Is Facebook My New Church?  Wow!  Never thought I’d see the day when that title shows up on my screen.  I’m not even being facetious; this is a legitimate question for me.  Here’s a list of what I think is supposed to happen at church.  Let’s see if FB makes the cut. I’ll number them, in no priority order, to be able to address each one as necessary.

1. Church brings people together.
2. Church contributes to my spiritual growth.
3. Church, the actual act of attending, focuses my attention on God.
4. Church, the actual act of belonging, offers me mutually supportive and accountable relationships with like-minded people.
5. Church provides me a community where I can give and receive to and from others.
6. Church connects me to the body of Christ around the world.

Looking back on 20+ years of church participation and attendance the two big positives for me were spiritual growth and relationships.  The church I attended always made it a point to say that church isn’t only what happens on Sunday (or whatever day you attend), but was also the day-to-day interactions with God and people.

(Aside)  It would be pretty trippy to get a friend request from God and read updates on his status.  Gotta admit that this is what I think prayer is supposed to be:  Regular status updates, likes, happy birthdays, invitations and direct messages from and to God.

Back to the question.

If you look at the list of the off-the-top-of-my-head functions of church Facebook appears to do quite well in almost all of them.  In fact, in some, it might even be better (#1 and #6). There are problems, though, with considering Facebook a church.

Euphoric Facebook Experiences?

First, the act of browsing the most recent updates usually doesn’t leave me with a mountain-top encounter with God.  Neither does it usually leave me with a deep feeling of koinonia fellowship.  Most people just don’t turn to FB with thoughts of spiritual development in mind. #2 and #3 are not things normally associated with post-facebooking activity.

There have been times, however, when I’ve been asked to pray for someone, counseled and been counseled, and been moved by songs and videos and quotes posted by others.  I have been rebuked and instructed and encouraged.  Recently, I watched a video of a friend of mine and his daughter singing the old Vineyard song, “Hungry.” It’s a gift they have and they shared it with us.

Really, when you think about it, how many times have you been strongly moved or touched attending church?  Every time?  Awesome.  I bet it’s more like occasionally. Was it because the speaker was so dynamic or the worship team was on that day?  Probably not.  It’s more likely you yourself were ready to receive, to share, to encounter.  When you practice the presence of God (as Brother Lawrence wrote about), like anything else you practice, you improve.  Can I say you grow?   I think so.

How Accountable Are You?  Really?

Secondly, the absence of face-to-face communication can make the goal of mutually supportive and accountable relationships difficult to achieve.  Or does it? My thinking is that you are as accountable as you want to be.  Attending or not attending church doesn’t make you more (or less accountable).   I just read about a research study that found people more likely to lie and make false claims on-line, though.  I question whether they would be significantly more honest and forthright face-to-face over some coffee after church.  Maybe.

The Biggest Problem

There’s something that happens when the body is gathered together that is the biggest thing Facebook can’t provide.  When a group of people, who are loving God and loving each other, come together to lift their voices in song and praise – man! – it’s untouchable!  No online website/community will ever be able to replicate that experience for me.

Ultimately and bottom line, my perspective is what transforms the mundane into the spiritual, the normal to the super-normal, and transports me from earth to heaven.  If I approach Facebook (or Twitter or any other similar online community) with spiritual intentions I’ll get spiritual results. If I don’t, just like at church, I won’t.