Praise the Lord and Pass the Karaoke

Karaoke music in the church has been a topic of recent discussion. Turns out, this is a larger phenomena than I had realized.

How it works. A guy stands up in front of the congregation, guitar in hand, starts singing and suddenly a 40 piece orchestra and choir chimes in. It sounds great, but the visuals are missing. Technology will change that too. Holographics. You’ve seen Star Trek Next Gen right. It’s only a matter of time.

Do you really even need the guy standing up in front of the congregation? Nope. There is a karaoke hymn-leading machine that is being used in England. Oh, It’ll be here soon if it’s not already. I have been in some church services where the pianist, organ or whatever was so awful that “Fly Me to the Moon” on Karaoke would have been more spiritual. Bet you have too.

Now for you really traditionalist thinkers to whom this all seems so “out there”; Remember synthesizers, electronic pianos? I remember when in the late 70's First Lutheran in Fargo got one. There were people who were pretty sure that the wire from the back of that “machine” was plugged directly into the pits of Hades.

When I got saved and moved into charismatic worship the guitars were all acoustic. Fewer devils in that I guess. Then someone brought a Fender Telecaster. Yikes. Satan showed up for sure. Those were in the days when we were burning our rock records because they had satanic messages on them when you played them backwards. (Insert joke about what happens when you play a country western record backwards here). Then drums, then well, you know. It’s gone “Downhill” since. I love it.

So, get used to it. It will be better than Martha on the pump organ. I had a great time with a young man who is a worship leader in a church in Missouri last Friday night. He talked at length about the “Band in a Box”. How James Taylor uses this technology interspersed with the real people. They walk on and off but are still there. How that technology will change worship leading for years to come. He’s right you know.

Technology. It’s all the rage. Of course for those of you in ministry who read this, don’t get too comfortable. Why not Karaoke prayer or Karaoke sermons. I mean think of the money we could save.

From the article:

Even so, clergy might want to be forewarned: Among the Hymnal Plus' many talents is the ability to lead a congregation in prayer and in recorded sermons via an electronic voice box.

Ah yes, I can see it all now, it’s 2010. Sunday Morning. Mom, Dad and the kids all put on their IPOD’s and get down together in virtual worship. No getting dressed up for church, no $5 per gallon gas wasted. It’ll be so efficient. Or maybe Holodeck Worship. How long before you can find yourself at Crystal Cathedral in the front row holographically, or Lakewood, or Bishop Jakes Potters House.

Boogie down and never leave your couch.

I’ve always said that ministry would be much easier if we didn’t have to deal with people. (for those of you who are humorless, that’s a joke man).

Maybe we don’t if it all becomes virtual and electronic.

Is that better?

HMMM.