1 of 3

Editor's note: In the following excerpt from his book, The Hidden Power of Electronic Culture: How Media Shapes Faith, the Gospel, and Church, author and pastor Shane Hipps offers a prophetic call to the church. He wants followers of Christ to be aware of the ways our messages are impacted by the ways in which we communicate. Whether you agree or disagree with his assertions, we think these are important issues to think about—and discuss—as the church moves forward into the era of digital media.

Issues [concerning the ways in which media affected the gathered community of the church] are often only raised—if they are raised at all—when dealing with simple forms such as the projection screen. We seem less interested in asking question[s] about the more pervasive and complex cultural forces at play both inside and outside of the church. For example, if something as simple as a projection screen can have a dynamic effect on a congregational experience in worship, what happens when more complex media are infused into the life of a church or into the lives of the people who are the church? What is the effect of the Internet on the way we think about and do church? How does the medium of television shape our understanding of community, leadership, and mission? In what ways is our understanding of the gospel altered when we communicate or preach with pictures instead of words?

The answers to these questions are based on a simple notion: The firms of media and technology—regardless of their content—cause profound changes in the church and culture. The power of our media forms has created both challenges and opportunities in the ways the people of God are formed. Unfortunately, just as Dorothy and her companions missed the man behind the curtain in The Wizard of Oz, we stand oblivious to the hidden power of media. Most of us point and stare at the giant wizard head wreathed in flame, quite unaware it is only a distraction—the con man's sleight of hand.

The time has come for the church to pull back the curtain and expose the true effects of media. While this may sound like the hunt for some notorious villain, it is not. The media to which I am referring are neither evil nor good. Yet this in no way means they are neutral. Their power is staggering but remains hidden from view. Because we tend to focus our gaze on their content, the forms of media appear only in our peripheral vision. As a result they exert a subtle yet immense power. By exposing their secrets and powers, we restore our ability to predict and perceive the often unintended consequences of using new media and new methods. This understanding of media is crucial to forming God's people with discernment, authenticity, and faithfulness to the gospel.

next page... |  1 of 3