Sunday, September 30, 2007

Is High technology in churches really necessary?


Technology, To help things be easier. Why with technology things seems simpler and do help our daily progress in an ever growing economy and fast paced world. Without it today, communication would be once again in the dark ages it seems. How you and I grown so dependent on it that we couldn't live without it. It is such as blessing to have all these devices that make life so much easier but it can be such as curse in this cursed world if we do not stay focused and ever seeking discernment as Christians. Take our churches today once again. Look at all the luxuries churches seem to be buying to keep their members entertained and coming back because church is fun. Wide HUGE LCD screens, light and laser shows, graphics for sermonic display of Scripture. Cha-ching. This really helps chapter and verse Bible studies right? We can really learn the Bible if we have all this worldly technology to help us study our Bibles together in fellowship. Using our minds is overrated, correct?
Why, just leave your Bible at home and let technology be your Bible in Church. Please do not exhaust yourself turning the pages of your own Bible for chapter and verse with the pastor. Let his slide show with his technological computer graphic laser light Bible Scripture show be your reading tool. It makes Bible reading fun. :o(

All sarcasm aside it is a scary day that we have to have all these technological gadgets to just read the Bible together as a BODY in fellowship. Being dependent on technology and growing into large churches that have to meet this unnecessary needs does seem to contradict Scripture and the example of the early church's example of sending them out. Just imagine the church expense on the electric bill alone and the property taxes if there is one. Where in the Bible does it say to build centers like these. I thought our command was to come together communally and send them out.
One must look at history as well to see that history is repeating itself again to the extreme in focusing on how Big our churches need to be etc. Whatever happened to sending them out? Cheap Grace has shown it's ugly face once again. It is how much can you get in the door and what kind of sound system, technological light show will keep them entertained for more tithes and offerings and to keep the flock. Build bigger churches, be seeker sensitive? Baloney?
PREACH THE GOSPEL, JESUS' GOSPEL. THEN ACT ON IT, CHRISTIAN.
THE "BODY" IS NOT A EARTHLY BUILDING BUT A HEAVENLY KINGDOM NOW.
We are the living stones in HIS building that is coming and is now and always was in Christ Jesus. Isn't that satisfying alone? SOLUS CHRISTUS, SOLA SCRIPTURA, SOLA GRATIA, SOLA FIDE and SOLI DEO GLORIA.

Now I understand that sometimes in our communities, we need a gathering place big enough to fit ten or more persons with seats, microphones, mini sound systems etc. and a large sum of persons, not to large, is wonderful to have a neighboring community getting together to study GOD's Word as part of the "BODY" but it is getting ridicules these days to the extreme. We are losing sight terribly and not listening to God's Word. Do we really need all this Technology to be used by the HOLY SPIRIT? What does the BIble say?

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

1Cr 7:31 And they that use this world, as not abusing [it]: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Hbr 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

2Pe 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

1Jo 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jo 2:16 For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

1Jo 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

Rev 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth

Please remember history Christian. SEND THEM OUT INTO THE WORLD TO PREACH AND BE EXAMPLES OF THE GOSPEL, not to keep them in High Technology buildings and entertain them. We need to meet together but not in this fashion. Come on Christian, It is DENY YOURSELF, not lets be comfortable.

Luke 10:1-3
1NOW AFTER this the Lord chose and appointed seventy others and sent them out ahead of Him, two by two, into every town and place where He Himself was about to come (visit).
2And He said to them, The harvest indeed is abundant [[a]there is much ripe grain], but the farmhands are few. Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
3Go your way; behold, I send you out like lambs into the midst of wolves.

There is a battle going on this minute, do not keep them from battle. Stand on God's Word and take it seriously.
And then SEND THEM OUT.

(Richard White 2007)


High-Tech Churches Worry Traditional Worshippers

It's no secret that churches have stepped up their technology use as more projection screens adorn the front of churches and more preachers maintain a prominent presence on the Internet. But not all are fans of high-tech churches. "I feel like it's too much and it takes over the worship," said the Rev. Dorothy LaPenta, pastor of the 150-member Hope Presbyterian Church in Mitchellville, according to The Washington Post. "People will just be sitting there, their eyes fixated on the screen. They're waiting to be given something instead of participating."It's typical for worshippers who flock especially to megachurches to sing praises in tune with a full contemporary band and a high-tech sound system complete with stage lights and lyrics on jumbo screens. Pastors take the stage with camouflaged headset microphones and flash Scripture passages on the screens largely to the convenience of those who forgot their Bibles or who don't have one. At more innovative churches, a short video clip introduces the sermon.Church leaders who implement the technology say it's all about reaching more people. And to reach people in today's culture, churches need to be at the forefront of cutting edge ideas. I don't think that God would want us to try to evangelize like Jesus did 2,000 years ago," said the Rev. Grainger Browning Jr., pastor of the 10,000-member Ebenezer AME Church in Fort Washington, according to the Post. Well over half of Protestant churches use a large-screen projection system in their communication, according to a 2005 Barna study. Just five years earlier, only 39 percent were using that technology. And double the proportion of Protestant churches (61 percent) were integrating video content into their worship services in 2005 compared to 2000. Also, with the advent of big screens, fewer churches are providing Bibles in their pews – dropping from 86 percent in 2000 to 80 percent in 2005.

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