Heb 10:23-25 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; (24) and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, (25) not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
These verses are often quoted as an argument against online church membership. And I get it. There are indeed people who do forsake the assembling together and instead just watch “church” online. They don’t want to bother getting out of bed, getting dressed, being around people, and many simply do not want any kind of accountability. But before anyone immediately dismisses the possibility of a valid online church membership, please listen to some things you probably are not aware of.
For the past 12 years our church which I have pastored now for 33 years, has had a ministry to domestic abuse victims, most all Christians, who have also been grossly mistreated by their local church and pastor(s). Some have been ex-communicated for divorcing. These are not flaky “Christians” who do not desire real fellowship in a church. Hardly. They have looked and looked and searched and searched for a real church in their area and come up empty time and time again. Anyone who is a genuine Christian, who desires a true church and a true pastoral ministry knows exactly what this frustration is. In these last days the true church is getting harder and harder to find. If you are satisfied with superficiality, with milk instead of meat, then you won’t understand what I am talking about.
What has been our experience in this online, livestreaming ministry? I will tell you. It has connected us with some of the most Godly Christians I have known. We have real fellowship. How is that possible, you ask? Because we communicate with one another every week – often multiple times. We know the members “out there” are joining us on Sundays. They diligently follow our livestreamed Bible studies (currently on #146, Romans Study). And they are growing in Christ.
Recently one of our online members was suddenly taken ill and hospitalized. Our entire church family knew it, all prayed for him, all rejoiced at his recovery. We KNOW one another. And furthermore, several of our distant members have traveled out here and met us face to face.
But what about those verses in Hebrews 10? Let me tell you. The instruction is that we gather together with the saints, encouraging one another to love and good deeds. I suggest that many if not most people who profess to be Christians and are church members, who walk through the church doors on Sundays, have never had the level of Christian fellowship that we have here, including with our distant members. I have had critics tell me that all online churches are unbiblical. All. Really? So, let’s carry their objections out a bit. Are they saying that a member of the church at Laodicea is fulfilling Hebrews 10 while the distant members of our church are not? Note that these verses speak of gathering together with one another. Who are the one another? Christians. Real Christians. The saints. And I can tell you that there are many, many local “in person” churches that have hardly any regenerate people in them at all. THAT is where the critics’ complaint should be.
Have you ever given thought to the Apostle Paul’s ministry? Do you realize that there were Christians and churches who had never, ever seen him face to face. So, how did he minister to them? “Online!” He wrote to them. Don’t you think that if he had had the technology we have today that he would have used it?
We always, of course, are glad if one of our distant members does finally find a true church where God’s Word is genuinely preached. But the reality is that in these last days we may very well be in the beginnings of that great apostasy Paul told the Thessalonians would come before the Antichrist appears. That means we can expect the remnant to be even smaller and harder to find.
So, please do not do what one guy did recently to me. Don’t unleash your ignorance regarding this subject if you know nothing about it. And in reality, few people really do know.
Veronica Miyake
As one of the on-line members, I have to say that finding Christ Reformation Church and Pastor Crippen was an answer to prayer. After attending several churches in my area, from Baptist to non-denominational and even a mega church, I could not find a home in any of them. None of them understood the dynamics of domestic abuse, nor were they willing to practice church discipline by kicking out the abuser. One church even refused to expose a child molester, saying they were protecting his wife and kids! These types of churches are not safe for women and children. I would love to be part of a local church! I was part of a church for 25 years in Colorado Springs, so I know what it’s like to be a family, where the Word is preached and everyone is born again. We were very small, because many who claimed to know Christ would leave after a while. Finding CRC after years of searching for the same type of fellowship that I knew before was nothing short of a miracle and a wonderful blessing from the Lord! How many people in churches today can say they really know their pastor and their pastor knows them? I can. I love my church family and I know they love me. I have Christian friends where I live and I am in regular contact with them, so I am in fellowship with other believers. I wonder how many people who attend a local Church just go to the service and then go home? I would dare to say it’s probably a majority. I would encourage people to consider taking the log out of their own eye before trying to remove a speck out of others’.
Joanne
Thank you for this unusual, insider’s perspective on the value of online church. What a lifeline it must be to the abused spouses.
Jon and Jennifer G.
Wonderful words. Thank you for holding your hand out to people like us – scattered across a dry and barren landscape searching for true churches. Never seeking perfection, just something biblical. We’ve landed here and couldn’t be more grateful. Thank you again.
Jeff Crippen
Jon and Jennifer – you probably already know, but I upload my midweek Bible study videos (currently in Romans) to sermonaudio.com/crc and our youtube channel, Light for Dark Times, Jeff Crippen. We also livestream these sessions on our Facebook channel, Light for Dark Times. I think we have a library of some 2200 sermons, Sunday morning classes, and Bible studies.
George
Jeff, you do not have to defend what you are doing to people who just throw stones. I heard a saying “People who understand don’t judge. people who judge don’t understand.”
They don’t understand because they don’t look for understanding. They carry the arrogance of self righteousness. I’m so thankful to have found your blog. You are being used by God to minister to victims of abuse that have been neglected by their faith communities. You do not need to seek the approval of man by justifying what you are doing. Keep doing this faithfullu
Jeff Crippen
Thank you George!!
Thankful
I have been deeply hurt from in-person groups because I am “that person” who says something about abusers, and keeps saying something until the matter is meaningfully addressed and/or I’m run out of the group. Usually the latter. I’m that thorn-in-the-side of abusers and enablers.
I’m proud that I’ve caused some real changes, including in a couple of well-known organizations, but I’m also really tired and burnt out. Over the years, my unpaid efforts have indirectly and directly led to national news stories, podcasts, and documentaries that you have likely seen. However, I no longer want to be “that person” who gets run out of the group but gets contacted several years later because I’m regarded as temporarily useful when they’re finally building a case against that abuser, but they intend to just immediately alienate me again afterward. I no longer want to be “that person” who doesn’t get invited to the private gatherings, but gets told about a predatory male because the people who do get invited to those parties want me to expose him. Been there, done that!
If I didn’t have the benefit of online church and other social groups, I would not connect with anyone at all. One day, I may venture out to in-person gatherings again. I’m open to it. I agree that these internet connections are genuine. Right now, online Christian services are incredibly healing and meaningful. God Bless you, Pastor Crippen.
Jeff Crippen
I understand the burnout. The whistleblower eventually gets demonized. I am very glad that our online ministry has helped you.
One of the biggest obstacles to real Christian fellowship today is that it is rare. We shouldn’t be surprised because the Bible tells us repeatedly that Christ’s people are a remnant. Our own church here, as you may know, consists of only 20 people in a church that once saw 150. But over the years God’s Word proclaimed has weeded out the counterfeits. There were many, and many “Korahs” who were there only for their personal glory and then others who just wanted their ears tickled. Most do not want to hear about evil and in practice actually deny its existence.
Many blessings to you in Christ,