We are seeing an insurmountable impact in the pulpits across the world because of Podcasting. I could’ve easily written a blog entitled, “The Positive Impact Podcasting Has On Preaching” because of the wide accessibility of complimentary resources. That title is for another time and place. The Negative impacts may also trace its roots to the wide accessibility of complimentary resources. Church podcasting has turned into PodOmania; even the laity are listening to their favorite communicator. The pressures of local preachers for quality communication are being felt all over the country because of the well polished messages of the prominent. Consequently, preachers are mimicking verbiage, hand gestures, tonation, and even full messages of the most prominent preachers of evangelicalism. Some prominent preachers even sell sermon kits that includes a preaching manuscript. I see this effect all over the country; camps, churches, conventions, etc... It can be scary how easily this phenomenon can be ascertained while listening to even a brief part of a message. Every preacher has a personalized signature to their message. Here are a list of the prominent preachers that many of you have seen mimicked:
John Piper
Francis Chan
Mark Driscoll
Rob Bell
Andy Stanley
Louie Giglio
Erwin McManus
Ed Young Jr.
I have already seen some up and coming preachers mimicked such as:
Steven Furtick
Perry Noble
David Platt
Matt Chandler
I’m not saying it is bad at all to be influenced by these speakers. However, this craze has homogenized verbage, sermon structuring, hand gestures, theology, tonation, and sermons in ways none of history has recorded. What is the effect? Homogenization leading to a loss in God given individuality, critical thought, sermon preparation, creativity, and ultimately, the Holy Spirit’s leading. These are just a few of the short term effects.
Chad, interesting thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI think anything can be abused. This does fit in that category. I think it is a problem that has been around long before podcasts. But the standards were lower. Having high standards should challenge, but it does not always work that way.
I am weekly preaching now, I am learning more from some of these guys through podcasts than i did in preaching class in seminary. Honestly, the key is to truly see what is great about what one does and not just follow hype. (Not embrace their weaknesses too). I think someone should be so original that their influences are noticeable but who they are as a communicator is so personal and uniquely theirs. I would love to see seminary preaching classes use podcasts to teach how to preach. But they should have been on that boat 5 years ago.
Andy Atkinson
Good Word Bro. You are right that anything can be abused and this problem has been around for a while. i.e. Adrian Rogerites, Billy Graham etc.. I think podcasts are the new radio, tv for the evangelicalism world.
ReplyDeleteI think you are on to something when you use the term hype. We are a people of hype. i.e Purpose Driven Life, The shack, Fireproof, the passion of the Christ, and the list goes on. THe problem with hype is that is is inevitable to fade away.
I've been on the podcasting boat for a long time now and continue to listen on my commute to work; They are complimentary to my studies and make me envy the insight some of my brothers in christ have into the WOrd. However, My prayer is to never allow the podcasts to take the place of my personal studies in allowing God Himself to enlighten innovative thought through illustrations, stories, etc... and primarily being sensitive to His Spirit's leading..
I think it would be a great learning experience for preaching profs to require seminarians to listen to podcasts in order to critique and learn.
Chad-Well said and you are right about the
ReplyDeletedanger of abuse and the loss of originality.
I do listen to different podcasts to avoid the temptation
to mimic and balance what I hear. I caught myself
listening to too much Andy Stanley and could see patterns
of speech of mine that were identical.
Tim Keller said in one podcast that if you read or
listen to only a few people you are a clone. If you read or
listen to 100 you are just beginning to find your voice.
Now I don't have the time or ability to do that but
his point is well made.
I started preaching by doing what I heard others
do on the radio-AM!!!-and thought I had to do it just like
them. Then Joel Gregory came along and I thought I had
to have a deep voice like him. I soon learned that I had to
find my voice.
I thank you for nailing a very critical issue and
calling us to be accountable for finding the voice
God has given us.
Bruce Tippit
Ha.. I think we've all sounded like Andy Stanley at some point in time...
ReplyDeleteKeller said more in one quote what took me a blog to write about.
At any rate, It's comforting that I'm not the only crazy out there that hears the voices of the prominent in the voice of the "not-so" prominent. BTW, I haven't heard you preach very much, to my own detriment, but I haven't heard Andy come out of you just so ya know; He sure does sneak out of me sometimes:
Appreciate what you do.