Does your church use media or drama during the sermon? John Piper doesn’t think it’s such a good idea.
John Piper posted a video blog answering a question that was emailed to him about the use of “entertainment” to support preaching. He’s not a supporter of the idea.
Piper feels that the use of video or skits could communicate that preaching doesn’t save, but entertainment does. To clarify, the question that was asked pertained to the worship service as a whole, but Piper spoke directly about the sermon time.
I think the use of video and drama largely is a token of unbelief in the power of preaching. And I think that, to the degree that pastors begin to supplement their preaching with this entertaining spice to help people stay with them and be moved and get helped, it’s going to backfire. It’s going to backfire.
He did clarify that he loved the arts and believed that there was power in drama. But that there was a place for drama and video, but preaching time was the place to do it.
I believe in the power of drama. But let drama be drama! And let preaching be preaching! Let’s have the arts in our churches, but don’t try to squash it all into Sunday morning.
I’m not so sure what I think.
On the one hand, scripture does clearly state that salvation comes by hearing the Word of God. It is indeed the preaching of the Bible that one comes to a saving knowledge of Jesus.
We also know that God has given each preacher the responsibility of allowing Him speak through the preaching.
On the other hand, it is common for preachers to use the resources around him to help illustrate his message. And Piper himself says that the Bible never speaks against it.
I think the Bible is silent on few issues. And I believe it is so because many issues are petty and Christians shouldn’t be spending a tremendous amount of time debating those issues. Perhaps we should be spending our time on the things we know for sure God wants.
What do you think?
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