Certainly there's room for "high energy" games in youth ministry. It's just that I worry about what we've done in making it about the high energy games (and assorted sugary snacks). There's no way to transition, because we told the kids that the high-energy experience was "it." Shame on us, really.

Advertising a Halo tournament is going to get people out to play Halo, no doubt - but kids can spot a "bait and switch" a mile away and they're not going to react well to it.

On the other hand, as an occasional thing, not to "attract new people" but just as a way of reaffirming our bonds together in a completely light environment, I have no problems with video games. Actually, we're doing a wii bowling tournament later this month (and I can foresee doing Mario Kart or even Pokemon Battle Revolution for younger kids in the future). We've also done Super Bowl Parties the last couple of years at my house, just for the sheer joy of being together.

Have to say we've got some experience with this (not with Halo) but with the "come in and hang out" mode of youth group. We got kids off the street, they came a played pool, ping-pong, air hockey, and they brought their ps2 to play guitar hero....and there was not way to transition - by the end of the night the kids (all boys) were hyped-up, distracted, and unable to focus. This is partly due to the kids we've had coming (it's an odd crew), but I've also go to the point that this approach doesn't "work," as it just ends up being a "bait and switch" that the kids (middle schoolers) end up seeing right through.

First off, thank you for presenting in my adolescent culture class today. Your discussion was very interesting and I can't wait to page through your book. As for this post, I work as a sound and light tech in Benson Great Hall (Bethel University’s main auditorium and worship space) and it’s a daily battle for us as technicians to figure out what enhances the experiences and what is simply technology for technology sake.

This year, Bethel has decided to revamp it’s weekly chapels to include more colored lights, video backdrops, and a set for each chapel. Essentially upgrading the ministry to the latest technology. The desire for the change was to try and get more students to attend chapel. By changing the look and feel of chapel, the Campus Ministry hope was to make chapel feel more like the church’s Students attend. On the surface this is great, facility trying to make worship experiences relevant for students is awesome. However, boiling this idea down, it seems to me, that this experience is a simple economic transaction. Is this what the Christian worship experience always ends up being? Does our desire for change and technology drive our worship churches to fall into a trap of loving money?

Thats probably true with the technology of our age. We are changing the way we think. According to Ellul, we have become visual thinkers, processing everything from love and war to grace and salvation from a visual perspective. As a result, we should be aware that, if we want to educate people and move people, we probably need to include the visual--whether it be through sermon stories or videos.

You're right, though, it takes intentionality--thinking through why we are using the tools we have.

Thanks for your insight!! It really makes me stop and think if I am being intentional about the media I use with my students.

I appreciate how you didn't automatically assume that technology automatically make God less visible - just that the potential is there every bit as much as in a Church where the mystery of God seems to have been forgotten in the midst of "well I like those old hymns, they make me feel good."

When I talk to people about making use of technology in worship I always do it from an Ancient-Future perspective. Technology can't be allowed to replace the mystery of encountering God in the liturgy of worship - but it can be used to connect to people who are used to seeing things "on-screen," while simultaneously leading people into the contemplation of the mystery of God.

The problem is, using technology this way takes thought, reflection, and work - and the local church has been in the mode of "practical" and "keeping the doors open" for so long that it's like breaking a drug-addiction to shepherd folks in that direction (whether technologically dead, or thriving).