Is This Livestream Link For Me?
Technology, like any tool, can be used for good or evil. Our livestream is a tool. It can be used for good when you’re sick but you want to love your neighbor by choosing not to spread what you have. It can also be used for good if your physical condition keeps you from being able to go anywhere else (you are “shut-in”), and you long to stay connected to your church family. It can also be used for good if you’re out of town and lack a Bible-believing solid church to attend.
It can be used for evil though, which is why many churches have stopped live-streaming. It can be used for evil:
If it’s an excuse to prioritize other things like rest, sports, or comfort over the worship of God with God’s people. Corporate worship is the clearest taste of heaven God’s people have. It’s also commanded: “…consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25). If the livestream is enabling the habit of choosing anything over the worship of God with his people, resolve not to use it, plan ahead, and join us in person on Sunday.
If it’s tempting you to try to live the Christian life on your own. God is unity in Trinity, unity in community. God has made you for community. So you need to be where you can be known and where you can know others. God has also made you necessary. According to 1 Corinthians 12, you are an indispensable part of His body. You need us—and we need you—for us to actually be the body of Christ. Withholding your participation in worship is not just cutting off a vital part of our body, it’s cutting yourself off from the body. If you are able, we need you—and you need us—next to you praying, singing, listening, responding, serving, etc.
If you are a visitor trying to get a feel for our church. Our church is our people, not our livestream. Worship is not a product we deliver to be consumed; it’s something we do together. Furthermore, we can’t greet you, get to know you, pray for you, love you, or serve you through your screen. Finally, everything is so much better live—music especially! We do our best, but our livestream is just not an accurate representation of our church or our worship service. So resist the consumerist impulse to judge a church based on its media savvy. We’d love to have you come and join us for worship!
So, before you click the link, I want you to take “The Walmart Test.” Here it is: can you go shopping at Walmart when you want to? If the answer is yes, then you can and you should worship the risen King with us. If the answer is no, then we are delighted to attempt to minister to you through our livestream. Click the link, bookmark it, and then visit that link on Sunday morning at 11:00 AM and look for the video labeled “live.”
-Pastor Joshua