Tim over at “Leading Smart” has a post this morning titled, “Pop Culture is Where We Explore Our Faith”
Tim has a couple of quotes that really make the point about where our world goes these days to learn about faith.
Here is one of the quotes:
Quote by George Barna & Mark Hatch in “Boiling Point”…
“The world of entertainment and mass communications–through television, radio, contemporary music, movies, magazines, art, video games and pop literature — is indisputably the most extensive and influential theological training system in the world.”
What do you think? Are our traditional methods of reaching the world outdated? Should our outreach efforts focus more on these vehicles?
Loading ...
October 18, 2007 at 11:49
I think we DO use some of these methods. I think that’s part of the problems, viewing them as methods. I think Christians should be involved in all these areas and be people of influence, and do so authentically.
And actually, I think theologically-training comes down to relationships. The various media certainly have a heavy influence, but it’s Christians themselves who live the theology, and religion is often true or false based on how the people we know live it.
October 19, 2007 at 00:39
The Holy Bible is tried and true. By focusing on what the world is doing will take the focus off of the one true vehicle the Lord has given us to reach the seculiar world; The Holy Spirit.
By no means should we bend and conform to what the world is doing in order to reach them. We should stick to the methods that have been outlined for us in the Word of God. The Bible teaches us that we should not be conformed but we should be transformed by the renewing of our mind. God id faithful and just to carry us through any situation without us having to compromise our faith just for the sake of everything or everyone else. Stick to the rule book. Stick to the Word of God.
October 19, 2007 at 12:45
Are our traditional methods of reaching the world outdated? No.
Should our outreach efforts focus more on these vehicles? Yes.
It’s far simpler than we sometimes try and make it. Tradition adjusts. That’s why it has lasted so long. It’s like a building built to handle earthquakes. It remains exactly as it is because it can handle the changes – go with the flow just enough – but not too much. Traditional outreach will forever be effective – especially when people are seeking. The world of entertainment and mass communication is simply a vehicle – not The Message – not the substance for which so many seek – it simply gets it out there to where the people are. If we suddenly lost the media – we still have The Message and it would still get out. You see James Carville had it wrong when he said, “It’s the economy, stupid.” ... actually – “It’s The Message, stupid.”
October 20, 2007 at 18:00
Yes,most certainly we should utilize every platform of communication possible to get the message across,and quickly too.Jesus’ advent took place during the Roman dominance which actually was the right time because of its extensive sphere of influence.So,with todays’ technology it will be even more convenient.
October 20, 2007 at 23:30
I think the methods of some are outdated. So often we focus on doing outreach the way we did it 30 years ago and it has changed. We just choose not to accept the change, heck it’s changed from 5 years ago!
I look at it this way, if we are pouring time & money into an outreach program that is ineffective we are doing two things. First is simply being ineffective. The second is being a bad steward of our time and God’s money. So many churches refuse to change or review programs simply because they have “always done it this way.” It’s hogwash. We should always be reviewing, updating, and changing our methods to best reach our demographic. We also need to be reminded that what works in Seattle, WA. will not likely work in Opp, AL. and vise versa.
October 21, 2007 at 17:19
I’m doing the Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s Youth Ministry course at the minute and we’ve just had a series of lectures on this subject, so that’s why I’m diving in. And if my lecturers ever find this comment I hope I haven’t missed what they were talking about
First, I don’t think we need to use the methods of pop culture because while they can be very effective we might end up looking like we’re trying too hard to be cool. But more power to you if you have the ability. Second what we really need to do is to be aware that pop culture is always exploring the themes of relationships, loss, social justice, good vs evil, the superhero as saviour and stuff like that and on the other hand people are making deep theological choices without even knowing it. Things like consumerism and Santa Claus convince people they have the right to the next shiny thing. Christians need to be aware of all these issues because we believe we have the answers. Of course we need to be able to present those answers in ways people will understand, but we need to know the questions in the first place, just like Paul when he went to Mars Hill.
October 22, 2007 at 10:16
I think culture changes and the way we deliver messages changes. With that said, the spoken word is still effective, but by all means, lets use technology to the benefit of the gospel.
Christ used parables (stories that his audience can identify with—though sometimes they were more confused by the their meaning). We should use strategies that people identify with nowadays. By all means, there a different ways to preach the gospel. Power up your Mac, some pictures, movies, and some tunes and include the message of salvation. Visual stimulation is important.
October 22, 2007 at 16:09
It seems like that’s where the world gets their spirtual info from.
October 22, 2007 at 22:33
Not completely outdated. That’s like saying we all respond to the same type of advertising. Different things reach different people, and the traditional church & outreach models reach those people who are looking for tradition & foundations.
I think we need a buffet. Jesus told his disciples to go, but he didn’t tell them to do specific things. Look at his own ministry – sometimes he healed, sometimes he taught huge crowds, he often used parables. He knew that we would respond in a variety of ways, so why not try those ways?
Most churches & organizations aren’t large enough – or have a flexible enough structure – to try to reach all people through all means. But we can certainly stretch. Should every church become a Sherwood Baptist and make films? No – not all are equipped to do that.
But we should each find our unique ways to reach out & do them most excellently.
October 23, 2007 at 07:03
first of all we must understand that Christianity is distinctively different from most religions because it moves by four arrows, downword arrow: God reaching down to save humanity, upword arrow: make heaven the ultimate Goal, Bacword Arrow: History Has proven that the Gospel is the only way to God, Forword arrow:The end is well defined by God in the book Of revealations. therefore we need to understand that we will have to update each and every method we are currently using to to reach out to the world but however we need not move away from the original principles of the Gospel from which the above mentioned arrows emanate. This will mean we can change methods and techniques but at the end of the day we must be able to achieve the ultimate goal for the Gospel
October 23, 2007 at 11:25
“Are our traditional methods of reaching the world outdated? Should our outreach efforts focus more on these vehicles?”
I would answer “yes” and “it really doesn’t matter.” The problem with our traditional methods of reaching the world is first off, that they are programs. Secondly, they all seem to revolve around an “if we build it they will come” approach where we think that if we have a cool church, then the world will beat down our door to come and see what we are doing. The truth is that the world doesn’t care AT ALL about what we are doing inside our churches. It seems that long ago we forgot that the way Jesus brought the Message to people was to love them. It is about having relationships with the parents of the other kids on your daughter’s soccer team, etc. Not, what kind of event or program can we do that will make people want to come to our church. That approach is not how Jesus will advance HIS KINGDOM. We must free believers to have relationships with people who need Jesus and share their lives with them instead of asking them to be at church every other night of the week (usually complaining about how bad the world is). The world has turned to media because it does not see relevence in what the church is doing. The world DOESN’T WANT PROGRAMS, THEY WANT LIFE. JESUS OFFERS LIFE. JESUS LOVED PEOPLE AND HELD OUT HIS LIFE TO THEM. Today’s society is so capitivated by the spiritual and supernatural that we have an unbelievable opportunity to advance the Kingdom of God if we will just get out of our churches and love people. Jesus said He came to seek and to save that which is lost. If He was serious when He said that, it would seem that He is out in the world a whole lot more than we are.
October 26, 2007 at 08:41
I agree with Tom Dalik. I have been running “underground” metal shows in our church and helping with similar events for a couple of years. I built it and they did come. By the hundreds. The kids heard the gospel over and over in song, word, and video. Some of it was old style, some modern, some very edgy. Did kids instantly fall face down crying for Jesus? Nope. I think for the most part the message passes through like an unknown language or physics concept. Remember when you were young and heard Jesus saves? Saves what? Money? What? Little by little, however, relationships started to happen. Kids were still partying, getting busted, writting myspace carp, etc. But they started to see whose life was working out OK. Who treated people “right” and who did not. Jesus and salvation are just Blah, Blah, Blah until you need somebody to love you, stick with you, or just talk TO you (not AT you). I have given up on the crusade-style or door to door method. I never dreamed this old 70s rocker would be hanging out with kids, booking mosh bands, and wearing straight-leg tight jeans at 45. God is crazy!