I still agree with Piper, and understand where he's coming from. An online experience cannot substitute for tangible relationships or corporate worship. However, after launching our Internet Campus our attendance didn't drop, it increased. It didn't become a substitute, but a tool for us to share and extend our community. Ironically, I wouldn't know of John Piper if not for the Internet. I was introduced to him through his online ministry of podcasts, articles, and tweets.

Our Communications Pastor, Kyle Gilbert, said something a few years ago that helped me come around. He said, "When the telephone was invented, some people thought it would destroy relationships, because we'll no longer see or touch one another." Good point. Maybe we'll look back on the Internet and say the same thing.

"…deep study and commitment to God and his people."

Are you saying these can't be accomplish on the we?

and

What do you mean by 'deep study'

Let's work to bring real dialouge, discussion and leadership to studying, worshiping and preparing the saints.

Please note bloggers would tend to support the internet type church; already regularly reading stuff. Do not abandon the need for deep study and commitment to God and his people.

As far as what kids did in church 100 years ago, the answer probably depends on the church. But, I bet most kids attended church with their parents.

I wonder what kids did in church 100 years ago?

Seriously though I like what Danny said. I think it's more of how you're using the internet. And is that use fostering a community?

I think of the places where there is no church, yet a group of people can go online to a website and together listen to a sermon. No they aren't in a 'church building' but there is a group of them living life together. Receiving and giving encouragement from that community that wouldn't be there without the internet.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I guess a lot of this is how you define community and maybe how you define church.