Church Marketing: Toward a scriptural understanding...

Thanks for your reply, Tim.

I understand that seeing media as a ministry is a given...in what I've read, though, (not just here, but in several books and websites -- all Christian media people) I haven't seen it as a given in practice. I just wanted to find out how the Bible affected how everyone here approaches the task of implementing media in the church.

I think it's basic and fundamental and, furthermore, essential to revisit that understanding...not to become resistant to media, but to understand it's place a little better...to see it as part of a bigger picture of the church.

I didn't reply to stir the pot anymore...I really appreciate your encouragement, Tim, and wanted to say so.

You have a great service here that is serving a great need. Talking this way with secular media and marketing people is like trying to communicate Hellenistic Greek simply by speaking it louder...

[sempei13]

BTW, I think the information in the last few posts has helped illuminate the first in this thread. With that said, Tim, you thought I stirred things up when I first got here?!?

Paul

I understand that seeing media as a ministry is a given...in what I've read, though, (not just here, but in several books and websites -- all Christian media people) I haven't seen it as a given in practice.

I'm not sure exactly what you mean by this, but what you may be seeing is the "secular" crossover inherent in using media in ministry. There are so many things that are really "neutral" in nature. Let's get away from media for a second and talk about music. The music I wrote during my "rock star" days sounded no different from the pop music of it's day -- but the message was different. I used pop music to convey Christian messages (just as John Booth and Martin Luther did in their day). To do this, I had to use all of the audio tools of the day -- synthesizers, sequencers, processors, etc. I was heavily tied into the local secular music scene. I talked the music/audio lingo and geek-talk. I HAD to because of the tools I was using. So, if you didn't know I was a Christian musician you would think I was just another rocker.

The same thing can happen when using media. Just as music itself is neither good nor bad, the vehicles of media and the software/hardware we use are neutral. We have to talk about the tools extensively so we can get the most out of them. Just because the tools and application of media is talked about more than the Biblical principles behind using media, doesn't mean that people don't have those fundamental understandings in their personal lives and walks with God. And the media itself is going to (or should) have the same quality and look as the media we see every day -- just as the music I played was no different. The message is different, so don't get sidetracked by the fact that it looks "secular". It's just relevant.

I've been accused of being too "techie" and not delving far enough into the bowels of philosophical understanding of implementing media. That's okay with me. People want to know what button to press - and that's what I'm good at teaching. So, again, I prefer to use my time, energy and bandwidth to help people solve their technical challenges -- the "how" of media ministry. Along the way, I try to motivate churches to understand the "why's". My pals Len Wilson and Jason Moore are stronger on the philosophical side of media. We really balance (there's that word again) each other out. But, the truth is, the technical and organizational aspects of media ministry (or any ministry) are going to be at the forefront during implementation. That doesn't mean that people aren't founded in the basic Biblical principles that you are concerned about.

Good conversation -- but let's not beat it death anymore. As administrator of the community I reserve the right to have the last word

AMEN

Just FYI...another mod chose to close this thread -- didn't want it to look like I childishly closed it to have the last word