In Daniel 6 and Acts 4 three ordinary men risked everything for God. Daniel was caught praying to God after it had been outlawed and was thrown to the lions (literally). Peter and John healed a lame man and preached the truth of Jesus to the crowd that gathered. They were quickly thrown into jail by the religious people of the day. In Daniel’s case the whole nation ended up praising the God who held closed the lions’ mouths. In Peter and John’s case, 5000 people came to follow Jesus. In both cases, the men risked everything. Daniel was stripped of his position and sentenced to die. God intervened and he was saved. Peter and John were thrown into jail and released, but would eventually be martyred for the cause of Christ.
They risked everything…and changed the world. I wonder if when you risk everything for the cause of Christ you’re really risking anything at all. People certainly won’t understand you. But that’s ok, who would expect them to? I think God doesn’t call us to safety, living out our faith behind closed doors.

I think He calls us to risk.
Risky lives filled with adventure.
Filled with the adventure of serving Him.
Serving Him for HIS glory, not our own.

Maybe that’s the hard part. Giving up our own glory. Daniel was stripped of his position in government. Peter and John were mocked by the religious people of the day (they still exist today). We want the story to be about us.

That’s why we love stories. We love books, TV, movies, video games (we actually get to BE the hero)…it’s written on our hearts. We love to hear stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. God called our whole species to more…to stories that matter…

But we have to give it all up first.

“Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.” (Matthew 4:20). Peter and Andrew just left everything to follow Jesus. Do you wonder if they worried about their financial security? Did Jesus offer dental?

Something in them drove them to follow Him.
Immediately.
Without question.
Without reservation.

They risked everything…and changed the world.

What are we risking for Him? What have you done this week that REQUIRES faith? It’s a humbling thought…

So this one gets me a little heated. John Piper has answered a question about drama and video in worship services recently and his answer (although not unexpected) was somewhat controversial among those of us in church media. I would encourage you to read his whole answer here. I’m going to assume that you have.

I don’t even know where to start. I should breathe a moment to ensure that all the thoughts I have aren’t spewed out but are thoughtful and logical. I’m not sure I’ll be successful.

The problem with his whole perspective, and he would find it to be an asset, is that he places complete preeminence on preaching. That’s obvious in the following quotations:

I think the use of video and drama largely is a token of unbelief in the power of preaching.

It’s going to communicate that preaching is weak, preaching doesn’t save, preaching doesn’t hold, but entertainment does.

The logical conclusion from Piper’s statements is that video and drama cannot be used to teach and can only be used as entertainment. Thus preaching (and teaching) must be done by a pastor who is speaking to a congregation. It is this line of thinking that I strongly believe to be inaccurate.

Piper points out in his opening paragraph that media isn’t explicitly forbidden in the New Testament. (Does this mean that it is subtly forbidden?) We do find, however, significant use of storytelling and narrative throughout the scriptures. In fact, as much as 75% of the Bible is in narrative form (with only 10% as propositional instruction – from the Complete Evangelism Guidebook). Clearly, there is a significant focus on storytelling. Jesus himself spoke in parables to communicate God’s truth.

Video and drama are simply modern methods of storytelling. Incredibly powerful methods of storytelling. And, as with everything, can be used well or not so well. Preaching can mislead thousands of people to think that they can be ‘ok’ with God simply by walking an aisle. Video and Drama can be used to distract people from the truth of God’s Word. But when we meet together and use both effectively, we begin to communicate to a person holistically. We hit their mind, heart and soul. Preaching rarely expands beyond the mind.

This is why we need artists in the church. Good artists. Incredible artists. Artists who love God and can communicate His truths in new and exciting ways. If we hope to reach the next generation with God’s truth, we’re going to need everything we can get. Or to quote a preacher,” All was created through Jesus and for Jesus. (John Piper)”

(Originally published in Collide Magazine – Jan. 2009)

In church production, we have the great opportunity of using the gift of the arts to glorify God and connect people in worship. Through the use of video, drama, lights, and sound we can powerfully support and enhance the message of Jesus Christ. In order to do this we hire, train, and develop media producers, technical and production directors, sound engineers, and graphic designers. All of these artists give their life and passion toward enhancing the worship experience. The question we must ask and the balance we must find is this: Which is more important, the product or the producer?

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So I was reading Galatians 3:23 yesterday morning and had some thoughts I wanted to share. Before I proceed here’s Galatians 3:23 – 29 (ESV).

Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

I was specifically drawn to the first verses where it says we were imprisoned under the law. Imprisoned under the law seems like such harsh imagery but then we see the law was a guardian. Guardians protect often by limiting activities, thus imprisonment and not true freedom. But what were we being protected from? Satan? Ourselves? Perhaps God himself? I think it includes all of that. We know the primary reason for the law was to remain in right standing with God. God, in His justice, has standards that the human race discarded and we need to be cleansed from that. The law was given to create a way for us to regain right standing in the eyes of the Lord. But then we see that we were imprisoned under it. I think this has to do with the impermanent nature of the law. The law has a lot to do with human action. We have to keep the law in order for the power of God to flow through it. Thus we are bound to it, imprisoned under it. But God had a better plan for us than repeated religious rituals. He sent His Son to replace the law with faith. The most exciting verse in that whole passage is verse 25:

But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

No longer under a guardian, no longer imprisoned by the law. Free, children of God, through faith. Sometimes I forget how cool that is.

(Originally published in Collide Magazine – June 2008)

There has long been a tension between image and word in our churches. Historically, that tension was not as one-sided as it is now. For centuries, the Church was rich with artists and imagery. The Church even constructed church buildings designed to astound visitors and to spur the imagination towards the wonderment of God. Then something changed.

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