A week before, we blogged on the creative use of technology for Church Announcements. This week, I want to highlight that some of the leading growing churches in the West use technology to conduct simultaneous services through video every Sunday.
When we were in New Life Assemblies of God Church in Chennai, I was told that they have successfully been able to project their service in the new grounds simultaneously. Yet talking to some other leaders they seem to have some worries on how it might work for them.
There are many reasons for the same. Some do not believe in it. Many of these areas do not have fast internet connections. And yet some others have never given it a thought.
Is it wrong? Is it wrong for someone to reach more people via video simultaneously?
Biblical Reasons
- After the resurrection of Jesus, we see how He appears to His disciples constantly. I am sure the speed in appearing and disappearing in different places according to their specific need was not a human thing. But thank God for technology now we have the opportunity to bring the gospel to many more people irrespective of the distance or time.
- The New Testament epistles were written to networks of churches across cities like Galatia, Philippi, Corinth, Thessalonica. They did not just gather in one location. Timothy, Titus, Paul and the others were using their technology(writing letters) of their era to reach out to multiple congregations. (1 Cor. 5, 1 Peter)
- 1 Cor. 9:20-23 says, “20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”
Notice the verse 23 says, “So that by all possible means I might save some.” Could this be another possible means? Yes, of course, yes!
Here’s an interesting video to watch. Pastors, James MacDonald and Mark Driscoll preach for multiple campus sites at once through video every Sunday. The other Pastor, Mark Dever preaches in one location with one service.
In this video, MacDonald and Driscoll seek to convince Dever that he should adopt a multi-site strategy. This might answer some of our questions.
(Interested to know more on why Multi-Sites? – Video 1hr :15mins by Mark Discroll on why Multi Sites)
What do you think? What are your thoughts or concerns? Will your culture or church accept this kind of a development? Comment below.
There are many reasons for the same. Some do not believe in it. Many of these areas do not have fast internet connections. And yet some others have never given it a thought..
Is it wrong? Is it wrong for someone to reach more people via video simultaneously?