The Allurement of Imagery

The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic, and cultural conditions of the times. This began a major shift in human history, especially in Europe and North America. And somewhere after 1850, that same Revolution took another quantum leap with the combustible engine and the spread of electrical power. And during the 1800s the camera began to emerge with still photographs.
Later on came color photography, and in the late 1800s the first movie camera was used, and today, with all the upgrades and added features, the video cameras and television cameras present images that are almost perfect. Combined with different angles, special features, and clever editing many times what comes into our homes seems almost like being there.
Now before all this took place preachers could only reach those within the sound of their voice or those to whom they could provide their writings, provided they could or would read. And those preachers who moved crowds had to either have the anointing of God upon their lives, or they had to have an unusual oratorical prowess. But times have drastically changed.
No longer does anyone have to have a call upon their lives, much less an anointing upon their ministry. Through the miracle of technology the masses are now affected and influenced by the power of a superior media that presents people in an imaginary light and which covers their humanity and enhances every area of their image. It also magnifies their communication skills, and replaces anointing with a fictional abstraction. In short, it is masterful way in which people are manipulated and controlled.
And “poof!”, you have the modern day Christian television phenomenon. This is now the genre where equipment is the essential and not the message. The most egregious misrepresentation of the gospel can be presented to millions of people and it can and does elicit a following as well as generous financial support. But had the preacher been dressed modestly and without makeup or background music or carefully edited testimonies by some of his followers, well then the outcome would be substantially different.
Hollywood realizes the power of imagery and perception. The rallies at Nuremburg were great examples of manipulation through imagery and visual pageantry. And the church has learned well from the world and now incorporates these techniques and reaches through the television screen to capture people’s minds and open their pocketbooks. Millions of people surrender their minds to the allurement of religious falsehoods showcased in an atmosphere of theatrical exploitation led by air brushed thespians.
It is this kind of technology that the enemy has used most effectively to gain the hearts and minds of shallow believers and religious minded unbelievers. The eye gate seems to be the most prominent of all the senses and when it is compromised, most of the time the heart and mind follow.
Matt.6:22-23 - The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
And this kind of deception plays right into this modern day technological fairy tale. Instead of Biblical truth and the Person of Christ being the captivating power, it is now the production expertise. And all it takes is a one hour or even a one half hour skillful production and many minds have been led into the abyss, albeit with wonderful color and timely close ups as well as enticing words of men’s wisdom.
And the false teacher makes false promises and portrays God as sitting back and waiting for your monetary offering before he will grant you your earthly wish. That isn’t God, that is the money changer that Christ abhorred and whose tables He overturned. And though these heretics make such outlandish and Scripturally vacuous statements, the cinematography and overall theatrical production overwhelms people’s senses which dulls the spirit, excites the flesh, and leads them astray.
And voilà! You have the western evangelical church that follows man and the culture in which it lives. Who, in years passed, would have ever dreamed that preachers would teach that God wants His followers rich, and that the way to that wealth is to give to men? No one would have believed such a thing! But technology has replaced spirituality; accumulation has replaced sacrifice; self esteem has replaced humility; and imagery has replaced authenticity.

The Industrial Revolution was supposed to be used to spread the gospel.

It wasn’t supposed to replace the gospel.