When I raised this topic awhile back, my interest was the implications for church and faith. If people create their own radio stations, carry all their entertainment with them, view their favorite TV shows on their own schedule, and even participate in reporting the news (see previous posts under “You Are In Control”), how does this change what they expect from the church? How does it change the way they relate to Christ Himself?

Discussion boards and forums are another way some of us want to be in control, or at least participate. I posted a link to a USA Today story about Jesus on our discussion board last night. At the bottom of that story (and most stories on most news sites) there is a link to discuss the story. I joined in and posted something about how Jesus is still alive and well in church, and got chewed on a little by an evangelistic atheist. By the time the story had been online for 48 hours, nearly 3,300 people had posted a comment reacting to it (or arguing with each other). People don’t just read the news anymore. They criticize and argue about it with a worldwide audience. The impulse to join in isn’t new, but the web gives us a forum much wider and more immediate than writing a letter to the editor.

At church, much of our commucation is still patterned after the old model. It’s often one-way communication from preacher to congregation; it’s delivered according to a set schedule - be there on Sunday at eleven, or forget it; and we (even me sometimes) aren’t all that anxious to have folks participate, offer comments, or criticize.

We’ve taken baby-steps toward changing this at MHCC - the discussion board, the ability to comment in this blog, teaching available online, Home Bible Fellowships which are participatory, etc. I sense that we need to do more, that in fact there needs to be a land-shift in some of our ideas. Any comments here would be appreciated.

On the other hand, I know that an essential part of the church is being together, taking Communion together, worshipping and being taught together. These things can’t happen by listening to a sermon on your Ipod.

And what about how all this applies to our relationship with Christ? Is it still possible to convince people who are used to being in control to relate to Him as Lord, the Ruler of all of life?