In his article “What Medium is the Message?”, author Marshall Shelley discusses the impact of media and entertainment on ministry. He notes that the average person consumes about four hours of TV, video games, Facebook, music and sports entertainment per day. In other words, we live in a very entertainment saturated world. How then should we as leaders in the church let this startling reality affect our ministry and how we deliver the message of the Gospel? Should we become entertainers ourselves, do we refuse, or does the answer lie somewhere inbetween? The author notes that throughout history, the medium that God used to deliver his message changed. He spoke to Moses through a burning bush. He used a bronze snake to remind the people of His presence among them and for them to look upon it to be healed, but later this same image became an idol and hindered their worship. Shelley concludes that the medium in our ever changing, entertainment-focused world may shift, the message remains the same. That message is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He is unchanging and ever constant mediator. As leaders, especially preachers and teachers, it will always be necessary for us to use some form of media to communicate the Gospel, whether that be speaking, art, music, PowerPoint or writing. How else would we get our point across to those who we are trying to lead. It is important however, never to confuse the medium with the message. However we communicate, it should be Christ that is communicated.
Great post Joel! I found this interesting because I struggle with this issue every week as I prepare a sermon for my congregation. At times it seems that it is a difficult task to get people in our consumer-driven culture to be interested in a 2,000 year old story. On the other hand, it should an easy job since it is the greatest story ever told! So how do we do our part to create interest within our people for the gospel? I think that appropriate contextualization of the gospel is necessary, but I also agree with you that there is power in the message of the Gospel. Therefore, I think that it is our job as leaders, especially pastors/teachers, to get people to pay attention to the Gospel; to actually stop and smell the details. As Americans, we are usually too busy moving on to the next thing that we rarely pay attention to the task at hand or the present moment. As preachers and teachers, I think we must challenge people to slow down and realize that when the gospel is illuminated by the power of the Holy Spirit, there is life changing power for every circumstance.
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