Virtual characteristics

Categories: uncategorized

Date: 12 July 2006 18:07:57

Christianity Today has the article, (just linked to) looking at the nature of the virtual community and the differences between fellowship on line and fellowship in church.

The article also has an interesting take on how Paul would have used e-mail if it'd been available and the bible may have been a tad different.

Basically I think it is a sound article, but what it doesn't look at are the way that certain on line communities may be similar, yet different to home groups.

Let me be clear I acknowledge there are v. clear differences but I think there are also similarities. Overall, in my experience there will be people in housegroups with whom you have little in common, but with whom you share prayer requests and an insight into each others lives because of a shared interest / belief which leads to you sharing the same space on a regular basis. There will also be people with whom you will "click" more and with whom you are likely to link with outside the home group. There will be times where there seems a shared intensity of experience within the group and times when time appears to just being marked; there will be movement between triviality and seriousness.

So are online communities like homegroups no, but yes, but maybe. Whichever way though I'm glad to be part of my home group and I'm glad to be part of the online communities I'm part of & really greatful to be part of both for the prayer support I have recieved over the last couple of weeks.