WHAT ABOUT USING PROJECTORS IN WORSHIP?

Mr. Waddey:

I am curious about your understanding of scripture on something that most congregations are doing these days; which is the large projection system in the worship. It is used to show the lyrics to songs and make announcements and sermon outlines. The problem I'm having with it is "background music" while showing videos (example: a youth mission trip). To me it seems to be the same as "solos." The only scriptural examples we have of singing are congregational. If one could allow unscriptural "solos," how could one oppose an instrument? Another problem is "clip art" added to announcements. How could one not put an Easter bunny? B. Ridgeway

Dear Bro. Ridgeway:   As we face the challenge of those who wish to remodel the church and create for themselves a new kind of denominational church that pleases them, we must be careful to discern that which is a harmless change of no consequence and those changes that would be contrary to the will of the Master.

The use of a projector to place the words of hymns before a congregation is in the first category.  While the Bible instructs us to sing and make melody in our hearts, it says nothing about song-leaders, songbooks, harmony and how we determine the correct pitch for a given melody.  These are all in the area of human judgment and expediency.  If we are to sing together, we need someone to lead us in so doing.  If we are to sing with any degree of pleasure and beauty we must sing in a key that is suitable.  If we are to sing as a group we all need access to the words of the hymn.  Early Christians had no hymnals such as we are accustomed to.  Even our early brethren here in America did not have hymn books with the musical notations.  Early song books had only the words of the songs.  Projecting the words is a relatively new practice but it violates no principle of Scripture. While a person may not personally care for this method, he should not condemn those who use it since they are doing essentially the same thing as we do with our hymn books.

As to the use of clip art when projecting announcements, so long as the art is not objectionable in its very nature (such as vulgarity), it would be no different from the use of illustrations in our church bulletins or bulletin boards or the preacher using a verbal illustration in his sermons.  If you have been in the church very long you likely have seen and heard sermons where the preacher used visual aids in making his points.

As to the background music with visual presentations, I am not sure I understand exactly the kind of situation you are describing.  If an assembly has worshiped God with its congregational singing, there would be no harm in seeing slides or a video that provides sound Biblical teaching and information about the Lord's work.  I prefer that such materials use congregational type singing for background.  In so doing no questions can be raised.  In days past our people were conscientious to do things that way.