Paul's View of the Church ETS 2014.pdf

With the rise of the internet and electronic communications, the world has witnessed a rise in so-called “on-line communities.”  These on-line communities represent a loosely connected family of sorts where people interact with each other via electronic resources.  As a result of these things, many Christian communities have attempted to build a “church community” in an on-line environment.  Paul describes the church as a community in most of his letters, and in some letters he even describes the church as a body and a bride.  The language Paul uses is very relational and almost physical.  How would Paul respond to the move today to create on-line Christian communities?  Paul would respond that the church that represents Christ is comprised of people who gather physically and by their worship and actions embody the Lord whom they serve.  For Paul, the body and bride of Christ is more a physical reality than simply an on-line collection of disembodied electrons.  Taking cues from Paul’s letters (specifically but not limited to Romans and 1 Corinthians), a contrast will be built between on-line Christian communities and Paul’s vision of the church as Christ embodied in life and action.  The importance of physical contact, regular interaction, and actual (not virtual) community will describe the church as seen through Paul’s eyes.