JEFF TURNER
Technology has made religious content easier to access than at any point in history. Television programs, internet streams, and radio broadcasts bring teaching into homes across the country. This convenience has led some people to believe they can get everything they need spiritually without attending a church in their community. They watch online services and listen to podcasts, thinking this replaces gathering with other believers.
This approach misses something important that Scripture addresses. The Bible speaks about communities of real people who meet together in person. These are groups with shepherds who know their members, leaders who serve face-to-face, and individuals who care for each other in tangible ways. The concept of receiving spiritual input only through screens finds no support in biblical teaching.
Some recent publications (as I am writing this) have even suggested that consuming religious media is better than participating in a physical congregation. This idea contradicts what the New Testament teaches. A church consists of people who have been saved coming together for specific purposes. They pray as a group, share meals that remember Christ’s sacrifice, demonstrate their faith through baptism, and support one another in their spiritual growth.
The New Testament contains many instructions about how believers should interact. They are told to pray for each other, show love to one another, build each other up, encourage one another, and even correct each other when needed. These actions require personal interaction. They cannot happen through a screen. Only when people gather in person can they fulfill what Christ established for His followers. Every believer needs to commit to being an active, consistent member of a local gathering.
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