Virtual Church Attendance Does Not Count

At this point, “I attend church virtually” means “I don’t attend church.”

It is the responsibility of reasonable Christians everywhere to make sure that “virtual” church attendance does not become a socially acceptable substitute for regular, actual church attendance.

The problem with virtual church attendance is not that virtual things don’t count, for if it is possible to sin online, it is possible to be virtuous online, as well. The issue, rather, is making things virtual which could be actual with just a little effort, just a little suffering.

To do something online which cannot be done in person is one thing, to do something online which can just as easily be accomplished with a brief car ride is another. If a husband could kiss his wife on the lips, but preferred to kiss her image on a Zoom screen instead, he wouldn’t be much of a husband. Nonetheless, virtual attendance at a church which is no less than fifteen minutes away is fast becoming an acceptable substitute for appearing physically to sing and pray. That foolishness has to be quashed, no matter how feelings get hurt in the process.