An excerpt from an interview of John Piper by Tony Morgan regarding Piper’s latest (revised) book, Brothers, We Are Not Professionals:
Tony: You wrote about being a “Bible-oriented” preacher rather than having an “Entertainment-oriented” approach. How do you feel about churches that use technology and media to present a “Bible-oriented” message in a clear and applicable way?
John: Since the use of media ranges from minimal to maximal, it is impossible to say how I would feel about any given use. So the most helpful thing to say might be that I believe preaching is the expository exultation of a Bible-saturated, God-centered, Spirit-filled man who is so moved by the treasure of his text that no media additions are needed to illumine the minds and enflame the hearts of his people. And he will, in general, feel that resorting to the use of media in preaching shows a lamentable loss of confidence in the power of the preached word, and will set the people on a trajectory of needing more and more media stimulation that is, in the end, unfulfillable.
Do you agree with Piper? Why or why not? Discuss.
Interesting. I don’t agree with Piper. I believe that research has shown that people learn in different ways, and that visual learners outnumber auditory learners. So the use of visual media (such as pictures, video clips, colors, diagrams, etc.) will help people learn what is being taught better than simply listening to the speaker.
One ancient example of ‘resorting to media’ can be found in the illuminated texts carefully prepared and preserved in medieval monasteries over the centuries. The drawings and decorations in those texts were done in part to create a visual representation of the truth. Surely we would not say that those gems of art, along with stained glass windows, mosaics, tapestries, and paintings, were a sign of a ‘lamentable lack of confidence’ in the power of the Word of God, would we? “Media” today happens to include additional avenues. The video, the photograph, the diagram are not less appropriate or less sanctified just because they are contemporary.
When we moved to OK the pastor there was just like Piper and didn’t use ANY visual or auditory media of any kind. It was hard at first. We were used to short movie clips or other media ‘shots’ that seemed to boost the sermon. But after a while we got used to it and I didn’t miss it any more. I learned so much from the expository style preaching and it made me hunger for God’s word and look forward to the sermon each week. That is just my personal experience. So I guess I understand Piper’s point now, but sure would not have prior to our church experience in OK. The thing I worried about the most is: can this ‘compete’ for the younger audience’s attention when other churches are so ‘hip’ using all kids of media. But it was a thriving church with all ages represented.
Piper is typical of an old style teacher. ‘Teacher’ in that he feels (and rightly) that nothing can add to the power of the Word preached well, and he’s right in that. ‘Old style’ in that he thinks everything necessary that has ever been invented is all that we need – much like the Amish or Mennonites think that any ‘new’ thing is extraneous and superfluous to need.
What he (and they) are missing is that each generation must be able to relate to the way in which the gospel is presented. If we say ‘take us back to the old days when things were what they should be’ we forget that 2000 years have come and gone since Jesus was preaching on earth. Such thinking would, of necessity, do away with any inventions of the last 2 millennia. No mics, no sound systems (which I’m sure Piper uses to good effect – but not like the old days when the natural amphitheatre of a lake was good enough for Jesus) none of the amazing inventions that have changed the way our societies are able to receive the good news.
It’s too easy for older people (and I”m 61) to think that everything up to ‘now’ is fine, but nothing beyond my experience is relevant. I have always thought that Piper is one-eyed and lacking a 360 degree perspective and this confirms my suspicions.
Preachers can be off track with too much media and with too little. It’s to do with the preacher, not the accessories they use to drive the point home.
Hmmmm, media issues huh? I get what Piper is saying but allow me to stir this up some. A man standing in a pulpit, how he stands, uses his hands, raises or lowers his voice is mediatic (a new word I know). We see, we hear, we reflect, we learn from his presentation of the Word.
Jesus used media.
I know this may seem a stretch but he stooped down and drew a saying/picture in the sand for the Pharisees to see. It wasn’t an IMAC or HD presentation but it was media. Creation, the Bible teaches is a form of media (showing the Creator). May I say the biggest media approach is the CROSS itself. There Jesus was for everyone to see and learn about sin, depravity, love, relationship etc. I am moved by scripture but something happened to me when I saw THE PASSION OF CHRIST. Wherever the failure was in the facts, I saw more there of how Jesus suffered than at anytime in my life.
I agree, like the purist would in presenting the WORD, with the thought that without the Holy Spirit, media, preaching as an expositor of the Word, or living life out is futile; without the heavenly impact God intends which is to redeem, to reconcile and restore us to Him AND each other.
Much of this is a mystery to me but having media to not having media is irrelevant to me. Motivations are relevant. So if anyone uses media to cover for a lack of work/study and ability to teach scripture verse by verse, Piper has a point.
Actually, I find myself living in that tension. I heard a pastor in Las Vegas say he changed gears when he realized people were walking away from the church talking about the show instead of God. The key for me is to try to make sure the media is reinforcing the message, not overpowering or replacing it.