EPIC Faith

In “The Gospel According to Starbucks” by Leonard Sweet the often lyrical Sweet suggests a vibrant Christian life is EPIC.

Experiental, Participartory, Image-rich and Connective

I can’t really think of four terms that better describe the current scene in social networking and how new technology can lift the church. Take Spring Hill for example:

• The web, the use of video sermons and the many different multi-site settings all set an experience for those in worship and fellowship.

• Missions and community events build participation (not to mention the many weekly service opportunities).

• The logo of family embraced by a heart (at least that is what I see) builds an image that is lasting in conveying the heart of Spring Hill and Christ.

• And finally the very real connections with faith and each other built through all of the above.

But how can technology take it even further? Well, look at any popular community site from YouTube to MySpace. Say what you want, they define an experience. With community content they are clearly participatory.  And check that friend list — connections are made every day across the technical frontier.  And how do images make it onto MySpace?  Often in the form of a PhotoBucket widget.  Yes, see Photobucket — a site dedicated to images (literally).

Not convinced how this can all be used in the pursuit of EPIC faith…see GodSpace for hands-on Christian social-networking.  (Simply check the YouTube video — user contributed no doubt — full of images and smack on the front page of a site dedicated to participation and connection in the faith space).

A couple of flat screens can project the images of Christian hope, simple lighting control can shape a mood in worship and here in this very blog you can add your comments and participate in the conversation of how today’s church reaches the Netster generation and beyond.  Connecting your thoughts in comment through the blogoshpere and into ministry action.

Think about it…the youth in your congregation don’t pass notes anymore — texting is faster!  They don’t read the web, they create it in community and images (24×7 tapestries of art, music, video — all on the nearest cell phone).  Will Spring Hill go EPIC with the effective and powerful use of media and technology as it proclaims the Truth (capital T) of Christ?  The church clearly has nothing to fear and everything to gain by extending community through “the network” that surrounds us.  As the printing press made the Bible available to virtually all — today’s connected communities accelerate the church’s ability to communicate the message of Christ (or the message against the truth).

What are your ideas for engaging in an EPIC faith?