Church and Media

As I deal with the growing use of visual media in church, I wonder how much is too much. In my opinion the "too much" level is only really hit when the media takes away from the power of the message. Media needs to be an enhancing tool, not the end all. However on the flip side I think we need to think outside the box, and look at concepts that may seem taboo. One example of this is the idea of entertainment. I am not saying that the church needs to become Hollywood, but more that we should learn from them to understand how they can get people to sit through a three hour movie and pay up to ten dollars to do it.

It's not the first time the Church has taken this step. In the medieval age and through the enlightenment, the church was the place where theatre was getting the biggest push. The use of Morality plays to get the message across to a illiterate society was the norm.

Well we aren't a illiterate society today, but we are a media driven society. When most college age students get there news from comedy central's "The daily show," we can determine that those students need more then just a normal talking head newscaster.

Let us learn how to use entertainment concepts for the growth of the Kingdom, while always remembering that they are a tool for the communication of the message.

Where is the joy?

There are many things that I often ponder.

The one that I spend the most time on is media. Why is media the way it is? Who controls the media? Do we know how much power it holds over us? Most recently a commercial playe d on the radio that said, "It seems that good news isn't really news."

That got me thinking.

The news does seem to be layered with more and more depressing stories. Has the world really gotten this bad? Is there no Good out there anymore? Or is it that we as a people crave the messy depressing stuff?

Well the later is more along the lines of what I think God would say. You see, when God designed us it was to be eternally happy and in His presence. We now live in a fallen world and are people that long for that happiness again. The sad thing is that one way we make ourselves feel better is to watch, look at, read about other people's problems, and say "well at least that isn't me." Some of us would run away from a News program that only focuses on good stuff.

The world seems darker, but hey atleast it isn't me. Is this how we achieve the happiness we are seeking. I don't think it is. Jesus taught His disciples that salvation was about faith, believe and it will be yours.

And Belief is enough.

You see if we believe the world is a dark place then we will see it as one. Ther eis a lot to see out there that can convince us of it. On the other hand if I believe the world is God's creation, then I can truly see the amazing design He has presented before me. Yes I must understand that Bad things happen in this wonderful world of ours. I just don't see those bad situations as the norm. I know that God has a better plan, and that those with true faith are out there making His kingdom known.

I don't look at the bad and say "see how much better I am." I look at the bad and say, "How can I help you." May you be people who look for Good in all things, and know that God is there.

The Last Unicorn and God's Army

So this weekend I was able to attend the play "The Last Unicorn" at Washington High School. It was simply one of the best outdoor high School show I have ever been to. The next morning I at church I was listening to the Pastor talk about being in God's army, and it brought up some interesting thoughts about Peter S. Beagle's "The Last Unicorn".

The thing Bruce said to us is that we are all part of the army of God. This made me think of the way Beagle portrays the captive unicorns as part of the waves of the sea. The strength of the unicorns was lost to the fury of the water, and the fear of the monster. I think sometimes we as Christians get lost to the fear of the monster or get lost in the fury of life.

On the other hand sometimes I think we act like the last unicorn, and forget why it is we went on our mission. You see when we first accept Jesus into our life, we are pretty gung ho, but with time that fades and we forget what it meant to us.

May we always remember our mission, and may we never get lost in the hectic struggles of life.