Is digital evangelism/online evangelism effective?

The dissemination of biblical truth in a virtual way is in itself not a “dead fly” nor a “new cart” (2 Sam. 6,3). It depends on how the media are used and whether those who use them are guided by the Holy Spirit. This is true for the gospel as well as for the teaching of believers. Until recently, digital distribution (websites) of manuscripts or audio recordings of lectures and conferences were the main content. More recently, options such as podcasts, videos, live streams and interviews have been used increasingly. These channels have the advantage that you can often reach a large audience - even those that you could not reach before.

In addition, many (not only young) people today are very reluctant to read and some (people who are strangers to us) avoid attending an evangelistic event or meetings of believers. Possible inhibitions can thus be overcome online.

Another argument is that the digital possibilities make the mission work abroad much easier. Here, too, it is true that in this way you can reach people with God's message that you might otherwise never have reached. You can reach isolated brethren who are cut off from the outside world. You can hold conferences that would otherwise not be possible at all - or only with a great deal of effort.

The gatherings as an assembly have a high priority and we do well to remind ourselves of this. Digital alternatives for spreading the biblical message can easily be used. However, they never replace real meetings of believers. However, if individual brethren cannot attend the meetings, digital solutions are definitely worth considering. Even in absolutely exceptional cases, it is not possible to come together digitally to the name of the Lord. Nonetheless, online meetings can provide a measure of comfort, edification, and fellowship - even if they are in no way a substitute for physical gathering. Our Lord's promise: "For where two or three are gathered unto my name, there am I in their midst" applies when believers meet, in person, as local assembly.

The answer to this question is: it is possible, but not necessarily desirable. As we have seen, the assembly is supposed to come together in reality, and only those who are present are gathered in the name of the Lord. If someone - for certain reasons such as e.g. illness or old age - cannot attend in person but follows the meeting online, he will most certainly have a blessing. He is not gathered with the others in the name of the Lord, however, and thus something crucial is missing.

Local gathering becomes visible when the believers actually (factually) gather and not when they meet hidden digitally somewhere in the global network. An “online meeting” cannot be an adequate substitute for coming together unto the name of the Lord.

However - and this should have become clear by now - such online meetings are not a gathering as an assembly according to Matthew 18:20 (and that is precisely why we have to check very carefully whether it is really impossible to meet as an assembly!). We can pray together, read the Word, and praise our Lord together online. All of this is a great blessing. Yet it is never a real substitute for meeting as a local assembly. We have to be aware of that.

The flow of an online meeting may be similar to that of a regular assembly meeting (apart from breaking bread). It is important that the brethren who speak (pray, read a word or text, give an exposition) do so under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Those attending should try hard not to be distracted. And yet the fact remains that it is not an adequate substitute. Participants in such an online meeting will notice the difference very quickly.

In conclusion, I think of the Sunamite woman who, in a difficult time among God's people, confidently said: “I dwell among mine own people” (2 Kings 4:13). In the long run, this will not be possible in a virtual or digital way. With David we like to say: "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD [for us: to the meetings]" (Ps 122: 1).

b) The recipient: One of the risks on the part of the audience is that the digital offer can reduce the “taste” of the local assembly meetings. There is a risk that the meetings unto the name of the Lord will be less attended and less valued (Heb 10:25). This possible "side effect" should not be underestimated. In individual cases it may even be that the live stream or the video message is preferred to the presentation of the word in the local meeting because the preacher on the Internet supposedly has the better message or can speak more grippingly. This should never be the case. The prophetic word in a meeting as an assembly has a very high value (1 Cor. 14).

The simplest message in a gathering as assembly is always preferable to the best online sermon.

For this reason, it would be better not to talk about someone attending or participating in the meeting online. Rather, he follows the gathering of the local assembly from outside.

Sometimes it is objected that it is better not to provide such online offers (broadcast of the meetings) in the first place. Admittedly, on the one hand, they again harbour the risk of encouraging an attitude of easily staying away from the face-to-face meeting, and one can only warn against that. It should also be remembered that the distraction factor at home in front of a screen is significantly greater than in a real meeting. On the other hand, we should not forget that in some places there are old and sick brothers and sisters who - perhaps for years - have not been able to attend the meetings. Do we want to deprive them of this opportunity and joy of following the meetings online? The counter-argument that you can visit them afterwards is of little use, because firstly - unfortunately - it is hardly practiced anymore and secondly, in practice it only applies to the ministry meeting or the Bible study. We also think of parents who have to stay at home with the children and thus have the opportunity to listen to the meeting. Job-related absence could also be mentioned at this point. We should be careful here in our judgment and “go softly” (Isa. 38:15).

You can do a lot virtually, but you cannot eat and drink and proclaim the Lord's death this way.

In addition, a permanent online presence in the network leads to isolation (personal contacts are not maintained), it promotes comfort (one does not set out to experience the Lord in the midst of his own) and harbours the risk of distraction (Checking his WhatsApp messages briefly in between, reading an e-mail or making a coffee, etc.). "Multitasking" is sometimes not bad, but in the spiritual realm it is not particularly useful and sometimes even harmful. One of the benefits of face-to-face meetings is that it is usually easier to leave distractions behind and focus on what really matters - the presence of the Lord. The disruptive factors are often greater online.