The New Wave of Televangelism
Televangelism is a frown-worthy word for a lot of people. Who can forget, thanks to the scandals of the 80s, the image branded in our minds of televangelists? Yet for all the negative associations, UPCI had a very close vote on the issue of using TV for evangelistic broadcasting in 2004. Ninteyandnine readers expressed opinions, of course, and the issue itself could be debated infinitely.
The Times, They Are a Changing
But instead of that, I want to share this article on yet another new phase of evangelistic broadcasting: webcasting. It’s become an accepted way to make the message available. According to the article:
Ministries are taking faith to computer users, allowing them to attend cyberchurch anywhere, any time. Analysts say it is the biggest revolution in Christian media since the rapid proliferation of televangelists in the late 20th century. It has the potential to bring thousands of ministries, particularly those that cannot afford expensive television broadcasts, to prime time, cyber style.
Technology Makes TV Obsolete?
Cyberspace offers boundless, global opportunities that TV can’t approach. And for whatever reason, the A/P community does not seem as threatened by the Internet as we are by TV. So is it possible that we can just skip the TV issue altogether and move on with this new medium that we all seem to accept? Can we hereby consider the televangelism issue closed and blast full-speed ahead with webcasting?
posted by Lee Ann @ 10:57 AM
1 Comments:
At 11:38 AM,
Anonymous said…
Can't skip the TV issue, although I know a lot of preachers would like to...
"Convergence" is the key word here. Within a few years, TV, internet, phone will all be accessible via the computer and won't really be able to be acquired individually. The UPC and other conservative organizations will have to re-examine their value system.
My father was a preacher until he passed away unexpectedly in 1999. He was considered conservative. He preached principle over writ. If we write regulations for everything that is wrong, we'll fill up rooms with books full of rules and regulations. If we preach principle and live by it, our spirit and the Holy Spirit will guide us by the principles laid out in the Word of God.
So, to sum up, TV will always be around on some level and we're going to have to deal with it one way or another. Outlaw everything that moves on a screen or teach people how to have a relationship with God and live in such a way that God is pleased with what we do.
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