Virtual church

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by james34

Wow, I missed the parallel of this post the first time I read it. Thanks to another member who commented about the relevance I went back and read it. This if I'm not careful would fit me too a tee. These are the times I have been training for for so long. Not only can we save ourselves, but there are many souls to be saved. The word of God is as relevant as it has ever been.
With an increase in tribulation, I believe God will sustain his people with a greater increase and outpouring of his Spirt.
....and by the way great post, thanks for sharing.

[Michael The Disciple]

Obviously meeting in person is the ideal. "Virtual" Christianity is IMO a great thing. I have met with other saints online for "Church" many times. Many times I have been able to teach the awesome foundation truths of Christ to others online.

Live streaming Church is very good for the time in which we live. If local Church is weak on truth and Church far away is stronger on truth and you can be there online guess where I will be?

Church will one day, maybe later, maybe soon, be done underground. People need to develop a strategy for that.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Barb

For the record, I HAVE been paying attention, thank you very much, but I don't believe everything I read and hear. I’m not hiding my head in the sand, but rather choose to look to a brighter day.

My former pastor said today, speaking about the hour in which we live, "It’s a valid reason today (for having service the way they are), but will it be a valid reason tomorrow?”

Who knows? Who can say that we will never again be allowed back in the church building? I don’t have a clue, but again, neither do you or Bishop Wilson. All any of us can do is speculate… in the meantime, I choose joy!

I will say that I have tried to be respectful here, but for you to say that “Most churches have obeyed their true master… BAAL!” This is a terrible thing to say about the household of faith!!!

I would ask what you would have us do, but it is useless again for me to continue this discussion. If we could share thoughts and ideas without the ridicule, I would gladly join in… but it’s hopeless.

As I said before, I am praying for you and your family… good day!

What ridicule? Baal worship is alive and well in modern America, has been for a long time. I did not say anything about the household of faith obeying Baal. I used the word churches in its generic sense. Any church that obeys man in opposition to God is not the household of faith.

I am sorry you are upset about me pointing out the obvious.

I appreciate your prayers, and I mean that with all sincerity. It was NEVER my intention to offend you or cause you grief or consternation.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Obviously meeting in person is the ideal. "Virtual" Christianity is IMO a great thing. I have met with other saints online for "Church" many times. Many times I have been able to teach the awesome foundation truths of Christ to others online.

Live streaming Church is very good for the time in which we live. If local Church is weak on truth and Church far away is stronger on truth and you can be there online guess where I will be?

Church will one day, maybe later, maybe soon, be done underground. People need to develop a strategy for that.

It's already been developed, and there's nothing virtual about it. Sitting alone in your house and trying to utube a move of God isn't where the future is at. Sorry.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

I have been gone of late, but see that the topic of discussion is the present situation. I have been super busy with selling the most sought after thing in America. DUMBBELLS, BARBELLS (especially OLYMPIC) PLATES, and KETTLEBELLS. Dumbbell handles are super rare right now fetching prices in the upwards of 80 dollars a set. It is because the GYMNASIUMS have all closed with the churches. But, these guys and gals can't go virtual. You can't lift some crazy weight over the internet. You got to get you some Iron from the Iron pile. The boys and girls have to get going and pick up some heavy things and quick. Because there are gainzz a wasting away. People are getting smaller by the day.

Sad, but true, all over the country, the Iron brethren are in search of reps. No gym. But what I noticed, is that they are congregating in secret, forming into groups secretly in homes, garages, barns, backyards, places where they can't be heard lifting and clanging weights. They're meeting together in numbers, 20 sometimes 30. I have also seen new lifters become discouraged, and totally stop eating right, they have no equipment at home. No trainers to help them train, or give them encouragement. These new lifters, and people who were trying to get their lives in shape no longer have a gym. They can't virtual lift, no way to be encouraged by a YouTubes video on lifting, because a video can't train with you. A video can't spot you on the bench, or the squat rack. There is something about working out with other lifters to spur you on, while you are training. It is different for old lifters like us, we have been lifting for a long time. We can train all alone, we know how to do things where a spotter isn't needed. We don't need to be spurred on, because it is all second nature to us, plus we understand the consequences of stopping, or not finishing a set. The newbies don't understand that, or the young people who are just coming into the Iron Pile.

I have sold more weights in three weeks then I have ever in my life. It has been unprecedented what is happening. Another thing, I had an individual who is a lifter, and so is his girlfriend. While he is curled up in the fetal position on the couch watching reruns of Gilligan's Island, and eating Hagendaz. His girlfriend is knocking down reps doing flies with two car rims. Two different mindsets. Both were gym rats extraordinaries. But since the Gym sent them the Dear John Email one got so low he couldn't maintain at home. Home couldn't do it for him, instead of doing what is girlfriend was doing through improvisation. He curled up in the fetal position and started sucking his thumb. He wasn't a newbie. He wasn't a new convert who didn't know how to go in and out. He was a lifter for years, but since he no longer had Cybex, Hammer Strength Equipment, and a row of dumbbells on a rack he fell apart.

Yet, when he got around other lifters he didn't get a shoulder rub down, and a sweet love message. His girlfriend showed him no mercy, because she was smashing sets to powder, like a champion. He got brought back in line with some one on one pointing towards the way to the Iron Pile. Hey, most of you people have been Apostolic since Olan Mills was a boy. So, you are going to do alright, but what about soul winning? What about new visitors? What about praying people through to snot bubbles and tears? Kinda hard snotting up in a mask. What about water baptism? I guess that got put on hold as well?

Glad to see you're back!

[Freeindeed]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

What does it say on that guy's sign?

"I was your pilot
someone sneezed
good luck."

[Barb]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Really? I can't baptize over the Internet when they listen to me preach in Greece, Colombia, or Mexico. We have to go their in person to baptize them.
Didn't you understand what I posted sister?

First of all, I am not illiterate, so please do not speak to me as tho' I were... I understood completely what you posted.

As you have been on hiatus I guess you missed this post. I know before you even read it you won't agree with it, but here it is anyway...

Originally Posted by Barb

This is going to be rather long, but I have a lot on my heart this morning…

There is something I have never understood about us… I have been AOP prenatal, as well as a forum member since FCF but I just don’t get why we have to pick at each other. Why can’t we see the good a particular thing or action might produce rather than bite and devour each other, and for what? Just because someone’s opinion or method is different than what we are used to, we have to ridicule? I don’t get it…

First of all, I don’t know of anyone who is happy about this situation, and prefers internet services over assembling together. So in my opinion, Hebrews 10 doesn’t even belong in a conversation about today’s situation. Every pastor and every child of God would MUCH rather be in the physical building… but let’s not forget, the building is NOT the Church… it is just the place where we meet. I ought to be able to worship anywhere, under any circumstances because I am the Church.

Secondly, why must we ridicule what another man of God feels to do as he shepherd’s the saints placed in his care by God during this trying time? The accounting for their souls should not be open for discussion on social media… every pastor will stand individually before the Lord to answer for how they handled every situation, including a stay-at-home mandate.

And so some mock ‘virtual’ communion, but why? Because it is not distributed under their watchful care… really?

The Rock Church in Elk Grove is having ‘parking lot service’ Sunday morning, and communion. Each family will bring their own elements… Sis. Wilson demonstrated beautifully online Thursday evening on how to make unleavened bread, followed by a wonderful lesson on communion.

The POA had communion Palm Sunday, and it was beautiful…

Bottom line as I see it from my house... we can discern the Lord's body in our home or front seat of our car. The sanctuary is not what makes it holy...

So in the subject of altar calls and baptism… I’m going to address these together…

What is SO farfetched about making an altar call online? Do churches make altar calls in their regular Live streamed services anyway? Why mock this? People can repent and receive the Holy Ghost anywhere, at anytime.

As for baptism… an Apostolic pastor was teaching an online Bible study recently, and felt led to ask anyone who wanted to be baptized to contact him. Two folks from out of state did, and received instruction from the church staff re the importance/necessity of baptism…

The pastor then called the family, the saved mother took her grown daughter to the bathtub where the pastor prayed over the water, as y’all always do… then he said, ‘according to the confession of your faith, I now baptize you in the Name of the Lord Jesus!’ The girl was immersed with the Name of Jesus called over her!

Dire circumstances call for dire measures… so tell me, what would YOU rather have been done? Wait until she could walk into a brick building where a preacher could put her under? Are we not about the saving of the soul?

As for the UPCI and WPF doing online services… folks are allowed to change their view in order to reach the masses, or don’t you think so?

The 1st century saints didn’t have a keyboard, so maybe we shouldn’t either… is that the mindset here? We read the Bible from a cell phone, and even return a tithe online or text… is any of this wrong? As long as we are not changing the doctrine of salvation and separation unto the Lord, who really should care if they were once against the internet and are now preaching on it?

One more thing… as for this being fake/hoax or whatever… I PERSONALLY know people who have died or were near death due to COVID-19…

Andrew Coffield… 29 year old youth pastor was at death’s door last week. I have known Andrew all of his life, so this is not some celebrity claiming sickness… this is real life, folks. It was extremely critical, but he has since recovered and is home, praise the Lord!

My brother pastors a church in Illinois, and PESONALLY knows several pastors in his state with the virus, including his district superintendent…

My former pastor’s wife from the COOLJC passed last week from complications due to COVID-19…

A UPCI pastor’s wife from Escanaba, MI passed two days from COVID-19…

Two of my nieces work in a nursing home, and have witnessed several residents passing away from COVID-19…

And Pastor Gerald Guevara, longtime missionary to Spain is critical… I have heard him preach several times as Pastor Gerald is closely associated with our local church. He desperately needs our prayers as I write…

It grieves me to think that instead of all of this going back in forth… is it real or a hoax? Do we hibernate until it’s over, maybe erring on the side of caution, or just ignore it… why not join together as one Body in fasting and prayer and leave the bickering to the world?

If Bro. Spell wants to open the doors of the church house the consequences, if any, are his responsibility. If it is a mistake it is on him. And if my pastor preaches tomorrow online, he is doing what he feels is best for us. And I tell you frankly, with my compromised immune system and that of my mother I wouldn’t be there even if the doors were open.

That is NOT fear. That is wisdom.

In the final analysis what are we accomplishing here? Have any of you brought someone to the place of changing their opinion on COVID-19, and the services online deal based solely on your comments? I tell you true, I am not naïve enough to think that my sharing my thoughts this morning will change anyone’s mind…

So in the words of Rodney King, ‘why can’t we all just get along?’ The fact that this is a forum should not excuse the remarks made in these threads. We are one family… God’s family. Right or wrong, who are any of us to stand in judgment against another?

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Barb

First of all, I am not illiterate, so please do not speak to me as tho' I were... I understood completely what you posted.

As you have been on hiatus I guess you missed this post. I know before you even read it you won't agree with it, but here it is anyway...

You know something sis, I’ve been respectful to you.
But, what I’ve found out over the years of being on these forums since Jim Yohe called me up to join the discussion. Is that the biting, kicking, and hair pulling contest comes from you all wanting to be right. About whatever item is being defended. Parking lot preaching is now the new thing? How’d they do communion over the Internet? Anyway new converts was my point. Water baptisms and people in a altar slinging snot is done, like the dinner dishes. All because you all been sold a bill goods and you are all self regulating. Just like a cult. But the cult isn’t the Pentecostal religion. The cult is political, the cult is red white and blueski. You are more than willing to do as you are told. Is Tom Hanks and his wife die from their COVID 19? Oh I see. But Pentecostals are getting it and dying. No sis, I don’t agree with any of the show me your papers sir, or telling a church family to stay home when they don’t agree with the fear hysteria which has knocked Pentecost on its rear end. Seriously, I hope this stuff lasts a year, because the powers that be have a good thing going. It’s only been four weeks since you all been placed under house arrest and your religious leaders sent you home to watch them on television. You all don’t mind it. So let’s see how long the experiment can run it’s course?? I remember a thread on here where a bunch of guys were arguing about video in the sanctuary to tape a wedding. I wonder how many submitted to not having their wedding taped but now they are taping preaching from a pulpit in the sanctuary? Hey, this is religion and sadly it changes with every strong wind that blows. I got my own issues that are more real to me then COVID 19. One place I need to be MORE is with my church FAMILY. Again, I felt I’ve always been respectful to you sister, but it is what it is.

May the Lord continue to help you get through your own personal situations and be blessed in Jesus name

[james34]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Obviously meeting in person is the ideal. "Virtual" Christianity is IMO a great thing. I have met with other saints online for "Church" many times. Many times I have been able to teach the awesome foundation truths of Christ to others online.

Live streaming Church is very good for the time in which we live. If local Church is weak on truth and Church far away is stronger on truth and you can be there online guess where I will be?

Church will one day, maybe later, maybe soon, be done underground. People need to develop a strategy for that.

Yes strategy is important, I mentioned to someone how a former pastor of mine, used to be i romania and Russia, and in Romania the church went underground, and they would have church in different buildings and homes. They would not announce the next service, you had to hear from God to know where it would be.

[james34]

Since noone wants to speculate as to (how long temporary is)
What is too long?(before reopening public services )
Or....
Is a year too long as long as they say its necessary for public health and safety?