The church I am blessed to pastor is not unlike most churches who are formed mainly of young people (by young I mean 35 and under), in that technology plays a huge role in how we both “do church services” and why we “go to church”.
There’s no doubt that technology is a needed thing in today’s churches, but it may be going a little too far by hindering people’s ability to develop the discipline of hearing the Scriptures and understanding them.
On Sunday I was watching one of the local Sunday news broadcasts as they ran a story on Mars Hill Church and their desire for people to tweet (messages you send using Twitter) during the worship gathering. Before I go any further, I should say that this post is not in any way meant to be negative toward Mars Hill or its pastor, Marc Driscoll. It’s no secret that I differ greatly with some of his theology, his view of women in church leadership, and the way they go about building the empire of MHC. I believe Driscoll loves Jesus and that God is using their church to reach people all over the world. He’s obviously a crazy-gifted leader and teacher! I just don’t understand some of their motives…
In the news story, they showed the Mars Hill Crowd and the huge number of people “tweeting” on their phones while Driscoll preached. The pastor they interviewed said they encourage this as a way for people to communicate to their friends about what was happening in the service. Frankly, that makes zero sense to me!
Some of Jesus’ most unrecognized words are…”those who have ears should listen and understand”. He continually challenged those around him to both listen and understand his stories and teachings. It was his way of challenging people to wrestle with what he was saying and to allow their new understanding to lead to knowledge (see Matthew 13:12)
Now if those people who had no TV, Radio, Iphones, and everything else that vies for our attention today were struggling to listen, how much harder must it be for us to listen to the scriptures so that we might understand them? I’m not saying we should not use technology in the service. In our church there are several people who read the scriptures on their phones, or who may not even have a Bible at all and need to see the words displayed on our projections screens. Technology is a must in today’s church!
Technology has it’s place. But at what cost? Are we hurting ourselves by promoting Twitter? How many of these people are really grasping the scriptures as Driscoll preaches? And the biggest question is, how is the technology we use helping lead people to knowledge?
This morning I read this blog by Bob Hyatt, pastor of Evergreen Community in Portland. He shares some thoughts and concerns regrading the trend of Video Venues in church. He has some great thoughts on why preaching is important to the work of a pastor and why listening to a pastor’s teaching has spiritual importance as well.
You can read the entire post here. Or, I’ve pasted a couple statements from it…
This is the rule: Technology, taken too far, creates the opposite of what it was intended to create.
So, what about technology in preaching?
First came architectural improvements to increase the range of a speaker’s voice. Then microphones to throw the voice even further. Then radio, television, tape and CD ministries, podcasts, vodcasts… and the seed of the video venue, the “overflow room.” All with the goal of taking the gift of preaching and extending its reach and impact.
So far, so good, right?
But now, we have all this technology. We’re not only recording the sermon, we’re video taping it and we have discovered we can send that video, not just to the next room, but to a building across the campus, across town, across the state, around the world…
Now, the preaching gift of one person has the ability not simply to reach the back row, but the next town, state, continent. And we’re not just talking about Spurgeon publishing his sermons or Schuller putting his on TV or Driscoll putting his on iTunes…
NOW we’re talking about not just influencing local preachers by making the “best” communicators’ sermons available… we’re talking about replacing those local teaching elders.
This is a needed conversation in the context of preaching in today’s culture. I’m not sure what the answer is right now, but there certainly have been some concerns in my mind and heart about the over-use of technology in today’s church.
Thoughts?
Love and Peace.
11 responses so far ↓
layrenewal // March 10, 2009 at 8:15 pm |
What’s the line between appreciating ministry and going mad?
I also appreciate Driscoll’s ministry but fear I’m losing my mind at some of the things he suggests. “Tweeting” during worship is over the line…
The Apostate // March 10, 2009 at 8:28 pm |
While I don’t personally want to be twittering during a church service, I can understand how this might enhance the learning experience for the people at that church. What’s wrong with letting Driscoll determine what’s best for his church and determining ourselves what’s best for ours? If God is capable of speaking to hearts without technology, I have a hard time believing that same technology could somehow be powerful enough prevent God from accomplishing His purpose in the hearts of those he leads to MHC.
Jeremy // March 10, 2009 at 8:52 pm |
Hey Rex, thanks! I had my can of worms all ready to crack open on this one, but you went ahead and opened your own. I think I’ll just save mine for later now
.
Twitter, cellphones, heck even microphones… what does it matter. I think you hit at the root of it all in the end… if it takes away from our ability to have truly formative relationships and diminishes the pastor’s ability to truly shepherd the people who he has been called to serve, then I find it hard to believe the means justify the end.
If these are all just ploys to enlarge the size of your following and the technology is only serving the purpose of increasing numbers of people, drawing attention to yourself, or increasing your scope of personal influence, then it is all for the wrong purpose. If there is a technology that can draw people closer to God, the people around them, and to each other – and it is used for that purpose – then may it flourish.
layrenewal // March 10, 2009 at 9:18 pm |
I concur that there is value in a church leader (called by God) determining what he can best do to help the flock he oversees to grow.
BUT – Are there any “essentials” left anymore? Shouldn’t the faithful opening of the Word of God be something that is at least left as a cornerstone of worship? How can anyone give it the respect it is due if they are spending time typing and reading?
This goes way beyond taking notes during a message…
rexhamilton // March 10, 2009 at 9:26 pm |
@ The Apostate: Thanks for the comment. I don’t beleive there is anything wrong with Driscoll, or any pastor determining what is right for their congregation. Afterall, that is their job! But…that should not mean that everything which we pastors determine is right for our church is really the right thing. Church history shows this to be true…
I’m not saying that Driscoll is wrong…I’m just questioning whether or not it’s really useful in helping these people grow spiritually.
Jon // March 10, 2009 at 9:37 pm |
I think the “video venue” is far more of an issue – the Twittering is a symptom – an attempt to create a high touch moment with a high tech tool. It’s a perfectly logical thing to do if you believe that the goal is to get as many people in as many venues as possible listening to one speaker. You have to do SOMETHING to try to get connection happening.
The core issue IMHO is the need to step back and evaluate the church planting model – in the absence of technology, Paul raised up elders and pastors to lead the local church, then occasionally instructed remotely. I am not convinced he wouldn’t have done the exact same thing even in the PRESENCE of the technology that would allow him be the featured speaker every week.
And I am pretty sure that divorcing preaching / teaching from pastoring makes the pastoring all the harder. Maybe even impossible. Time will tell. Personally, I rejected the idea a long time ago – up to other people what they want to do for their groups.
The Apostate // March 10, 2009 at 10:01 pm |
I see the point you’re making, and I agree that just because a pastor decides it does not necessarily make it correct.
However, without being in the church personally to observe how this plays out, I find myself being very careful of knocking it. It doesn’t strike me as something I’d like to see spring up in my church, but I don’t think we’re dealing with an issue here that requires the criticism (constructive or otherwise) and commentary of other churches and churchgoers.
Obviously Driscoll feels it useful for the spiritual growth of his congregants. Unless I have some sort of concrete evidence that it is doing the opposite, my concern (especially if it’s simply concern because I don’t “get it”) is misplaced. If it’s more a question of wanting to understand why they find it beneficial, then I think that’s a much more valid question.
Patricia Schroeder // March 11, 2009 at 3:29 am |
Rex,
At first when I saw the headline I thought that we were going to be talking about our home environements… like the fact that our minds are constantly going from the tv, to the cell phone to the computer, instead of to the scriptures… which in that case I would agree also. We definately need to daily examine what is the best use of our time, and not let it get ahead of our “God time.”
Yet, wow, I just think this is crazy that the pastor of Mars Hill is encouraging distraction while imparting a teaching in a service. As if many people in the audience aren’t distracted by phone calls and text messages, they are encouraging it. I really don’t understand those motives either. Be interesting to email and find out….
steve lewis // March 11, 2009 at 6:32 pm |
Twittering in church? I could see some value in using it to take notes or send a good quote to your followers.
Twittering at MHC? It’s all fun and games until someone tweets “@PastorMark is a tool” Just kidding – he’d probably laugh.
John Hollister // May 4, 2009 at 9:16 am |
Twittering in Church, that’s hilarious. But could be very helpful.
Mother + Incest // September 4, 2009 at 7:37 pm |
well.. it’s like I said!