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VISUAL MINISTRY

Video’s, amped music, dramas, comedy, interactive games… whatever it takes.  

That’s our approach to ministry, especially youth ministry. And in some cases it works, for a while.  But if we know anything we know this, the church cannot compete with the world in media.  No Christian film will ever engage us like Hollywood, secular music has it’s niche we think can’t be found in the Christian scene… we think.  

Actually it’s true.  However, the niche is not a Godly one, therefore, no Christian music will fulfill it.  

I’d say that I’m a visual learner.  But are high impact video’s, super funny drama’s, off-the-wall activities really going to make me want relational down-time with my Savior?  No, it’s going to make me want more time, all my time, filled with more of the same, high-paced visually stimulating stuff. 

It’s no question, we are OVER-STIMULATED and UNDER-COMMITTED in this culture. In fact over-stimulation creates less commitment.  Ever wonder why it’s so tough to get anyone committed to anything?  I have, and this is a major reason for it.  

‘The visual has, in fact, distorted the spiritual rather than clarify it.’

Zacharias, Ravi (2012-01-25). Why Jesus?: Rediscovering His Truth in an Age of Mass Marketed Spirituality (p. 7). Hachette Book Group. Kindle Edition. 

So true. Worth noting. We try this in church… make everything more visual, and in the process the Spirit gets left out, which means the power is left out. 

We use the visual for clarity, but it distorts spirituality because my relationship with God has nothing to do with what I see, it has everything to do with FAITH in what I cannot see.  

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.  

The truth about this walk of faith is that if we fail to persevere it reveals we are no child of God at all.  Whereas, perseverance is the stamp of authenticity of His children.  

Hebrews 3:6 …And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast. 

‘If’ is such a small word, but has great weight in this passage. We are the light of the world, a city on a hill. We are the church, if… 

If what?  If we persevere.  Hold to our courage.  Cling to this hope. 

You see, I can cling to something that I know is going to stimulate me.  I’ll always come back for more.  Ever stay up too late watching a movie?  Wasted too much time playing a silly little game you can’t take your eyes off of?  

Understand that stimulation works. Retailers and advertisers know this, you should to.  And the more you stimulate your brain with non-essentials the less you’ll want what is essential. 

Out of the overflow of the mouth the heart speaks.  

Out of the overflow of high-impact media the heart reeks.  

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