Christian Living

Prophecy and the Online Church

by paul hoffmaster
12/19/21
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Today, there seems to be a great influx of teachings on prophesy and prophetic utterances.  The question begs to be asked whether the reader and student of prophecy are “profiting” spiritually from these endeavors.  Are we growing closer to fulfilling God’s calling for our lives or are we so concerned about what the future holds, that we have lost sight of what God wants to do in the here and now?  Behind the courses in prophesy is the expectation that the Lord will return at any minute.  Interpreting the signs of the “end times” has become a prerequisite to the “rapture.”  Christians seem so preoccupied with leaving this decaying “sphere” of chaos that they have failed to keep their “armor” in working condition.  Leaving the battlefield for the “snatching” away of the saints has so preoccupied Christians that their outreach has been replaced with uplifted hands of beckoning for His soon return.

Churches have lost their vision.  Just in the last ten years, I have witnessed a deterioration of the very centers of spiritual truth.  One area in which churches have been tricked into bringing about their own demise is the “Online” church.  During the Covid-19 outbreak, churches were forced to shut down.  Not to be silenced, services were offered through the internet.  Thankfully, people were able to hear the Word.  As churches began to reopen their doors, the “Online” services continued to stay active.  It was good for the “shut-ins” as well as the sick, but for the able-bodied Believers, it becomes a convenience.  I visited a church a few weeks ago that publicized its attendance figures.  What it showed was almost 60% of worshippers were online.  If we are not careful, the building itself will become obsolete.  I know that is a stretch, but the possibility is still there.  Should not “Online” churches have certain conditions that need to be met before people can receive the broadcast?  Shut-ins and the sick should receive priority.  Just because the weather is unfriendly does not mean one should stay home and watch the service in their pajamas!  I wonder how many “Online” churches are staying current with their financial obligations.

Technology has depersonalized the Bible.  Pastors preach and teach from their I-Pads instead of the handheld Book.  I know that the Word is the same, but there is something about holding the printed Word that brings a reverence and a sense of awe.  Television screens become the illustrator of the spoken word.  Large screens bring the pastor up close and personal.  How necessary are these advances in technology to the presenting of the Word?  Change is not always the best course of action when it comes to enhancing the Gospel.  Churches are run as institutions or corporations, and as a result, we have a people-directed church instead of a Spirit-led body of Believers.

A recent Pew Poll found that 29% of Americans have “no religion.”  Less than one-half of adults pray daily.  If the unaffiliated were a religion, they would be the largest religious group in the United States.  To try to curb this trend, churches have tried to be more relevant with their updated approaches, but in their attempt to attract people they have actually distracted not only themselves but the people.  Donuts and coffee can satisfy the taste buds, but it is the living water that quenches the thirsting of the soul.  It is not what the churches think is best for the people; rather, what is written down in ink that brings real satisfaction.