Addictions Are In
Apparently, we’re a nation of addicts and the list of addictive substances just keeps on growing.
- Drugs
- Alcohol (okay, it’s a drug, but it’s legal)
- Sex
- Relationships
- Food
- Work
- Video Games
- Porn
- and the newest entry: Blackberries.
If you think that the last entry is about fruit, you’re not suffering from the last addiction. That last one is about that little black box we call a phone, calendar, web browser, to-do list, contact list, games port, photo album, MP3 player, eBible, book reader, and so on. Of course, all of that is available on a number of different phones, but it’s the Blackberry that has probably created the most interest in the world of addictive phenomenon: the CrackBerry. People are checking the email via their Blackberries (and to be fair, a number of other “smart” phones) in bed, while driving, in the bathroom, during dinner, and (horror of horrors) during worship in church (12% according to an AOL poll). About the only “safe” place to keep away from this addiction is at a movie theater, which is arguably just another cross-addiction.
What’s the implication for the church? Well, besides the fact that pastors are now competing with the Blackberry for their parishioner’s attention, if the church is going to reach those of the techno-generation, it’s going to have to come out of the 1960s, ’70s, ’80s, or even the ’90s. The church is going to have to embrace technology in a new, different, and big way. I remember hearing years and years ago from Bill Easum that the church needed to start upgrading technologically then … and in general, the church hasn’t made much progress.
Here are a couple questions to shake your church’s tech-tree.
- Our church has a website.
- Our church’s website is updated at least monthly.
- Our church’s website is interactive - it includes opportunities for users that include a blog, private and public journaling, devotionals with commenting opportunities, a discussion forum, polls, and live chats/training.
- Our church provides RSS feeds so web users can keep up-to-date.
- Our church produces weekly podcasts.
- Our podcast’s content is more than just an recording of last week’s sermon.
- Our church has wireless Internet available for use in the sanctuary and in all classrooms.
- Our church has an LCD projector or large screen monitors in the sanctuary.
- Our church uses projection technology during worship for more than just projecting words.
- Our church produces its own video shorts for use in worship.
Bill T-B