1 Peter 1.24,25 For all flesh [is] as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
I was looking at turn of the century and mid1900 photos of people and places in the village of East Rochester the other night. As I looked at photos of the town, and in particular, of our church building, my thoughts began to reflect on Y2K. Remember that? People were scrambling to “prepare” for the big breakdown of technology as we know it. I remember being in India about a year before Y2K was to happen. I remember talking with a few brothers in Christ about Y2K as we were walking through a village in rural India. I asked them the question, “If Y2K were to happen, how much would it effect the church in this village?” The answer? Not at all.
So, as I was rummaging through those old ER photos on my IPad, I asked myself these questions. What technology did the church in ER have at the turn of the century? Almost nothing. No Internet. No Facebook. No Twitter. No cell phones or IPads. I then wondered what their church services would have been like back then? Probably hymnals instead of overheads for lyrics. Now please do not misunderstand me, I am not anti technology or modern amenities. My question is this. Do we need more than that rural church in India or the church in ER had at the turn of the century to have church? Could we do church if there was a “brown out” of technology? Could we survive or communicate with one another without cell phones or IPads? Could we exist as a non-electric church? Acoustic singing. No PA systems.
What did the church have back in the book of Acts that we have today? The Scriptures. The same Gospel. Fellowship with The Father and His Son. The indwelling Holy Spirit and His gifts and power. Prayer. The promise of His soon return to inspire them to deny themselves, pick up their crosses and follow Jesus with a reckless abandon. Is that enough for us today? Would a Y2K shut down our church, your church. If so, do we have one at all? Far fetched you say? Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? Luke 18.8. Selah.
