Thank you. I think the impetus for live streaming or even the old cable broadcasting is the fact that “church” is often equated with an event: the “sermon” (i.e., lecture) and the music. Staring at the back of heads, listening to a band (or even singing with it), and paying attention to a lecture is not particularly conducive for community.

Someone once told me the reason why there are AA groups is because the church quit being the church. When we view the church as a performance (lecture-routine/music-concert) then why not watch it in the comfort of one’s home? It’s a spectator sport. Oh yes, a football game and a concert has a lot of synergy — but you can get the essence by watching it on a screen.

What you cannot get is intimate sharing, crying and laughing with others. Do people live-stream family gatherings or Thanksgiving meals? I haven’t heard of that as a trend. Why? Because you lose the essence of the family — Facetime is a great tool, but no one sees it as a substitute for Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner!

Perhaps we need to radically change the way we “do church” to begin with.