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Why An Internet Ministry
In Hebrews 10: 25, God commands, not an option, the born again, Church Age believer not to forsake the gathering together for worship. Note, however, that Church Age believers do NOT go to Church, but that they ARE the church that gathers together for corporate worship services.
There are some born again believers who do not have traditional local assembly in their geographical area. There are others who do not and will not attend traditional Church services for other reasons. For such persons, Internet ministries are open twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. Internet ministries can also provide supplemental teaching for believers who attend traditional services.
The Bible must be interpreted and applied today in light of the historical setting in which the original manuscriptswere written. Communication technology has certainly come a long way since the first century, and only the omniscience of God knows what further developments there will be before the end times come.
Satan certainly takes advantage of all form of media to communicate and promote his agenda, and those involved in evangelism and teaching ministry should not overlook the use of such means of communication provide.
Man has always faced new ideas and developments with fear and reservation. It's one thing for unbelievers to "react" this way, but edified believers are to rely on the sovereignty, omniscience, and omnipotence of God not to allow anything to happen anywhere that would allow evil to beyond go beyond the parameters that God has decreed.
The devil is well aware of what the mission of the Church is, but does everything he can to distract its leadership and members from focusing on its true calling. Cleaning up the devil's world and making it a better place to live has never been the calling of the Church.
Colaborating with secular powers has led it to some of the darkest periods of its history.
The Biblical discription of the what the world environment will be like at the Second Advent when Christ returns, is hardly one in which good has overcome evil!
The mission, or Great Commission of the Church is to proclaim the Gospel Message to unbelievers and to make disciples, that is students and appliers of the Word of God, of its own members.
Most of the spiritual combat of the Church Age takes place in the realm of communication. The fastest means to communicate on a local and global level, to date, is via the Internet. Unlike the Christian Community, Satan saw its potential and wasted no time to make his presence known in the intangible realm of cyberspace.
Born again believers do not GO to Church. The earthly Church is made up of All Born again believers, who gather together in local assemblies, where they are to taught the Word of God and celebrate the Lord’s Supper on a regular basis.
Where they gather together is of no significance. Believers can gather together in a physical setting for a traditional worship service or in a remote location for a rebroadcast via the numerous options that are now available over the internet.
Instant messaging and/or email can provide the means for Q & A sessions or a more private consultation with a pastor teacher.
In the physical absence of the pastor teacher, it can be more difficult to maintain a distraction free, learning environment, but not impossible. Each generation of the Church Age has had challenges to deal with, as the mission given to the Church unfolds.
Internet ministries of the Church Age still calls for pastor teachers who has been ordained and maintains the Biblical qualifications for the position. The Biblical environment should be distraction free setting, during the time that the teaching and/or the celebration of the Lord’s Supper takes place.
As in the case of the traditional local assemblies, those attending are NOT following a pastor teacher. The pastor teacher is only a man whom God has called to communicate the truth concerning the principles of His Word. What the recipients of the information received do with the information provided is a matter between them and the Lord.
Internet ministries can be used as the primary or as a supplementary means for the edification of one’s soul structure. Every born again believer is a member of the Church at large, but many for a variety of reasons are not attending a local assembly at this time, but will tune into a non-conventional ministry such as the ones that can be found in the Internet. The “doors” are always open, and there NO price tags on our information.
The bottom line in seeking a local assembly, be it a traditional one, one in cyberspace, or one in a mode that is yet to be engineered, is the quantity and the quality of the Bible Doctrine being communicated, and the manner in which it is contributing to your own spiritual growth, under the mentorship and filling of God the Holy Spirit.
“But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.” - John 4: 24 (NASB).
Pastor Doug Laird
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