Justin at Radical Congruency had a post the other day about ‘E-mail church’. He addresses the idea that church is more than a building and a schedule of meetings. Do we really need to meet to have ‘church’? Isn’t it church when we gather for dinner, meet to pray, just talk about God or even email, blog or chat? I think so. God’s church is all about the people and the relationships they develop. In the first century they didn’t have snail mail or books in the way we know them, let alone telephones, email, instant messaging, video conferencing, magazines, TV, electrinic buletin boards, blogs, etc. 30 years ago or so, Christians could not have imagined having relationships without a telephone, 60 or so years before that letters may have been indespensible, maybe 120 years earlier you had to go next door.
I know that I have come to rely on the thoughts and pespectives I get from others online to help me in my relationship with God. I can’t imagine life with out these e-relationships, this e-church.

Virusdoc posted his latest (Part IV) in his seies of posts on testing the exsistance of the Christian God. Frankly, as I said today in the comments, I didn’t think that this would be a fruitful search. He’s looking, as a scientist, for a hypothesis and an experiment to prove that God exists. People have been wanting this kind of proof forever, why sould he be smarter than the millions before him that tried?
But today he hit on something that was golden:

… these passages make the prediction that each and every individual can obtain real, personal, and tangible evidence of the existence of God by doing something ridiculously simple, yet apparently quite valuable to God: seek Him. Ask Him to reveal Himself. Suspend your disbelief long enough to open your mind to the possibility of His existence. If the God of the Bible exists, then He will respond to this tiny act of faith by revealing himself.

So there it is, a simple test for the existence of God. Why didn’t I think of that? Go check it out. And don’t forget Part I, Part II and Part III.

I had started this post a few weeks ago but never finished it. It bears completing, bringing some unfortunate closure to the events in my church over the past few months.
Well, what I had feared has happened. The deacon who stepped down just a few weeks ago told me on Thursday (5/27/2004) that he will no longer be worshiping with us. The reasons are the same as they were when we spoke that night. If that blow could be said to have brought me to my knees, this one put me flat on my back on the mat, out cold. I’m begining to come to now.
This is now the 4th man in the past year that I’ve grown close to and opened my heart to that has left my fellowship. These men and I have shared our hearts, gut wrenching feelings and deep wrestling about God and truth. Most imortantly for me I’ve felt a connection with them, a bond, that I’ve found hard to make with others. And one by one they’ve left, two to other states and two to other congregations.
I was, frankly, a real grouch for several days. This one has been perhaps the hardest. Not because we we the closest, we weren’t. No I think it was finding another who I felt I could share with and loosing them. I need these kind of men, these kind of relationships. It’s almost unbearable to think of going on without them. But the thought of giving my heart all over again only to have the rug torn from beneath my feet is nearly as unbearable. Will I give my heart only to find them coming to the same conclusions and going their own way? The urge to run and hide is great. It’s safer, but not better.
The joy of earlier in the week (5/24/2004) was quickly snatched away. From hope and encouragement to dispair in one swoop. Ironically, I was excited to share the results of that night with him. I knew of his pain for our church, and I hoped that it would give him some encouragement and hope. I guess it was too late for that. We will still remain good friends, and can still have those talks. But I know that without the regular meeting together at church, it will be more difficult, and it won’t be the same. I hope I’m wrong.
It is another loss for our spiritual family, but because of the actions of the deacons on Monday (5/24/2004) I have renewed hope for our congrgation. We must act quickly to stem the tide. I fear the enemy has gotten a real foothold, and he won’t be easily removed.
Since writing that, the leadership team has gotten together a few more times. It’s been encouraging, and I am begining to see a bond develop between us. There are still some real questions in my mind, some real differences in opinion on where to take the church, but I remain hopeful. Frankly I am glad to see the diversity of the group. I think it will mean, if we can really listen to each other, a healthy leadership for the church. If only we can see the wisdom and value in each other’s words.
We’ve begun to visit the members as well. My first will be tomorrow morning. I am anxious to hear what they have to say. Lot’s of lessons in listening coming up. If you’e the praying type, adn you feel so moved, please say a prayer for the leadership here in the Columbus Church of Christ to be able to listen with humble hearts. It’s so easy to dismiss without a proper hearing.