On June 17, I presented part one of this series in which I wrote…

“Unless the Church redefines how she understands and uses this medium, television preaching may (in the long-run) do more harm than good for the spread of the gospel.”

I return to the subject today to present the two more reasons televised preaching poses a threat to worldwide evangelism.

Televised preaching robs legitimate missionary endeavors of necessary funds.

Every dollar spent producing a televised sermon is a dollar taken from legitimate disciple-making endeavors throughout the world. The multi-million-dollar television production that supports many of these “ministries” could fund thousands of missionaries. The half-baked pleas offering a cheesy trinket in exchange for a monetary gift or seed included in these broadcast “ministries” disgraces the gospel and diverts resources from more effective ministry efforts.

Furthermore, the poor stewardship of televised preaching ministries is growing as the production costs of these programs increase. The obsession with production quality contradicts the argument that television is simply a medium for communicating a gospel that is simple and powerful. The message of the gospel is not enhanced by increased graphical creativity; rather these expensive elements distract from the gospel’s simplicity and rob even more money from legitimate missionary endeavors.

Televised preaching does not plant churches.

The first disciples used one primary technique to fulfill Jesus’ Commission: plant churches. From Jesus’ ascension to the close of the New Testament, the first missionaries would enter a town, share the gospel, and start a local church. Televised preaching ministries are incapable of following the most basic New Testament pattern for spreading the gospel.

Follow our money and you will always find our treasure. From our spending it seems many have forgotten that disciples have been and always will be made through personal investment.