YouTube Preaching
How does YouTube change our understanding of preaching?
Oct 7th, 2008 | By Skye Jethani | Category: PreachingTime magazine has a really interesting article about religion on YouTube. No one should be surprised to learn that Christians, Jews, Muslims, and every other brand of religion is flooding YouTube to educate the ignoranent masses about their doctrines. Time includes many examples of videos to watch. I particularly recommend the Christian version of Sir Mix-A-Lot’s “Baby Got Back” called “Baby Got Book.” (Somebody get me a bucket.)I’m working on an article right now for Christianity Today, and the subject of YouTube preaching is directly related. I’m trying to discuss the impact of mass communication technology on preaching, and what the relationship is between a sermon and the community from which it arises and to which it is addressed. Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill famously said, “All politics is local.” Can the same be said of preaching? What happens when a sermon developed at one time for one community is suddenly broadcast to the entire planet? Is that helpful? Does it run a greater risk of being misinterpreted and misapplied by people outside the community of origin? Here’s another way to think about it: can a preacher construct a sermon without any knowledge of the people who will receive it? Can a sermon be alienated from community, packaged, commodified, and distributed to the masses for consumption?These are some of the questions I’m thinking through. Your thoughts are welcomed as they will help me develop my own.
Skye,
You bring up some interesting questions. I suppose similar questions were raised when TV preachers emerged on the scene. The only difference now is just about anyone can post a message that is accessible by anyone else. If the basis of the teaching is God’s Word, then what might be produced for a particular audience should transcend to others, especially others in a similar culture. The applications of the Truth may differ from one audience to the next, but the Truth remains intact.
The NT epistles are a great example. At that time, the most accessible media was the written Word. Paul would often write a letter to one church and encourage the letter to be shared with multiple churches. The book of Galatians is one good example. Paul was a great teacher and had better insight than any of the elders overseeing the local churches.
Today, we have a similar phenomenon. There are some very gifted teachers of the Word who are posting their teachings on the Web. These guys are far better teachers and communicatirs than I. I can still interact with the local body and be instrumental in their discipling process while they are being challenged and taught from great teachers via video.
From the date of post, I see I’m a little late.
In Christ,
Bill