Churches and Technology

I thought that our recent discussion in class about churches and technology was fascinating. Christians have taken advantage of new technologies for centuries to further their mission, but some churches take it to a whole new level.

So many churches around the country have their own apps to download now, which feature things like videos of sermons, more information, mission statements and even a page to give offering. I was looking around on a website of a megachurch back home, and found that you can even "text to give" instead of putting a few dollars in the offering plate when it comes around. I thought that in particular was really interesting, since offering has always been so engrained into the Christian worship service for most denominations. If everybody is texting to give and watching the sermon on their phone, do churches still really have to exist or are they on their way to becoming entirely online?

So many other things in life that are supposed to be based on relationships and face to face contact now happen online. Online dating, online classes -- they are both things that people thought necessitated someone to be there in person, but both programs have enjoyed great online success. Are churches headed that way too? In a society that has already lost interpersonal skills, face to face conversation and attention span, could an online church be the perfect answer for everybody who is already glued to their phone and computer 24/7? It's interesting and a little terrifying to think about where this all might lead in another decade or two.

Closed

The blog is now closed. Comments posted after this will not impact one's participation grade. Best, Lynn

$haddy

Since we were on the topic of megachuches this week, I was curious and wondered what the pastor at one of the megachurches near my house makes for his salary. Apparently, he would not reveal his net worth, but is building a house that costs over $1,000,000. I think that's way to much for a pastor to be making. What do you guys think?

http://www.christianpost.com/news/pastor-steven-furtick-says-jesus-wouldnt-want-him-to-reveal-how-much-money-he-makes-149835/

Religion and Social Media

On Tuesday, we talked about religion and how it is shown in media. I thought that it was so interesting that 1 in 5 Americans share their faith online once a week and nearly half of all Americans see faith shared online once a week. Because I am friends with several Christians on Facebook, both at Elon and back home, and follow a lot of Christians on Instagram, I see a lot of posts every week with various Bible verses, bits of testimonies and messages to God thanking Him for different things.

As a Christian, I also sometimes post little bits of encouraging Bible verses or refer to people in pictures I post as my "sisters in Christ" -- the thing is, do these posts really have any effect on my followers? Just because I put my faith on show every once in a while, does that mean that the people who see them will really be affected by it? Maybe. 

I have definitely seen my fair share of Instagram and Facebook posts that I just roll my eyes at -- posts that feel so fake or "holier-than-thou" that it turns even me, a Christian, off of Christianity. While it's great to share your faith or other beliefs with others online, I think that it's important to remember that these social media platforms were created to make our lives appear more perfect and airbrushed than they really are. Something that I hear all the time is how faith is messy and imperfect, so it's interesting to juxtapose that with the perfection and pressure that comes with social media. 

This topic also brings to mind the idea of Christian tourism and poverty photography -- so many people go on mission trips and end up taking a million pictures of themselves with impoverished children and orphans to post on Facebook. Matthew 6:3 talks about humility and acting in such a way that not even your left hand knows what your right hand is doing when giving to the needy. If everything is posted online, is that humility really in effect? Just some things to think about the next time you post something about your faith or other beliefs or the next time you see a post about faith. 

Baptismal imagery in "The River" by Manchester Orchestra

I have wanted to talk for some time about the baptismal imagery in one of my favorite songs The River by Manchester Orchestra. It is such a favorite of mine in fact, that I have plans to get lyrics tattooed. The lead of the band is openly Christian and biblical themes frequently slide subtlety into his music. The chorus is as follows:

Oh god I need it 

So let me see again 

Take me to the river 

And let me see again 

Oh my god 

Let me see again 

Oh my god 

Let me see again 

Let me see again 

These lines are, to me, calling out to God. The singer asks: "let me see again" a possible reference to the story of Jesus restoring sight to the blind. He then asks "take me to the river" a reference to the tradition of baptism by river submerging. Near the end of the song the meaning becomes even more overt the final lyrics calling:

Oh god I need it

Well I was wrong again

Take me to the river

And make me clean again

Oh my god

Make me clean again

And oh my god

Let me see again

The author asks God to "make him clean again" asking to be washed of sin in the river. This is further illustrated if you prefer the lyrics the singer uses in live shows (and the lyrics I would want tattooed). In this version the final "Oh God I need it." is replaced by: "Oh God I'm sorry." He asks forgiveness as he is baptized.  

Lucy patron saint of punk?

This is some spray paint artwork I did of St. Lucy a while ago. After looking at all of the artistic representations of her, she spoke to me a a punk. I felt she needed a punk representation in art. So I made one.

How Megachurches utilize technology

One of the SURF presentations I presented on was on how Megachurches spread their message in a digital age. It's really interesting and ties in perfectly with yesterdays lesson.

http://www.elonpendulum.com/article/2016/04/session-2-communications-surf