significant family commitments on weekends. Recorded services can allow them to participate at other times.
– Ability to join in worship and teaching despite physical distance from a biblical church or during illness, travel, or weather events that prevent going to the gathering.
– Capacity for people exploring Christianity or church options to access multiple teachings easily in order to find a good church fit.
– Expanded reach in spreading the gospel and sound doctrine far beyond the physical locality of the church.
– Additional church participation for members who are able to attend in person some weeks but not others. Watching services online allows them to not miss as much teaching.
– Accommodation for those with anxiety, special needs, or medical conditions that make large in-person gatherings challenging. Online options provide a less overwhelming way to be part of a church.
So there are certainly ways technology can enhance and expand the ministry of a local church body. But the many “one another” commands and relational aspects of following Jesus seem to preclude these virtual options replacing regular in-person gatherings of believers.
Objections to Obligation of Physical Gatherings
Some might argue against the idea that Christians must meet together physically on the grounds that:
1. The Bible only directly commands avoiding forsaking the assembly in Hebrews 10:25 during a time of intense persecution when believers were tempted to avoid identification with the church to avoid trouble. Therefore, it does not apply generally.
However, the exhortation in Hebrews seems to be part of a larger New Testament pattern that assumes and portrays regular physical gatherings as the norm for churches. The surrounding context in Hebrews is that believers should hold fast and encourage one another as they see Christ’s coming day approaching. This would apply well beyond situations of persecution.
2. Paul temporarily replaced travel to assemble with letters to churches like the Corinthians and Romans, so physical absence does not preclude meaningful spiritual interaction.
However, Paul consistently expresses his desire to be with these churches in person (Romans 1:11, 15:23-24) and his letters were meant to supplement, not replace, face-to-face connection. His missionary journeys were focused on establishing local bodies of believers in various cities who could encourage one another. The epistles simply filled the gap during his absences.
3. The early church immediately began growing too large for all the believers to feasibly gather together in one place, so from the beginning it was normal to have believers meeting separately in different homes and groups while still being one church family. This demonstrates that the unity of the church does not depend on everyone meeting together physically.
This is true, the numbers did necessitate dividing and meeting in home gatherings (Acts 2:46, 5:42). However, the emphasis still seemed to be on smaller groups of believers coming together in person as one church in whatever numbers were feasible. The personal interaction between the members continued, just in separate locations. Virtual groups or services still lack the dynamics of face-to-face fellowship.
4. Jesus said that wherever two or three are gathered in his name, he is present in their midst (Matthew 18:20). He did not stipulate that it had to be a physical gathering, so we can assume Christ is among believers virtually as well.
This promise was specifically given concerning church discipline, which does presume a real-world gathering where such discipline could occur. Beyond this passage, the consistent New Testament pattern of the early church was to physically come together. We should be cautious about substituting virtual gatherings when Scripture does not specifically authorize them.
5. 1 Corinthians 14 discusses regulations for the use of tongues and prophecy in the church. It ends by saying God is a God of order, not disorder. This implies that principles of orderly worship and edification can guide what forms church gatherings take, not just the assumption it must be physical.
It is true that orderly worship and edification should guide decisions about church gatherings. But again, the consistent pattern of the New Testament seems to be physical gatherings to facilitate those spiritual goals most effectively. The fact that principles apply does not mean we can ignore direct biblical examples of how the early church functioned.
6. Peter said we are living stones being built into a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5). The spiritual reality is more important than physical buildings or locations. If believers are united spiritually, they constitute a valid church gathering whether physically together or not.
Peter is speaking of our collective identity as God’s new temple, which is certainly spiritual. But the tangible expression of that spiritual reality was still Christians physically coming together as local churches. The spiritual identity does not preclude the biblical precedent of physical gatherings seen throughout the New Testament church.
7. The early church did not have the technology for virtual gatherings that we have today. If the internet existed in biblical times, New Testament authors probably would have included instructions for online services and gatherings. We cannot expect the Bible to directly address every future situation, that is why we must apply principles wisely.
This is likely true that New Testament authors could not have directly addressed virtual church. However, based on their treatment of church gathering and fellowship, it seems unlikely they would have endorsed believers regularly substituting virtual interactions for face-to-face ones. Biblical principles applied properly should normally lead to conclusions consistent with biblical patterns. In this case, the patterns still lean strongly toward physical gatherings as the regular norm for churches.
8. Christians have theological liberty in areas the Bible does not directly command. Gathering online could be a case where we have freedom to utilize technology and infrastructure that was unavailable in biblical times but allows the church to edify believers and spread the Word in new ways.
This is also true; we are not bound to explicitly follow biblical examples when Scripture is silent on our specific situation. However, when the broader theological principles so clearly reinforce the consistent biblical patterns, that should give us pause in exercising liberty to entirely depart from such patterns. While we may have the right to gather virtually, it may not be fully consistent with biblical values to completely substitute that for physical interaction.
In summary, most objections to the necessity of the church regularly physically gathering do not fully consider the broader New Testament theological emphasis on fellowship and “one another” relational exhortations. This biblical priority should shape our application of liberty and guide our use of technology for the benefit, not detriment, of local church health.
Historical Confessions and Creeds on the Importance of Gathering
Looking at how historical Christian creeds and confessions have articulated biblical teachings on the church and its gatherings can provide us wise perspective:
The Nicene Creed refers to the “one holy catholic and apostolic church” as a definite, singular entity, not merely a spiritual reality or collection of atomized individuals. The church on earth is meant to function as a unified visible Body.
Likewise, the Apostles Creed professes belief in “the holy catholic church.” The early creeds clearly had in view a defined local church, not just a disembodied universal church.
The Westminster Confession of Faith echoes many key “one another” passages, asserting that saints are obligated to “assemble and meet together” for corporate worship, sacraments, discipline and ministry. It views physical interaction as essential, not optional or replaceable.
The Second London Baptist Confession says the visible church is a “congregation of baptized believers” in which the Word is preached and obeyed. It also specifies the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper are to be administered “in the context of the local church.” Without gathering, these cannot occur.
The 1689 London Baptist Confession declares that the church is “a body of regenerate believers” who meet together in the same place to be “united under some form of church government.” This assumes and requires physical presence, not merely online identification.
Historic Protestant confessions consistently articulate the necessity of actual local church assemblies based on the patterns witnessed in Scripture. They indicate that teaching, sacraments, obedience, discipline and unified government need in-person interaction. These doctrines should shape our current church practices.
Insights from Church History on Physical Gatherings
Looking at how the church has historically practiced meeting together can also provide wisdom for today:
In the 2nd century, Justin Martyr described weekly worship gatherings where believers assembled together to pray, take the Lord’s Supper, and listen as Scripture was read aloud and expounded upon. This pattern shows early Christian reliance on in-person meetings.
4th century pastor John Chrysostom exhorted his congregation not to avoid assembling together, warning that forsaking public worship would make them weak and vulnerable to the devil’s attacks. He too saw spiritual importance in being physically present with other believers.
16th century reformer Martin Luther explained that God made his church visible by giving it physical signs and symbols of water, bread, wine, laying on hands, preaching, Scripture and baptism. The visible marks of the church would be empty ceremonies without physical gathering.
19th century pastor Charles Spurgeon refused to pastor two separate congregations because he believed they should meet together. When one grew too large he would plant another church rather than allow virtual-like subgroups with no interaction. Gathering together was key.
20th century theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, despite witnessing the rise of broadcast radio and television, still emphasized that Christ exchanges his physical presence for the physical presence of other believers when they come together in his name. He argued that being the Body of Christ requires sharing physical space.
Across twenty centuries of diverse Christian thought and practice, the consistent refrain has been the necessity and blessing of assembling together physically rather than being disconnected individuals. There are always challenges to gathering, but the promoters of corporate worship have remained adamant on finding ways for believers to be physically present with one another where possible.
Potential Pitfalls of Online-Only Church Participation
If online services become a replacement for rather than a supplement to in-person gatherings of the local church, there are risks that can develop:
– Loss of opportunities to serve and bless others face-to-face through use of gifts and small acts of love. This was a hallmark of the early church (Acts 2:44-45).
– Weakened pastoral care and crisis intervention for those undergoing hardship, illness, depression, or confusion. These often benefit most from in-person interaction and comfort.
– Lack of visibility and accountability for ongoing sins mentioned in 1 Corinthians 5 that require physical removal from fellowship as part of the discipline process. Online church reduces ability to assess these situations.
– Growth of theological confusion if unable to have depth discussions in real time and in context about issues that arise during Bible teaching times. Misunderstandings can develop more easily online.
– Decline in practicing spiritual gifts like service, mercy, giving, leadership, administration, helps and others that allow the church to function smoothly as one body. Opportunities to serve decrease without gathering.
– Reduction in communion, baptisms, child dedications and other symbolic ceremonies that remind the church of spiritual realities. These require being together physically.
– Weakened prayer support since praying aloud together powerfully focuses corporate intercession versus the inherent isolation of online prayer.
– Loss of ability to practice biblical “one another” commands in meaningful ways. True community suffers without personal interaction.
– Rise of spiritual apathy and lack of zeal for Christ since believers are not being stirred up toward love and good works by other members of the Body.
The New Testament remedy for declining commitment was direct exhortation and good examples among members who met together regularly. Online churches can breed indifference.
There are certainly challenges that create legitimate hindrances for some in attending church, such as health problems or lacking reliable transportation. But the Bible still presents physical gathering together as the expectation for believers. And it warns those who forsake assembling together, implying a mindset that does not prioritize being with other Christians will become weakened spiritually. A healthy church must determine how to promote both online options alongside consistent in-person meetings rather than using one to replace the other entirely.
Conclusion from Scripture and History
In conclusion, while the merits of online church services are worth considering, neither Scripture nor church history support them replacing regular in-person gatherings of believers. The consistent pattern from both the Bible and twenty centuries of church practice has been the necessity and priority of having an actual physically present community that assembles for worship, teaching, fellowship, sacraments, discipline and the use of spiritual gifts to build up other members. This does not deny that at times extenuating circumstances can prevent meeting together temporarily. Historically that might have been severe persecution or plague. Today it might be a short-term church gathering ban by authorities or health reasons that necessitate a season of virtual services. But the goal always remains returning to in-person meetings as soon as feasible. The local body of Christ seems to require physical togetherness to fully mature spiritually the way the New Testament demonstrates. While online services might be valid to augment the life of the church, they do not seem theologically sufficient to functionally replace regular face-to-face gatherings and fulfill what Scripture outlines for believers coming together. The technology is new, but the biblical model has not changed.