Is Watching Church as Good as Attending Church?

Q: I have a question that has been bugging me. I haven’t been in church in a number of years. I was channel surfing and came across the broadcast of a church service and really enjoyed it. It wasn’t local, So I wouldn’t be able to attend it. Is watching a church broadcast just as good as a real church service? My problem is that when I go to church, I can’t understand a word the preacher is saying. However, when I watched the preacher on television, I understood what he was saying and applied it to my daily life. Isn’t this just as good as physically going to church? If you could help me, that would be wonderful.

A: You are asking a great question about church. A lot of Christians have given up on church, perhaps because of a bad experience or because they can’t relate to what the preacher is saying. Maybe they don’t like the music, or they might simply prefer the convenience of staying at home and watching church on television or online.

There are many good Christian services online or on television (and some that aren’t so good), and you can certainly get a lot out of what some of the preachers are saying. To go on television, you’re going to be an exceptional communicator, so it makes sense that you understand those guys. However, watching church on television or online should not be a substitute for going to church. Even the TV preachers would tell you that. You see, when you became a Christian, you were baptized into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12: 13). That means that as a Christian you share something that all other Christians have, and that is Christ in you!

God intends for those who are part of the body of Christ to be together, and the way that happens is through a local church. That’s why churches were started in the first place—so believers could share with each other in all things including worship, teaching, and prayer. (You can read the very applicable 1 Corinthians 12: 12- 31 below.) You will see that each of us is part of a larger body of Christ, and we all need each other. You have at least one spiritual gift that some church somewhere needs. Pray that God will lead you to the church that’s right for you—and that needs your gifts—so you can begin to do your part as a member of Christ’s body.

Yes, you can get good teaching on TV and online, and you could probably even worship God by singing along, but you need the fellowship of your fellow believers so you can grow strong as a Christian.  And other believers need the gifts that you have so that the whole body can be strengthened. As the apostle Paul wrote, “now all of you together are Christ’s body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it” (1 Corinthians 12: 27).

The bottom line? Look for a church where the pastor clearly teaches the scriptures, or God is worshipped, where baptism and communion are practiced, and where you can benefit from that teaching and the contact with other believers. You will grow as a believer in so many ways!

How to Choose a Church

Q: My wife and I are looking for a church, but we’re having a hard time sorting through the different denominations. What do we look for?

A: Here are some basic guidelines you can follow for choosing a church:

1. Look for a church that faithfully teaches the word of God. This is generally the responsibility of the pastor / minister. Some pastors teach in a more topical style, presenting a theme or topic and then supporting it with various scripture. Other pastors teach in an expositional manner, leading you through a chapter or book of the Bible verse by verse. Some pastors will mix up their teaching style between topical and expositional. That’s fine as long as they teach the Bible.

2. Look for a church that worships God in a way that’s meaningful. The style isn’t as important as the intention of the worship. It should be to glorify God, not entertain the people. In worship, God is the audience, and we are the performers.

3. Look for a church that practices baptism and communion, Jesus himself commanded that we observe these sacraments.

4. Look for a church that provides opportunities for you to fellowship with other Christians. Don’t be content with just attending the worship service. Get involved in a Bible study, a class, or a small group. You are part of the body of Christ, which is made up of all believers. We are to learn from and care for one another in a Christ like manner.

As for the different denominations, that’s going to be a matter of personal preference. Some churches are more traditional and follow denominational guidelines and doctrines, while others operate more independently. Any church you visit will have a statement of beliefs and probably even a history of the church and denomination if it belongs to one. Should you decide to become a member of a particular church (something we recommend), you will probably be led through a series of classes explaining the history and the doctrinal position of that church.

We are excited for you as you look for your place in God’s church!

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Relevant Scripture

Unity and Diversity in the Body

¹² Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptized by^[a] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. ¹⁴ Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

¹⁵ Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. ¹⁹ If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” ²² On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³ and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴ while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵ so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. ²⁸ And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹ Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.  (1 Corinthians 12: 12- 31)

Reference

Bible Answers 101 by Bickel & Jantz