I just found out today that the church I attend, Rivertree, has created some controversy recently through media, and media has exacerbated the scandal.
To the best of my knowledge, the church put up a billboard that had a picture of feet underneath some sheets, and the phrase "puresex." This was done to promote a new series the church will be launching this Sunday.
The Billboard sparked interest from television stations in Cleveland, and this further created a buzz on the national level - so much so that the "Today Show" will be at church tomorrow filming and interviewing people.
I happen to know someone who will be interviewed tomorrow, and she asked me to pray for her that she might present the message that the church is truly trying to convey. The gimmick is not what the message is about. The message is about the healthy sex life God designed humans to have.
It is my personal opinion that this could be a very true instance of Christians using media in an effective and ethical manner. This provocative billboard does not represent entertainment in the sense of a manipulative or mindless transmission of ideas, but rather represents a creative and startling image that will compel people to know more about the message Rivertree is trying to communicate.
Christ was constantly using images to convey his messages. Trees, mountains, fish and wheat, images the common people were familiar with all became part of his teaching. He wasn't using actual images, because technology prevented him from doing so, but I believe that if he were in the 21st century, he would be using various media to communicate his messages.
He was relevant in his ministry, so the Church ought to be relevant as well.
We need to use images to draw people unto Christ.
I commend Rivertree in their efforts at doing so.
Now, it will be interesting to see what the sermon says tomorrow...
3 comments:
Hey Issac!
I work at Berean a Christian Bookstore and overheard some ladies talking about the "Rivertree extravaganza." They were appalled... however I agree with you! If we don't use media that is popular among the people to educate them about the church, its purpose, and Christ, people would pass it right by.
I heard that Rivertree had an outstanding attendance on Sunday. They certainly used the media well to get people to church.. I also commend them for that! Sometimes media producers have to step out and make people uncomfortable but then use that in a positive way... It was proven on Sunday that it boosted even Church attendance! Thats great I think... see what media can do!!
i hope that through the distractions of the "scandal"--the news cameras, the gossip--that they were able to keep the focus on Christ and that the worship service was still actually a worship service and not a show.
i think it is very important for the church to be relevant and to use the avenues available to increase the people it can reach. but something about this makes me feel uneasy... i just don't know what or why!!
straigh up C-razy-
i know a guy who works at Rivertree, and he explained a bit of what their focus was and why they did what they did. First of all, they made an effort to go out into the world and bring people to church, and it worked, so espec for that.
The images used were not that graphic, in the sense that they didn't "show" anything, but obviously made it easy to connect the dots (i do wander how the photo shoot went, might have a little awkward "Yea mom, I posed underneath the covers with another man for the cover of a Christian sex sermon series...").
It was obviously a success so far, but I wander how far can we take it?
Can we show 2 people (mabey even gay or lesbian) doing it in a picture and then add a tag line like "God and Gays- what's the deal? Come in Sunday at 10..."). I don't want to sound silly, but at this point we are in the same situation as many marketers- sex sells, so how much can we show and get the results we want/ how much can we actually show without offending everyone?
I am glad Rivertree went on their own and tried their own gig. I might feel a bit weird going their if I was a member (particularly older), but it is... something.
I do wish other churches would be a little more creative with their evangelsim instead of the classic "Church X. Services at 10 and 11:30"
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