Back in the 1980s, the consumer technology company Memorex aired a commercial featuring singer Ella Fitzgerald. The central question of the campaign was, “Is it live, or is it Memorex?”. The point was to demonstrate that Memorex’s recorded audio was so faithful to the original that it was difficult to tell the difference. While the ad was a commercial success, it poses a spiritual question for the church today: Are we hearing the real word of God, or something that just sounds like it?

The pursuit of perfection
Memorex’s business was making recordings that sounded so perfect, they were indistinguishable from a live performance. In today’s church culture, there is often a similar, though perhaps subconscious, focus on perfection. We want flawless services, dynamic speakers, and engaging programs. We work hard to fill the seats and create an atmosphere that makes people want to come back. But is this polished and professional presentation a perfect recording, or is it the raw, authentic Word of God?

What are people really hearing?
The Bible is clear: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17 NKJV). If faith is built on the Word, then the content of what is heard is of supreme importance. It’s not enough for the message to be entertaining, inspirational, or even just good. It must be the truth of God’s Word, and it must be applied faithfully.

But if the focus shifts from preaching God’s Word to drawing a crowd, the message can be subtly altered. It can become a self-help seminar, a life-coaching session, or a feel-good talk that avoids challenging truths. When this happens, the message might sound right—like a perfect Memorex recording—but it lacks the power and authority of the original source.

The call to authenticity
This isn’t to say that churches should be poorly run or lack creativity. But it does challenge us to examine the priorities behind our methods. Are we more concerned with filling seats or with faithfully proclaiming the truth of God? Are we afraid that the unadulterated message will be too offensive, too difficult, or too counter-cultural for people to hear?.

The power to change hearts doesn’t come from a polished presentation; it comes from the Holy Spirit working through the Word of God. When parishioners hear the authentic Word, they hear the voice of Christ. And that is what builds faith. We must always ask ourselves, both in the pulpit and in the pew: Is it live, or is it just a recording?

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 2:29 NKJV)

Thank you for your continued readership and support. Until next week…Blessings and Peace!

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