You might get the impression from this site that I watch a lot of television.  Truth is I don’t own one.  I watch DVDs now and then, but don’t have a TV.  Anyway, the analogy of film or TV is helpful as we consider ways to improve our communication of God’s Word.  Let me suggest one issue worth considering – perspective.

If you ever watch an old show or movie from the fifties, it will feel quite stilted and unreal now.  The fixed position camera observed all the action and conversation in the room, but essentially didn’t move very much.  Today camera work is so different.  Moving positions, wide and narrow lenses, changing speeds, even filming within the consciousness of characters (dreams, memories, fears, etc.)  Human consciousness is much more complex than the old fixed camera angle allowed.

Whether the contemporary approach merely reflects the complexity of human consciousness or a if actually it reflects changes in human consciousness (in an age where a fixed perspective on the world is shunned), well, that can be a discussion starter to keep up your sleeve in case you need it.  But a point to ponder right now is this – do we as preachers communicate in a way that feels stilted, stuck and so 1950’s?  Or are we able to adapt our presentation to vary the perspective, delve into various realms of human consciousness, intriguing and engaging as we go?  The Bible provides great variety of perspective, emotion, awareness, intrigue, and so on.  Do we do justice to that, or do we stultify it into a predictably unchanging perspective?