More off the record... this time on the record.

Blogger on all things interesting (and more!) Nathan, was not happy with my nothing post yesterday. So let me begin to offer some of my reflections on what I can say in relation to Mondays think tank. My thoughts are still coming together, so I welcome feedback.

On iPastor...

The idea that technology has got to such a point where we can directly beam via satellite into our homes HD video of the best preachers from across the world, is simply breathtaking. And while every step up in technology is railed against by the fuddy duddies of which I am occasionally one, nevertheless the technological march continues.

So what do we do with this technology? Generally we adapt or die. And while early-adopters have the benefit of being at the cutting edge, railers are forever playing catch up. Personally I would say this included both blogging and podcasting for me. It currently includes twitter. I was talking with my mate Paul yesterday and we agreed that neither of us thought twitter was achieving a purpose that Facebook updates didn't, and thus that is currently where both of us are drawing the line. But I'm sure that stance will change if twitter keeps its popularity.

Now, I've spoken before about my discomfort with the Mars Hill Global beam in iPastor guy to preach to local congregations. Is this another area where my initial discomfort will later be replaced by playing catch-up? Perhaps. But the realities of the global nature of relationships over the internet is still being worked out in regards to church life. Is it possible to have an online church? On the one hand, you've got people who live in isolation who either have no church to go to, or none worth going to. Online preaching and churching enables these folks to receive regular Bible input and encouragement from others.

Yet for me, this is where I think my discomfort is with Mars Hill Global. It is not an attempt to use the online world for fellowship with those who otherwise are without access. It is not an attempt to 'gather' those whose predominant relationships are conducted online. Instead as I understand, it is an attempt to meld both the regular "physical" gathering with some of the benefits of the "virtual online" world. It is equipping poorly resourced local churches with a higher level of preaching. Those that could not otherwise get as competent a preacher as Mark Driscoll (which is 99.9% of churches) can now get that benefit every week.

That Mars Hill are taking this on is admirable. It's a loving thing to do. In a lot of situations I think it would provide great benefit. And yet it is not an attempt to come to terms with the nature of online relationships (which needs further thought), but rather a melding of the two. The old and the new. A physical gathering with an online component.

We must make the best use of this technology that is available. Yet my personal view is that while further thinking needs to be done about the implications of online church, the solutions provided by Mars Hill Global in revamping the local gathering, in the long term undermines that existing older model. Seeing it is not as though no local can preach at the global campuses, they instead require someone for about ten weeks of the year.

A way forward? I am willing to admit I may end up playing catch-up on this one. While not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, the old tried and true physical gathering is still working adequately. Though the nature of people relating to others occurs increasingly online, I would suggest that the physical nature of relationships will not dwindle as much as we are tempted to think. People still need to work, people still need to eat, people still need to meet other people.

Instead I would suggest spending our energies and indeed I am working towards changing the thinking of Christians from purely reaching those within their parish boundaries who are somewhere "out there", to thinking along their relationship circles. That our evangelistic effort would be to seek to talk about Jesus with groups of people and communities that we have links with: work, education, neighbours, friends etc. But this thinking should also include those we don't currently have links with but should work towards, such as meeting other parents within schools, meeting neighbours if you don't know them, joining local sporting teams and committees. It seems to me, thinking strategically about people groups we don't have contact with will eventually include online communities as well. But this will only be understood in the wider sense of seeking to proclaim Jesus naturally as an aspect of our relationship circles.

Then again, in 5 years time I might be a professional Christian projectionist.

Tomorrow: There is a well known adage in Christian circles that "One generation believes a truth, the next generation assumes the truth and the third generation denies the truth." Why I think the internet age increases the chances of evangelicals today becoming that second generation.