“If It’s Christian, It Ought To Be Better”
This phrase can often be overheard at my alma mater – Liberty University – originating from the late founder of LU, Jerry Falwell. It’s funny how quotes can get stuck in your mind and come to mean something for you in another environment than it was originally given. I have been involved in church media for years, and this quote has always resonated with me to pursue excellence in all that I do.
I’m not saying we should focus on lording over other churches and ministries with arrogance. It’s not about beating the competition. It’s about finding the greatest potential within our own creative teams. And at the end of the day, people’s time and attention is given to the highest bidder. Why do we settle for mediocre in church media and programming?
The message is absolutely essential, but so is the medium in which it is given. I have been to a countless number of services and programs that are subpar at best. I have been on staff at a church where our programming shortcomings were regularly evident and I dreaded giving lame excuses.
Often people will argue: “We just don’t have the manpower”, “The budget doesn’t allow for it”, “That’s not our focus”, “We don’t want to be performance driven”, or my personal favorite, “This is church, not MTV”.
Yes. They’re right. This isn’t MTV. But we have talents, skill sets, and creative minds that can work together to produce quality church programming. We also live in a time where technology is readily available online, giving us access to content, tips, and information that can empower us to create amazing services and experiences within ministry that is better.
Being better is not about outperforming “the other guys down the road”. It’s about challenging each other to strive for excellence. It’s about that iron sharpening iron that leads to higher quality. How do you think we have the technological innovations that we do? Apple and Samsung lock horns to strive to be the best in their industry and a byproduct of that is innovation and quality products that people want to have. Can you imagine the potential when churches truly aspire to be better with a Kingdom mindset? Our culture today is quick-footed and sharp to identify when they are being offered humdrum programming.
So don’t be stagnant.
Don’t settle for “getting by”.
Lead the way in creativity and be better.
We’re Christian, we ought to be.
Image from Lightstock.
Cory lives in Richmond, Virginia with his wife and 3 beautiful children. He loves getting to serve local churches and pastors in his role with Salem Church Products.
