Whiz bang. Lights. Cameras. Text overlaid on video. Rock bands. These are things that we usually expect to see on television or at music festivals. Yet more and more we are seeing them in what has come to be an unexpectedly expected place: church. I know, I know, I’m late to the game, you say. Churches have been moving this direction for a while. Well, ours hasn’t. We’re just now starting to think about it.
The Importance of Engaging the Culture
Our culture is visual. We can’t drive anywhere without seeing some kind of billboard, even in the country. Magazines greet us at every checkout lane and television seems to be on perpetually. We can’t pretend that all of the visual things people are used to don’t influence how we retain information – even within a church service. We have a responsibility, as Paul said, to “become all things to all people so that by all means (we) might save some.” But that doesn’t mean any type of compromise. We have three choices when it comes to culture: ignore it, embrace it, or engage it.
Compromising God’s Peace and Stillness for Fast-Paced Visuals
Although the only choice we have is to engage the culture by finding ways to use what the culture is use to and redeeming it, I can’t help but wonder if embracing the fast pace of the visuals we’re used to might cheapen the peace and stillness that God provides in His Word. We read in the Old Testament that God was not in the fire, or the earthquake, but the still small voice. Yet, unfortunately, the people of our culture that we need to reach the most might not even listen if we don’t speak their language.
What do You Think?
I know there are strong opinions on this, but I’d love to have some constructive discussion from you. What is your philosophy on redeeming cultural tools? How have you implemented these things and have you seen good results? If you shy away from these types of things – why? I’m still trying to sort some things out as I think about future vision for our church and would love any input you could offer.
