FILO: Advent for the Church Technical ArtistНамуна

Today, we are looking at a passage from Isaiah, chapter 2, verses 1-5.

This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:

In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established

as the highest of the mountains;

it will be exalted above the hills,

and all nations will stream to it.

Many peoples will come and say,

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,

to the temple of the God of Jacob.

He will teach us his ways,

so that we may walk in his paths.”

The law will go out from Zion,

the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

He will judge between the nations

and will settle disputes for many peoples.

They will beat their swords into plowshares

and their spears into pruning hooks.

Nation will not take up sword against nation,

nor will they train for war anymore.

Come, descendants of Jacob,

let us walk in the light of the Lord.

I don’t know about you, but do you ever find yourself in a place where you put technology over God? Sometimes, even if we have the sincerest of hearts, we can make technology an idol. I serve in a place with a lot of resources and a lot of gear. I have sometimes thought, ”Man, when these JDCs hit, everyone is going to get saved.” Or “This L’Acoustics PA has to be what Jesus uses in Heaven.”

But the reality is that all the gear, all the sweet reverb, and all the crazy, incredible reverse camera shots will save no one. Only the Gospel of Jesus Christ can save. Verse 2 says: “The mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.” The Lord reigns over all. Our role in production is to use audio, video, and lighting to point people to Jesus. The Gospel of Jesus doesn’t need a clever chase or perfectly wet reverb. It stands on its own.

As you enter this second week of Advent, ask the Lord, is production your mountain or is the Gospel?

- Jeremy Van Valkenburg