Liabilities of Live-Streaming I: Screens
When I was a boy, we did not have television. Some of my earliest memories were that the pastor did not like TV. Now we not only have TVs, we are encouraged to use one to watch the pastor! Times have certainly changed.
Now, before you get ahead of me, I want to be clear that I do believe that this technology can be a blessing. I know a few Christians that have been come to faith by means of the internet, and a few others that stumbled on excellent resources while living in remote places. Undoubtedly there are many sick and shut-in Christians that are rightly grateful for technology! This is not an unqualified rant against using the internet to listen to sermons, read good material, or even, in the uncertain situation we faced last spring, to livestream services.
It is however, a call for some sober second thought. Some balance. Some think of live-streaming as gathering for genuine corporate worship in a digital space. As churches have struggled with the pandemic, some have taken to speaking extremely positively about this technology. Some of this language is troubling, and not realistic. Every technology comes with both blessings and curses, and we would not be wise to overlook either. When we are talking about changes in the worship of the almighty and holy God, we better think twice about any changes.
There are some good reasons that many of our grandparents were suspicious of screens. We have some of the same reservations in our own home, though we do allow limited use. We have seen the glazed eyes, the distraction, and the behavioral issues that can result from misuse. A solid "no" has had to be said surprisingly often, or else the screen will take over. We are aware that many people are addicted to devices, and we have taken measures to head off that problem. We know that phones, screens, and the internet, are easily used for more evil than good.
Today, with instant ease screens can bring materialism, covetousness, evil entertainment, gossip, lies, idolatry, blasphemy, violence, and even pornography into the home. Surveys have shown that an alarming number of church members misuse the internet for sinful purposes. Think of Ezekiel 8:9-12, could the the same may be said about our generation?
“He said to me, “Go in, and see the wicked abominations which they are doing there.” So I went in and saw, and there—every sort of creeping thing, abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed all around on the walls. And there stood before them seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, and in their midst stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan. Each man had a censer in his hand, and a thick cloud of incense went up. Then He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the room of his idols? For they say, ‘The LORD does not see us, the LORD has forsaken the land.’ ”” - Ezekiel 8:9–12
Wow! If the Lord would give such insight into your internet usage, what would he see? How many leaders in our age would be in that group? What do the images in your home say about you?
Think for example, of a typical family. Throughout the week, the computer, tablet, or smart TV is used for various purposes. Perhaps there is a lot of scrolling through lifestyle blogs or Pinterest. Remember, covetousness is idolatry! (Col. 3:5-6) Or maybe there have been intense debates on social media. Perhaps another family member secretly uses it for immoral purposes. In a surprising number of church member's homes, the screen is used to watch much of what is on Prime or Netflix. The habit is to sit down, turn off the mind, and be amused. Quite literally, to be a-mused means to not-muse. To not-think. Technology tends to do that to us, whether it is the cruise control on our car, or the calendar on our smartphone, it leads us to not-think.
Then, on the other extreme, perhaps some have worked diligently and in front of a screen for many hours the previous week. They are tired of it. It is the Sabbath, a day to set apart.
The point is: the screen comes with baggage of all kinds. We are not wise to think that that baggage will fall away for all on Sunday morning. There a danger that church is taken down to the level of entertainment, or even that the minister is placed on the level of an idol. There is a danger that the mind is accustomed to not-thinking. The is a danger that church becomes a channel, just another item on the entertainment menu. There is the danger that the screen on Sunday becomes a mere image, a lifeless idol that mimics worship.
Intelligent people have said some very negative things that relate to using technology to broadcast church services. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones even called old-fashioned tape recording of sermons “…a peculiar and special abomination at this present time.” Neil Postman was extreme, but he warned that if church was put on a screen, it would inevitably be reduced to the same level as entertainment. He warned that tele-evangelists would even become idols, and that did seem to happen. If the philosopher Marshall McLuhan was correct that “the medium is the message,” we certainly have a serious issue to think about. We should be cautious to take these ideas as far as they have, but they ought to at least give us pause for thought.
I am one of those old-fashioned folks that sees this pandemic as a judgement and a warning. Could it be that unwise use of technology could compound our judgement in the long run? (Genesis 11:3-4) Could it be that church of Jesus Christ today stands on the edge of an old-precipice? That for some weak ones, the screen may be replacing the church? I have heard some sheepishly admit that they prefer live-streaming to church. For others, as time progresses, could live-streaming lose its luster? Could it become a drag and bore, especially for some children?
Instead of staring at a screen for hours on a Sunday: could at least some Christians not be better off Sunday around the kitchen table with an open Bible, some songbooks, and prayers? Stories and questions for the children? Maybe invite Matthew Henry? Could such crude methods lead to a more plaintive cry for the return to real worship? (Psalm 84:2)
Now, don’t get this wrong. These dangers may not be present for every one of you right now. There are Christians who still have attention spans, and who have the strength to use a screen well. This is not indiscriminate counsel that you must throw the screen in the garbage, though some of you might know you probably should. I am trying to get you to think. To question. To have concern for your weaker members. If they were wrestling with alcohol, would you want them to keep a bottle in the cupboard just in case they wanted to bake rum cake one day? Some people really should have no screens in their home, at least for a time. The current situation makes that extremely difficult. Substance abuse is at record highs, and we could include screens in that mess:
“If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.” - Matthew 18:8–9
Some will call me too literalist for saying that some actually ought to get rid of their screens. The problem is, I know some Christians that have actually done this, and they testify that it has been for the better for them. They have gone to the point of never using screens. For good reasons, they have made a personal decision. We need to support them in that. We may not want every Christian to become a Luddite or an iconoclaust, but a few may be wise to smash their own screens. Maybe those without screens are the weaker ones, maybe they are wiser. (1 Corinthians 12:22) I have met a few wise ones who do not use screens at all. They seem like they are doing alright.
Before we set new precedents for worship, we ought to do much more thinking. Let's listen to past generations, and have some healthy suspicion of screens. Let us never forget, from Genesis to Revelation, and even on to the Reformation, images were always a snare. They tend to worm their way between us and God. Assembling for worship, even literally, is the proper and lively way to approach the living God. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Contrast sitting in front of a screen for a moment with that old routine: getting on Sunday clothes, getting in the car, and going to church, and assembling with real live people. Preaching. Prayer. Singing together. Fellowship. Harder indeed, more effort. Yet far better. It sends a different message, to us and the world. Should we not soberly admit that the screen does not measure up?
I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the LORD." (Psalm 122:1)
This is the first in a four-part series on the Liabilities of Live-Streaming. Future posts will deal with preaching, fellowship, and the sacraments and body of Christ.
