How much of this has come into our Christian thinking?

The old ways are out of date, we've got to have new methods, & better techniques.

Some people will be violently opposed to such change, others insist that we are failing God if we don't use all the latest things.

We want to put across the Christian Faith in such a way that people will stop & listen. Also, that they will, by the power of the Holy Spirit, be enabled to understand it.

But the way we 'present' this is an area for disagreements.

The first thing to do is to sort out what is the message, and what is the method.

Our Gospel message (which is the message of the whole Bible - the whole counsels of God) does not change.

Our methods may change to relate to a society that is very different from a few centuries ago, and even from a few decades ago.

Christians are using the Internet as a means of reaching out to people, which is good.

'Power Point' is used to give more visual presentations which can enhance the speakers points, or be a total distraction to what the speaker is saying!

Sound effects & different lighting with audio & visual effects can be used.

The Body of believers at Worship, or presenting the Gospel to unbelievers?

The second thing to do is to sort out whether we are having an act of worship, or an event which will be aimed at non-Christians.

I'm not saying it is wrong to have unbelievers in a worship service (From my own experience, I discovered the reality of Christians singing hymns in worship to God in a small chapel & it was at this point that I was really challenged to believe in Him).

I am saying that we need to be aware of what our aim is, otherwise it becomes a confusing mishmash of worship, presentations, special effects, etc.

I believe we need to be careful not to go too far into giving 'presentations' when it is a time for worship. Otherwise the danger is that people will 'watch' rather than worship, or follow everyone else in copying their actions without the heart being involved in worship.

There is a new danger which puts the methods on a higher level of importance than the message itself.

The technology can be offered as the initial attraction & it is the thing that keeps people from then on.

This is obviously a danger for the young people, but it is also applies to other age groups as well.

Technology is not wrong in itself, but it must point towards Christ.

And it mustn't become the focal point, nor the main attraction.

These things may be right in themselves, but because it becomes the dominate focus, it can take us off the right path.

It's good to have enthusiastic people, but we need to remember this:

We can have real enthusiasm for one particular thing, & it distorts our view on everything else.

With so much hype & self confidence that goes along with things today it can be difficult to question them, because it might appear that this zeal is being quenched.

True knowledge is getting a balanced understanding of the Bible, which then enables us to make better decisions.