Would You Go to Church Online?

Today I had an exchanged dialogue with my mom about an article she is studying for her Master's degree. The article is about how in the traditional family setting (mom and dad together) the mom way more likely to be more spiritual than the dad. There was mention of the different generations - Boomer generation being age 35+ moms and Buster generation being ages 22-35 moms. The Buster generation is less likely to attend church and church events. Personally, I don't think that makes you more or less spiritual, but can definitely attribute to your spirituality and how you define and/or display it.

Although I'm married, my husband isn't the church-going type. He went for a while with me with my in-laws and his grandparents, but it dwindled off. I just can't convince him to get back into it. So, I really don't want to go by myself and drop my child off in a nursery with some stranger while I sit alone in a pew in the sanctuary. That feels very awkward and unappealing to me. I'm a very self-conscious person and I wouldn't be able to get past my insecurities about being alone (not to mention not having a wardrobe of dress clothes for church). Instead of focusing on what I SHOULD be in church, I would be thinking about everything else.

So what if there were an online church? One where I could sit in my PJ's at midnight or noon or 8 PM or 6 AM or whatever time I wanted and participate in a service. I could instant message or post to a forum and it could be an interactive experience. How cool would that be?!

I'm already much more comfortable online than in person. I know I would be a lot more open to really exploring my feelings and challenging my faith to grow if I were comfortable. Please don't over-analyze what I am saying. I know sometimes we have to step outside of our comfort zones to really hear what God might have to say to us. I'm also not trying to say that everything else in my life is more important than God, so I just can't fit Sunday service into my busy schedule. I just think if more options were there for the frazzled, hectic person then a lot more people might be open to exploring their faith on a regular basis.

Some might argue that this would eliminate the praise and worship experience. Okay, well that's why these things are available on CD and DVD. Just because I'm not singing and praying next to a person in a pew doesn't mean I can't get achieve the same communion with God. So then the next arguement is probably the Bible verse about "where 2 or 3 are gathered in His name". Do we have to be gathered in person? I think being at the same site or forum is still a gathering.

People go to school and work online. Why not church too? Then we could all get together for a luncheon fellowship occasionally to experience social interaction. I know I personally am a lot more inclined to really challenge myself and speak my mind on the keys. I get flustered and unable to put my thoughts into verbal words in person. I would be the ideal member for this new church.

Anyone else want to join?

************ I realize this does nothing for raising my child in church and this whole concept is based SOLELY on my own spirituality. It still has kinks to work out regarding children.************