What would be some legitimate reasons for someone to buy and watch a video of a worship service from five years ago? I can think of a few.
1. Mere anthropology.
2. Liturgical interest.
3. Instruction in playing the music. A video hymnal, if you will.
...
Can't think of any others. Are any of these represented by a significant percentage of the consumers of these products?
Excursus: Some might answer "So I can worship along at home." This is not a "legitimate reason," in my opinion, because as a son of the Reformation I reject the idea of the private Mass. Also, the use of the video as a devotional tool would seem to be equally questionable in that the videography itself would be a distraction, at least as edited in common usage.
1 comment:
i agree with your assessment of the nature of "watching" a video to take part in a worship service. the best excuse for a dvd of a worship service would be archival or memorial.
unless it is a static camera that simply kept a recorded account of the service, there would be some sort of fancy editing involved to enhance the enjoyment of the watcher. although that, in and of itself, is not wrong, it leans more toward entertainment than worship.
not to mention, the lone ranger christian at home in his tighty whities, sitting on his couch watching a prerecorded worship service is not a valid form of worship. (just paraphrasing your private mass comment)
Post a Comment