Comments on: Asking the Wrong Questions About Online Community

By: @kylelreed

@kylelreed — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:43:33 +0000

Thank you for talking about this.
I have had this conversation several times and always just thought everyone knew what community is and looks like. But you did a great job of putting flesh on it as well as really taking away any question about online community being real.

You are right, most people outside of the church never question community. Maybe we get a little caught up in it because it seems to be real and we want to question it more then believe in it.

By: Justin Wise

Justin Wise — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:58:21 +0000

Yeah. Saw that. I think he brings up some good points. I don't
disagree entirely. I believe online community should strive to have
it's “end game” be face-to-face connection when possible.

By: Justin Wise

Justin Wise — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:56:30 +0000

Kinda like the church … It's the people, not a building!

By: Dawn Bryant

Dawn Bryant — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:18:23 +0000

Love it. Redefine community as something (a cause) we gather around, not a venue…

By: Kevin Ring

Kevin Ring — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:53:02 +0000

I agree "real" is a bad descriptor (it tweets so well!) but the questions still need to be asked.

I think the main reasons this issue needs to be studied are:
- community is important to God; and,
- sin corrupts our ability to be in community/relationship with each other.

In my opinion the way we should be approaching online community is not "is it real?" or "does it count?", but to seek to understand how it impacts true, Biblical community. First, what does God want us to be with respect to community and how can the Internet help us be it? Second, how does sin threaten our efforts at community and does the Internet amplify or diminish those threats.

Community is an essential part of God's Kingdom. So perhaps a better way to ask the question would be "What can't online community do?"

By: Jake Bouma

Jake Bouma — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:58:38 +0000

Have you read this: http://www.outofur.com/archives/2009/10/why_vir...

I'd be interested in your thoughts/response...

By: Danny Bixby

Danny Bixby — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:35:28 +0000

Good post.

If we don't facilitate the community that already exists, that's not going to stop it. It's going to move it somewhere else.

By: Kyle Reed

Kyle Reed — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:43:33 +0000

You are right, most people outside of the church never question community. Maybe we get a little caught up in it because it seems to be real and we want to question it more then believe in it.

By: Justin Wise

Justin Wise — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:58:21 +0000

Yeah. Saw that. I think he brings up some good points. I don't
disagree entirely. I believe online community should strive to have
it's “end game” be face-to-face connection when possible.

By: Justin Wise

Justin Wise — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:56:30 +0000

Kinda like the church … It's the people, not a building!