Four Reasons Not To Podcast

Podcasts are all the rage theses days. Lots of people are broadcasting their audio files (video, too) all over the place. Churches are no exception. It's not uncommon for churches to make their pastor's messages available online for download. This technology has created an exciting medium for getting the [W]ord out. No longer is distance or lack of mobility a reason to miss out on a good sermon. Certainly, there are some good reasons for churches to take advantage of this technology, but I have some reservations. Here are four reasons why churches should not make their pastor's messages available online.

1. Unrealistic Comparisons
There are some gifted preachers out there. Men and women who are dynamic, charismatic, communicators of the Gospel. So why wouldn't we want to make these preachers' sermons available to everyone with an internet connection? Although there are some fantastic preachers in the pulpit, the vast majority of preachers are not going to blow you away. Did you know the average attendance for churches in the United States is less than 100? Do you think the members of these average sized churches hear the kind of preaching that could be compared to say, Mark Driscoll or Rob Bell? Of course not. Listening to podcasts from the likes of Driscoll and Bell create unrealistic comparisons. And yet we begin to wonder, "Why doesn't my pastor preach like those guys?"

2. Where Is The Relationship?
This may be be an obvious observation, but there is no way to have a substantial relationship with someone through their podcast. Unless one was very ambitious, there is no opportunity to shake hands with the person you just heard from. There are no conversations over coffee. Podcasts are a one-way road. The preacher talks and you listen. That's it.

3. Enables Passivity
For many people, Church is reduced to the hearing of a sermon or the worship music. Someone asks, "how was church?" and more than likely the response will be, "the sermon was really good this time," or "the worship could have been better." Church is about participating in a community of faith. Fewer and fewer people nowadays take the risk of engaging in real Christian community. Podcasts allow us to hear great sermons, but how do they afford us the opportunity to engage in community?

4. What Else Are We Missing?
When the sermon is isolated from the other components of the worship service, we do not experience the fullness of what is being conveyed through the message. The proclamation of the Word (preaching) finds its rightful place when it is accompanied by song, liturgy, prayer, confession, alms giving, the celebration of the Eucharist, and service. The significance of the sermon is enriched by these other aspects when properly situated in the context of corporate worship.

So What's The Alternative?

A more robust invitation to engage in authentic Christian community where the sermon is not detached from human relationships; where the the message is allowed to flourish in the hearts and minds of those listening as it is accompanied by the other aspects of corporate worship.