Wouldn't consider it for regular preaching. I'd think the coolness of the tech wold be the point of attention, not the message given.

Would DEFINATELY consider using it for drama productions. How cool wold it be to have Jesus actually suddenly appear among the disciples toward the end of your Easter production?!?

Personally, I'm amazed and excited about the things technology is enabling us to do. I love the idea of holograms, and how we could utilize them.

But I'm a little uncertain about the necessity of them at this point. Do we really NEED a hologram of a pastor who is preaching to ten different campuses? I've seen and been a part of too many churches that don't use their resources wisely. While the price of a hologram thingamabob might be rapidly declining, does that mean we should get one? That's like justifying the $300 shopping spree you went on by informing everyone that you actually saved another $300. It doesn't matter, you still spent $300 on things you probably didn't NEED anyway. This principle could and SHOULD be applied to every area of our lives, so I know I'm singling it out to just one for the sake of the argument. Either way, I think it still stands as a reasonable argument to have made.

I guess my point in all of this is to ask, "What value will a hologram really add to our worship experience?"

Again, please don't confuse me with someone who doesn't appreciate technology. I LOVE it!

But holograms? To quote Seth and Amy, "Really?!?!"

"That's like justifying the $300 shopping spree you went on by informing everyone that you actually saved another $300. It doesn't matter, you still spent $300 on things you probably didn't NEED anyway." Jared, you sound like a typical man who will never understand the importance of sales and saving money, much less understanding the need for a new purse and shoes (which in addition to being on sale match at least three of my outfits). May God bless you with many daughters!

I thought this was an early April Fools' joke, Url.

church-stuff-theology-incarnate aside.

that is just CREEPY.

Just think of the implications for Transfiguration Sunday...

Another stupid trend that many seeker-sensitive, wealthy suburban, and trendy/hip churches will blindly waste their money on while their neighbors go without food for another day.

This feels sad to me. Are we so poor at discipleship that we can no longer raise up preacher/pastors and are required to "virtually" use the select few?

However, I do think that it could be useful in the dramatic arts.

In Woody Allen's "Purple Rose of Cairo" Mia Farrow's character remarks "I just met a wonderful new man. He's fictional but you can't have everything."

With remote campuses and next this, our churches are becoming these sorts of cults of personality, will it be any wonder if congregants develop all the neuroses of characters in a Woody Allen movie?

Don't worry people, hopefully by the time the trendy, wealthy church down the stree purchases one of these devices, that church will be nearly empty because most of the believers will have tired of their church "leadership" wasting their energy chasing the next big thing and will actually seek out other churches that stick to the basics of the faith.

I seem to remember how NBC News made itself
look quite ridiculous when it used holograms
during coverage of the 2008 Presidential election.
So we should follow their example?

Who is Andy Stanley?

Holograms?
Really?
What are we...disney world, now?

I'm all for church being the happiest place on earth, but really...holograms...isn't there something better to do with your church budget besides...holograms.

Well, on a side note...I guess it does take "transparency" to a whole new level.../facepalm

This would be fantastic...if preaching could be divorced from the audience.

Yep, let's spend more money to keep attracting people into our oversized multi-million dollar buildings ... sounds perfect America!

I know that some churches are running around trying to do everything imaginable to bring people in...I mean...win people for Christ. BUT! There are many MANY people out there in the world who can't stand many of today's churches because they spend so much money on techno-crap and huge auditoriums (all in the name of relevancy) instead of using said money for stuff that actually matters. When is this kind of garbage going to stop?!?!? Just because something is cool doesn't mean the church has to latch onto it. I earn a good deal of money at my job, and I have the spiritual gift of giving. HOWEVER, I will NEVER give my money to such stupid and silly endeavors!!!

The Western Church has so much to answer for...

at some point our cool needs to be traded for the true cost of discipleship.

You are the Church!
Robert Angison

Hologram guy looks like George Carlin. Now that could get a crowd on Sunday.

Ken Eastburn
"This would be fantastic...if preaching could be divorced from the audience."

It's too late. Preaching has been divorced from the audience ever since it was defined as requiring pulpits and one-way communication- centuries ago. People like the divorce (non-mutuality and 0% personal expression between clergy and laity during the "worship hour") Clergy like the paycheck and pedestalized power. The divorce has been redefined as "God's plan for church". In terms of the quality of relationship God designed for His people, a live lecturer and a hologram image are virtually the same thing. They both dumb-down God's brand of intimacy (incarnation) to a mediocre version.

Hey you "church leaders" -
Don't get this technological garbage in your church. Sure you may think you are being trendy, hip, using whatever means necessary to bring people into your church...I mean...bring people to Christ, but this is a waste time and money. Like someone said previously, in this world the gap between the rich and poor is widening. Churches that spend tons of money on silly things like this need to be WISE UP!

How has the church survived for so long without this technology? We need this asap so that we can keep the drumbeat of our self-importance going!!! I say we establish a foundation to fund churches without the necessary resources so that God can be praised in every place in this new and astounding progress of the church.

I do not even have the words to be honest with you. I know in the community I serve in (Downriver Detroit) - video teaching is a very hard sell. I know it works in other areas of the country and even in other area's of Detroit. On the one hand - this will work better than preaching on a video screen in my community. The on the other hand - you cannot have personal contact with your church family. Life change happens best in the context of a relationship! I am still have no words. But I am open enough to know that if this works to build the kingdom - then all praise be to the Lord. Amazing!

Light saber included or no deal.

Yeah we could then give away light sabers as a promo for the new sermon series, "The Force be with You."

As this technology advances and becomes cheaper for the average person - we can then just stay home every Sunday and have holograms of ourselves in the seats of the church buildings watching the hologram preacher. It will be great!

Now there's an idea.

Some good aspects of technology are used in church.

Occasionally I think it harms things more than helps. Hologram AND video preaching appears to me to be more harmful than helpful.

Partly because of the lack of audience connection but actually there's a more serious issue to consider! http://www.paulgardner.info/christianity/the-real-problem-with-multi-site-churches/

...and your seminary diploma will come complete with your own avatar....

"The technology uses past recordings of Ebert's voice to construct a digital replication. Whatever he types is read aloud by the computer in a voice remarkably like his own. "

Yes, that is good, but herein is the difference...the technology helps overcome a permament disability for the individual, it is not a replacement of that individual...as opposed to the issue of succession which you mention in the next paragraph.

And herein is the key to technology...when we replace the person with technology, we replace the human element of our interactions, so I'm not versed in the psychology of isolationism, but I'm willing to bet that it is not good or encouraging.

Awesome.

Url: Could we please talk about stuff that matters here? I'm bored.

No doubt a number of churches that can afford it will adopt it. I think it will continue to fuel the Millenial exodus from evangelicalism to Orthodoxy and Catholicism. It will be seen in time as profoundly inauthentic and as the departure from true apostolic Christianity that it is. Good luck.

I could understand the sentiments of those who are opposed to things that are new. When the Wright Brothers dreamed of building an airplane, their father who's a pastor said, "Flying is for angels!" Thank God they didn't listen to their dad. When personal computers were first introduced in the market, many spurned. They thought that it could be the beginning of the rule of the Antichrist. Decades after, virtually, all churches across America use computers. Who would argue today that computers are basically and inherently evil? John Piper is opposed to videos and things like that. But even his messages are being recorded on cam. Back in the 40's some fire and brimstone preachers cried that TV's are instruments of hell, until Billy Graham came. As for Holograms, I wouldn't throw a punch at churches who might wanna use it. Some use their money to buy food for the homeless. Others have enough money to improve their facility for the convenience of their congregants. Both are good if they are done with the right motive and for the right reasons. The glory of God and the salvation of man should be the penultimate concern, as always!

Jojo, it's not about opposing things that are new or throwing punches at churches that want to use technology. It's about examining the way we use technology through a biblical perspective. You say that using holograms is good if done with the right motive and for the right reason. But what WOULD be the right reason? So that one preacher can preach to several congregations simultaneously, but in 3-D as opposed to on a screen? But if each congregation were to have a team of elders properly trained to preach, that would eliminate that reason. What others are there?

I personally think we have too few preachers in our churches today. We've blurred the distinction between preaching (proclaiming) and teaching (instructing). No doubt there is a good amount of overlap in each. Yet I find it interesting that in the Gospels--notably in Matthew--the disciples begin preaching early on in their time with Jesus, but they are not commanded to teach until they are given the Great Commission, after the resurrection and shortly before they are to receive the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The fact that the disciples were less experienced when they began preaching leads me to believe that it does not require the same level of preparation and training as it does to teach. Notice I did NOT say it didn't require preparation and training, just not as much as it requires for teaching.

The point I'm trying to make is that I think we've elevated preaching to some sort of specialized activity that can only be done by full-time pastors. Now, I am in no way against full-time pastors. I am one myself. But it is my conviction that it is unhealthy for a church for the preaching to be dominated by the pastor. Surely God can raise up a team of preachers in any sized congregation, if they are given the opportunity to preach.

This is so far beyond our thinking that we can't even imagine the potential practical applications. I'm sure believers were negative about Christian radio, TV, casette tapes, movies, fiction, etc. But it's too early to rush to judgment -- don't put God in a box.

Jaime, I think the difference between hologram preachers and the things you site (radio, TV etc.) is that those were not substitutes for the local church in terms of a preacher who knows their church, making eye contact, dialoguing afterwards and the functions of a local worship gatherings. Those were all supplements to the local worship gathering. So it is really entirely different catagories from the examples you raised to this. If you scan and search this blog, read some of Bob Hyatt's thoughts on video venues and he raises up issues to read about.

3D Glasses and Moon Dust

Having just visited an IMAX theater in Florida, watching the lunar explorers walk on the moon, I appreciated the extra-sensory and visual elements of "visiting the moon" in 3D. I could almost smell the moon dust on my shoes as I took off my 3D glasses.

In the 21st Century more of our movies are now released in 3D (i.e. Avatar, Alice in Wonderland), a further sign of the times of technological advance. Media is being harnessed to further touch the senses in efforts to further reach the soul -- offering us in evangelical circles both incredible challenge and yet opportunity.

As to the growing 3D and "holographic adventure" now upon us technologically, we need to first remind ourselves that God is the God of infinite creativity. We also need to anchor all on the foundation that God has made man in his own image, establishing this world for man to use for His glory (Gen. 1:26-28; Rom. 8:18-28).

Yet it is also here that we must tremble. Our human story from the beginning is one of contrast: the same human technology for building a tower in Babel is harnessed to also build the Ark for the Family of Faith (Gen. 6-8). We are too reminded by Jesus, that the wheat and weeds often grow together (Matthew 13:24-42).

What shall we say then towards 3D and now holographic elements in Christian preaching, theater and worship?!!! If God has given us minds to use for his glory in the most creative of ways, then at first we cry a "why not?" or even more strongly: "most certainly!". God is the God who created our senses, visual delights to touch our senses. It is then we remember that God is a God of the senses. Our God is the God of Mexican Jalapenos, Thai peppers and Indian Curry. God is God of Persian Peacocks, South American Toucans, African Zebra and tall Golden Giraffe. God is the Great Communicative God that approves the rich banquet feast of the senses for married couples in celebratory love (Song of Songs 3:6 - 5:2). Cinnamon and spice, Chocolate is also nice -- it is all meant to be for the glory of God.

As to such increased visual elements, God is the God that meets us in lightning and thunder, clouds of smoke and pillars of fire at Sinai, just as in the quiet desert places. Images of the Throne Room (Isaiah 6, Ezekiel 1; Revelation 4, 5) are rich in sensory display. As to worship, Psalm 150 says that all instruments -- both loud and soft -- are to be used for His glory. "Let everything that hath breath, praise the Lord" is the best Christian response then to all things new. May God anoint each rising generation with a new and creative song of praise (Psalm 96:1).

Holographic communication for preachers? How about holograms for enriched global missions conferences, Christian worship and global praise events? Hill Song United can now be transported to distant lonely prayer closets in Muslim countries around the world. No matter where you are -- we are there with you. You are not alone.

But then again, may we not be as unwise.
Holograms are as digital recordings -- in the end, still fake instruments that can carry only a limited element of truth. Illusions can be addicting, a substitute for the real. And God is not the God of fake.

And this then calls us for eye-opening balance. In contrast to elements that might be used for good, I already tremble in fear for such new technological advance - fearful for how just such technology will be used by the evil one to touch our daily lives. Just as TV and internet already increase the inroads of visual addictions that challenge all our moral fiber, so disturbing visual and pornographic elements will now soon be driven to incredible new heights.

One can only soon imagine how You-tube like personal strip shows will be televised holographically in 3D fashion to home living rooms around the globe. Christian youth will be even more challenged to fight with every moral ounce of fiber to resist the rising flood of moral temptations. I can almost hear demons rise as the days of Sodom and Gomorrah are further here upon us.

Moon dust will be on our shoes.

May God give us further wisdom and grace to defeat the evil one, strength and creativity to advance the Kingdom of God.

Maranatha, come soon Lord Jesus.

- Joel Wright

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm, I see we have made it to the Far Side. I can see where the use of holograms would be a neat addition to our drama teams, but as for preaching...Heck No! Technology can be very fascinating but it can also be destructive if allowed to. Take my words at face value, I would rather have a real life preacher giving me God's Word than some holographic image. This is not how it should be at all. Hey,ask God what He thinks huh? Bet He'd say, Heck No!

The Holographic Image or ICON reminds me of a passage . . .

11 ¶ And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, [ in the form of a laser image ]
14 And DECIEVETH them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
15 And he had power to give life BIOS unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, ......

Are we to openly invite ANTICHRIST INTO THE CHURCH via technology ? A Holographic image perfectly answers to the image in Rev 13 and according to the article it can simulate the voice of a dead person , making the effect the PERFECT CON JOB on the church .

• The number of the beast is hexacoseoi-hexaconta -Hex , and every computer technician in the world knows that Hex ( short for hexidecimal ) is the data form of every computer in the world.
• Bios is computerese for Basic Input Output System the heart of every Computer’s instruction set
• Satan was always the great deceiver starting with Eve and it appears that we are to import this deception into the church too

Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a apostasy/departure first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 2Th 2:3

Thanks for shedding this light on the level of declension and apostasy of the Church

And guess what? . . . . . It is here

God Bless You

Of course Holograms are not evil or "of the devil". However, is it beneficial? And how come most of the people defending this on here are stating that it would be good to use in some drama or similar use? Holograms won't lead people to Christ. Electric guitars and snazzy production won't lead people to Christ. They may be a "gee whiz" tools, but they don't lead people to Christ (BTW I am not against technology or electric guitars - I own an American Strat myself).

Why is it that Christian/Evangelical churches are spending so much of their money and energy on "programs" and mainly youth? Since when were youth and programs the most important aspects of church life? Why are other people in the church being ignored and left out of the importance of the future of the church?

The only reason I can support the use of holograms in Church would be to hasten the return of Christ because, as Pastor Tom alluded to above, it would enable the anti-christ to truly appear before many more people. However, I will never financially support a church that decides to get one for their drama, youth program, or to enable their self-important "leader" to appear in all their satellite churches at the same time.

All the while that family down the isle in church is struggling to make ends meet...

I agree with Dan (comment March 4) who asked rhetorically "Is the church incapable of raising up real pastors/teachers?"

"Are we to openly invite ANTICHRIST INTO THE CHURCH via technology ? A Holographic image perfectly answers to the image in Rev 13 and according to the article it can simulate the voice of a dead person , making the effect the PERFECT CON JOB on the church ."

There has got to be an internet maxim, like Godwin's Law, for Christians when someone ties some piece of technology or other item involved with the Church to Revelations..

Brothers and Sisters,

I'm going to tread lightly here, because history has proven time and time again how we can quickly jump to conclusions without looking at all the possibilities. In terms of technology, someone said that personal computers would never be in every home, but apparently that assumption has been put to rest, and look at video technology. Right now, video technology does a lot for those that are sick and shut-in.

Everyone has their opinion, and I respect that, but whatever can help to spread the gospel message is a plus. God Bless.

Just my personal preference, but I go to church to see, hear, and interact with real people. I would rather have an unknown humble live person up at the pulpit than even the most famous preacher or evangelist in a hologram. When a church or people become more concerned with a specific personality it seems to border on idolatry to me. The technology is fascinating, and I would enjoy a 3D hologram over a flat screen movie. I'm sure it has a place, but again I prefer person (flaws and all) over a projection for my Sunday mornings.

My church has multiple local campuses plus partner churches around the country. Holographic technology will simply take the live video feeds (and DVDs) that we currently use to a higher and more realistic level.

May God rise up more gifted preachers who actually feed those who hear them and more technologically creative geniuses who bring us the technology to continue to reach a spiritually starving world.

"My church has multiple local campuses plus partner churches around the country. Holographic technology will simply take the live video feeds (and DVDs) that we currently use to a higher and more realistic level."

For some reason, which I'm still exploring, this statement makes me sad.

Reminder for previous nay sayers:

The same "technology = ungodliness" accusations were said by fellow Christians back in the 50's about a certain 'radio' technology. They said "It's not possible for the Holy Spirit's work to be legitimized by transmitting God's word (or 'magically projected') over the air waves. What an ungodly waste of time and money!"

Thank goodness, one simple young preacher didn't listen to them. Somehow, he seemed to gain quite the momentum using this new technology. And he used it to God's advantage by regularly sharing the Gospel with such a listener response that they gave him his own radio program. It was (and still is) called "The Hour of Decision". Heard of it?

In addition to radio, this media-savvy visionary did the same to pioneer effective evangelism using other 'worldly' technologies; Television and Motion Picture mediums. In fact, his God-given preaching abilities had been in high demand throughout America and other parts of the world, simultaneously.

And, believe it or not, God DID use his ministry internationally often heard in many places at the same time. But how could that work?.. .....leading souls to Christ effectively through these 'worldly' technologies again? Although, it DID seem to offset the limitations of only being able to humanly preach at one 'live' crusade, in one place at a time.....

It did seem then, that God blessed his evangelistic efforts of BEAMING pre-recorded and 'live' broadcasts to millions and millions of people around the world, and with eternal benefits!

Hmmmmm, his vision and pursuit of using alternative technologies for God's Glory seem to still be around today. Will these same nay sayers overlook the spiritual impact of the internet as well?

Again, thank goodness Billy didn't listen to them......

"It was (and still is) called "The Hour of Decision". Heard of it?"

Nope, can't say I have.

And thank you for clarifying and supporting my contention with your apt, and very useful example.
You see Radio was/is a public domain, which means that everyone, including the godless heathens and soul-less reprobates who live outside the bible-belt, can get a taste of message via the airwaves...considering that they get a moment of need to listen to something that has never appealed to them before, tune in, and spend the time being yak'd at by a faceless voice.

But the difference here is that holograms are not being "beamed" out to the unchurched on hologram tunable stations in the car and home...unlike your example, so that means the godless heathens and soul-less reprobates would have to pack up their already disintrested backsides, go find their local church, sit through a disney like production of a topic they're genuinely not interested in, and then you got something there about technology and the unsaved.
Just imagine...if only Y'shua had waited two-thousand years to be born...all the people he could have reached by our wonderous technology...wow...just boggles the mind how the church got this far without the electronics.

Robert,

Thanks for your name-calling and lumping myself in with the other neanderthals who fear technology. We appreciate your condescension and smug attitude.

So, the voice thing so that the guy can keep communicating is awesome.

But the holograms seem off to me for anything except, like people said, dramatic production (and even then- is that really what we should be spending money on?), and maybe occasionally for other uses (depending on how small the technology becomes, maybe they could be brought to places where Christians are prevented from holding large meetings, and live too far away from each other to form small house-churches?). But as a common teaching method I don't like the idea much.

As for the idea of maintaining pastors after their death and holograms with copied voices - talk about creepy. And there are enough problems with personality cults already. Can you imagine how infatuated a congregation would have to be with their pastor to want people to create the illusion of him artificially ministering from beyond the grave? Sounds like cult-mentality and idolatry to me...

In general - holograms in ministry: no thanks. It would be pretty cool if they replaced telephones, though.

So, I'm pretty young - 17 - and I'm definitely not afraid of new technology, but I think people comparing this to airplanes and radios and television are making a mistake.

I agree that its silly to be afraid of new technology, but we have to be careful how its used. If the holograms are used like the radio and TV - to create shows people could watch at home that would minister to Christians and others - that could potentially be a great benefit (although it would have it's pitfalls - imagine 3D prosperity gospel tele-evangelists).

But thats different from using them IN church. This new technology could have great potential in sharing the Gospel OUTSIDE of our churches, but inside a church, the real face-to-face relationships can't be compromised.

I also have a problem with using this technology in worship services because it seems very sensationalist. Sensationalism like this makes people exited, but not for a genuine reason. Worship services are for worshipping God, and excitement we feel should come from that, not be artificially induced by lighting effects or holograms. I also think people become more easily fooled when a church becomes sensationalist (I'm thinking of mega-churches here). They feel moved no matter what the pastor is saying, because of the atmosphere, and then they believe him, even when they should know that what he's teaching is false. Because they feel moved, they think what they're hearing is truth. The Holy Spirit should move us in worship, not the visual effects.

So, I think the technology has awesome potential, but it shouldn't be implemented IN churches.

To all of you who are taking the "they said that about the television too" stance, imagine this:

Instead of turning up, a pastor has somebody set up speakers so the congregation can hear his radio show.

For the sermon, a screen is on the is so we can watch his someone's TV show.

Or maybe in church we could each sit in front of a computer and enjoy our own personal interactive animated lesson?

Do you see what I mean? You're right the technology has great potential, but when people say they don't want this in their churches, it's not like when they said television was evil. I think radio and television and podcasts and all of those things are great tools in spreading the Gospel, but I would be horrified to see them implemented in worship services (which is what the article proposes for the holograms). I very sincerely hope you would be too...