Visual Worshipper

Dude! Thanks for the link. Always looking for sweet creative sites.

As for the IMAG, I’m in the camp that it can get a bit overbearing and awkward sometimes. I think it can be used to create a very cool artform if it’s done well. But if it’s not it can be cheesy. Our church uses IMAG and it can get weird, but they’re constantly trying to hone that piece and make it better.

Nick; great stuff here! Thanks for the spot; I’m excited about this topic…it’s gotten a lot of response.

my thought on IMAG is that it is an effective way, when done tastefully and in the right context, to bring the experience closer. in our community, we work VERY hard to create an experience in our gathering times that would creatively reach the Un-churched with every component we plan in order to allow them to engage deeply in what God is doing.

the funny thing is that i’ve RARELY heard the adversity or complaints on IMAG or even the approach to the music from the Un-churched. It’s usually ‘mature christians’ that wave their whining flag on IMAG and approach to using creative mediums. i think this is, largely, an issue of education and immaturity on behalf of the ‘believer’.

For those that are checking church out for the first time, often, the creative mediums that we’re using are a sticky point and a reason why the come back. we often hear, ‘if church can be like that, i think i’ll come back’. simple things like IMAG are just one of the components on what creates the experience, but, it is definitely part of the experience.

we live in a society and culture that is so used to HD, high quality sound, lots of cameras and excellent media mediums. i think we, the church, should look at ways in which we can also lead the way in these things. obviously, this dialogue is all VERY contextual to your community and the approach to your gathering times.

obviously, the job of the worship leader is to be a ‘worshiper first’. If we’re doing our job as worship leaders the IMAG will only help people see us leading the way in leading worship. whether it’s the words we’re singing or the way that we’re playing we get the chance to lead out as we stand before the congregation.

those are a few of my thoughts! hopefully it brings some different perspective.

Good stuff Brian… I agree, there is something about progressive technology and putting on a professional show that turns off “mature” Christians. I don’t know where it comes from… I would love to see a day when Christendom embraces these mediums and leads the industry in creative design and production instead of copying it or feeling shy about using it.

IMAG? Crap, we just figured out how to put cool pictures behind our lyrics…we are way behind.

I agree with brian. Your church needs to rework its budget. You spend too much time, energy, and money on freeing children from sexual slavery, bringing resources to people who don’t even have the necessities of life in Africa, helping the homeless get back on their feet in your own community, and other things that don’t matter. Get your priorities straight. Stop helping all those people. Just tell them you have to spend the money on big tv’s and lights to help you see what you are worshipping. I’m sure they will understand.

To Justin:
No IMAG? That’s why your church is not growing. You don’t have a “sticky point”. And if you don’t agree with me, you are uneducated and spiritually immature.

@Justin – hahahahaha! wow.

ok, I definitely have to get in on this. First of all, the list of contributors is such a prominent group of people whom I have the upmost respect, so for me to not be on this page would be foolish. I want to be yoked with such minds and hearts. Secondly, this mother is totally heating up.

There are a couple of ways to approach my response, one, a study on the profiling of each individual based on what they wrote. I would argue each person’s response, and more importantly, the tone of their response, says something about who they are, and reminds me of why I love them, yes even you Garbinski. If I am going to approach it this way, however, I might just need to write my own blog.

I have thought about this IMAG thing a bit. I don’t have it for starters. I have had some experience with it, but not a tremendous amount. Let me say first that the use of technology in a worship service, all the way from a simple PA, to a full recording rig/Imag/intelligent lighting setup is a slippery slope both ways from a stewardship standpoint. We can always overspend on gear, and we can always make an argument to never spend on gear just the same. I digress to the leading of the spirit in the authority God has placed over each church for that one. As pastors and elders, we will stand before the Lord on what drives us to do what we do.

In corporate worship, in a church setting, just like anything else that happens inside the church, there is structure and leadership. the worship leader is facilitating an environment that will help people connect with God, that is their way of serving the body with their gift. The way that is done is both visual and audible. The same is true for a teacher. His gift is used to build up the body, but not if they can’t hear him, so we mic him, we mic the worship leader as well. Worship, arguably is as much visual as it is audible, therefore, if seeing the worship leader will help people be reminded to connect more with God, and your venue is gigantic, project him. Elders, pray about, analyze, and discuss whether the heart of humility and worship is being communicated through everything your guy is doing. If not, pray about and discuss talking with him about it, or possibly not having him projected.

I have deep love and respect for you all
C

Great stuff CJ. I have love and respect for you too and you made my week by ACTUALLY COMMENTING on my blog! I am speechless.

Whats funny is that my purpose for the OP was to give some props to another blog, not start a discussion about IMAG… maybe I touched on something. Its really all new to me so I have no final opinions on the matter, but yours sounds nice.