What Netflix, YouTube and iPods Teach Us About the Future of the Church

Last updated on: May 25, 2016 at 6:09 am by Josh Daffern

What Netflix, YouTube and iPods Teach Us About the Future of the Church 2016-05-25T06:09:47-06:00 Josh Daffern

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

www.wikipedia.com

If I were an executive at a major network (NBC, ABC, CBS, etc.), I would be scared to death right now. There is a massive sea change happening in the world of entertainment consumption, and the entertainment world as we know it is tilting on its axis. I grew up in a day and age where kids piled up in front of the tv on Saturday mornings to watch cartoons in the living room. The cartoons, the networks, and the location of the television dictated when and where and what I could watch.

Now the entertainment world is fundamentally different. My four children don’t need to watch actual television anymore. They would rather watch programming on their iPod Touches. And what’s scarier for the major networks, they’d rather watch YouTube or Netflix. They have no idea what NBC, ABC, or CBS is. And this is the biggest generation that America has ever seen. The entertainment industry is fundamentally changing as we speak, although the full effects won’t be felt for another decade. Now it’s important to remember that the core of the industry remains the same: delivering entertainment to the masses. It’s just the medium that is transforming.

Churches, especially established churches, should take note of the next generation rising up. Stats have shown for years that established/mainline denominations and churches have been losing the younger generation at a cataclysmic rate. They’re (in this illustration) the major networks, enjoying decades of success and growth but now seeing their very foundations eroding.

The need for spirituality hasn’t diminished any more than the desire for entertainment. People are just finding spirituality (and entertainment) in different places. It’s why Netflix drove Blockbuster Video out of business. The medium of entertainment changed, and Blockbuster didn’t adapt. In another twenty years, tens of thousands of established churches (Blockbusters) will shut their doors once the aging populations that are keeping them afloat die off. The core of Christianity (Jesus Christ) will always remain the same, but the medium will look different for this next generation. New churches, non-denominational churches, modern churches are the Netflixes, YouTubes and iPods of the new church world.

We may not like it. We may deny it. Like VHS salesmen, we may be pining for the day when everyone comes to their senses and flocks back into established churches. But it’s not going to happen. Every time I see my kid fire up YouTube Kids for a few minutes of entertainment on their iPod touch, I’m reminded that this generation consumes entertainment in a fundamentally different way than I did.

How they pursue spirituality will be fundamentally different as well. It’s incumbent upon us as churches and Christians to meet them where they are and point them to Jesus.

Previous Post

May 23, 2016

Chewbacca Masks and the Triumph of Joy

Next Post

June 1, 2016 5 Ways to Bring Fun Back to Church

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Family Matters Ministry in the Trenches Morning Brew MTVpastor New Wineskins Top Menu Truth from Life Uncategorized Watch Sermons

Select a Month June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does "Absalom" mean in Hebrew?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Father of Peace God is My Strength Mighty Warrior Son of Righteousness