Schultze: Chapter 8: The Role of Media

Media is an interesting thing. With such a large grip over media consumers, the media has the ability to shape our thoughts, beliefs, actions, and opinions over things.

In the eighth chapter of Schutlze's text, he writes about media and it's role in creating consumer-based products idolatry of media. One example he uses is that contemporary Christian music styles in the church is an inappropriate way to worship, according to some traditional Christians and churches.

While I am familiar with this ideology, I have also heard that some Christian churches believe that media, in some situations, is inappropriate as well, as it does not align in the way God intended worship to be.

In both cases, however, I disagree. I find it easiest to engage at church with music that is more from my era, with an exciting mix of drums, guitar, keyboard and vocals. In my past experiences at a small church in Gresham, the church sang only hymns and an elderly woman played the organ. That was all. No drums, no upbeat modern song, merely an organ and the voices of those in the congregation.

In that specific church in Gresham, I felt disconnected not only because the music was unfamiliar to me, but also because we read from hymn books. I like having Powerpoint slides with lyrics, or videos demonstrating what the pastor is speaking about. Technology is useful, it is available, and it helps people connect. Times are changing and although it may not be the specific way Christ intended us to worship him, it is a form of modern worship regardless. Worship is worship, no matter if it is using technology and upbeat music or not.

Do you agree or disagree? How different would church services be now if we only used the traditional forms of worship (no media and no modern music)? Do you think attendance for church services would increase, decrease, or stay the same?