A Virtual vs. a Physical Marriage
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
—Hebrews 10:24-25
Imagine a marriage where everything happens virtually. You text your spouse “good morning” instead of sharing a cup of coffee. You celebrate anniversaries via video chat. You raise kids through screen time and digital check-ins. You even share your struggles and joys through a series of emojis and voice messages. Sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it?
Why? Because marriage isn’t meant to be virtual. It’s meant to be real. Physical. Intimate. Tangible. It’s built on face-to-face connection, shared experiences, and daily presence. You can’t replace a warm embrace or holding hands during prayer with pixels on a screen.
So why do some believers try to do church that way?
The Rise of the Virtual Church
Now, before we go further, let’s be clear. Technology is a gift. It helps many stay connected during times when gathering wasn’t possible, like a global pandemic. Livestreams, Zoom groups, and podcasts filled a crucial gap. But somewhere along the way, convenience started to compete with commitment. We got comfortable watching sermons in pajamas with a cup of coffee on the couch. No commute. No awkward small talk. No responsibility.
But also… no real fellowship. No shared worship. No physical presence with the body of Christ.
Virtual church might be helpful in a pinch. But it’s not a substitute for the real thing—just like a virtual marriage is no substitute for living life side-by-side with your spouse.
Christ and His Bride
Throughout Scripture, the relationship between Christ and His church is described in the most intimate of terms: a bride and her bridegroom. This is not a distant, digital connection. It’s a covenant—rooted in presence, faithfulness, and sacrificial love.
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her…” (Ephesians 5:25)
When Jesus walked the earth, He didn’t send His disciples links to His teachings. He invited them to walk with Him, eat with Him, and watch Him pray. He touched lepers, healed with His hands, and wept with His friends. He was physically present and fully engaged.
And when He returns, it won’t be a livestream. It will be in glory, with the bridegroom coming for His bride—in person.
Why should our commitment to His body, the church, be any different?
Real Presence in a Real Body
The church isn’t just a place we go. It’s a body we belong to (1 Corinthians 12), and the body needs all its parts working together—physically, not just virtually. You can’t serve in the nursery, lay hands on a brother in prayer, or weep with someone at the altar through a screen.
Yes, you can receive good teaching online. You can sing along with worship. But the church is more than content—it’s a community. The awkward conversations. The smiles in the hallway. The shared communion. The opportunity to forgive, serve, and sacrifice. That’s where real discipleship happens.
Hebrews 10:25 urges us not to give up meeting together, especially as the world grows darker. Why? Because we need each other. The early church “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42). Not virtually—but in homes, around tables, and in one another’s lives.
What Are We Teaching the Next Generation?
Consider this: if you treat church like a playlist—something you consume when it’s convenient—your kids will notice. If we say we love Jesus but ignore His body, we’re sending mixed messages. We’re modeling a faith of individualism instead of community, convenience over commitment.
The next generation doesn’t need more screen time. They need real people, real relationships, and real faith. They need to see adults worshiping together, serving one another, and showing up even when it’s hard.
The Call to Show Up
Jesus didn’t love His bride from a distance. He came near. He entered our mess. He broke bread with sinners and bore our burdens in flesh and blood. And now He invites us to do the same—for Him and for His church.
So let’s stop settling for a virtual version of something that was never meant to be experienced at arm’s length. Let’s embrace the beauty—and the mess—of the gathered church. Let’s show up. Not just online. But in person.
Reflection Questions:
- Have I grown too comfortable with consuming church instead of participating in person?
- What are some practical ways I can re-engage with the physical body of Christ?
- How am I modeling church commitment to my children or others around me?
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for being present—truly present—with us. Thank you for calling us into a body, not just a broadcast. Help me not to settle for a convenient faith, but to engage fully with Your people. Stir my heart to love Your church the way You do. Give me the grace to show up, serve, and live in real community. In Jesus’ name, amen.
