I seldom get truly upset these days. Age mellows you, I guess. The last several weeks, though, I have been increasingly frustrated on Sunday mornings. I have tried several different time frames from early morning to early afternoon on various local stations and satellite looking for Christian worship services that are closed captioned. During the week, you can find many Christian network programs and even on regular network programs at certain times that involve Bible teaching and Christian lifestyle programs. I love these, but I also want to worship like I did at Church most of my life. Yes, I can worship in many different ways, in different places, and at different times. I still want to watch a good Church program, though, especially on Sunday. For many years, I have watched a service at a local church that I used to attend. For financial reasons they changed networks recently. I watched the program on the new station this Sunday. I couldn’t understand a thing. I sat close, but I couldn’t find the very fuzzy words at all. I sat and watched the grayish and reddish screen flicker and hoped that I would at least see captions when the pastor spoke. It never happened. I was disappointed.
Then I was angry. Closed captioning is very important to Deaf and Hard of Hearing people. Even I use it by reading very close. No, I don’t get everything, but I get enough. With Closed Captioning, I can watch TV shows and movies that others are watching and talking about which helps me to feel connected. More importantly, with Closed Captioning, I can learn from others about faith, love, and the ways to a better life through Christ. Closed Captioning is necessary for accessibility. The Deaf need the accessibility to the Hearing world. They need, I need, the access to the message of the Bible in this way, as well as the others I use. I have looked and found only Charles Stanley out of Atlanta who has partial captioning when the pastor speaks. The only full captions I have found have been on the LDS channel. They provide captions for the songs, message, and everything. I really prefer that. The words of the hymns and contemporary songs have a message themselves. I should be able to learn from the music, too. The problem with that is I don’t agree with the LDS, so that isn’t an option for me. It is a shame that other Christian denominations don’t seem to have the compassion for others as the LDS do, though.
Why does the Church not see the need for this? Too many pastors are saying it is because of the economy. Let me note here that Closed Captioning equipment and therefore, services, too, have been decreasing in costs in recent years, so lack of money can’t really be an excuse. Even if it is money, if Believers truly believed their Bibles, and if Believers truly lived the words they read, then the economic situation wouldn’t matter. Believers need to present the need to God, and then believe the word He promised to provide for all our needs. Truly, though, I see they have money for the things they really want to do and give to most often. Many brag of what they send to far, remote places to spread the Gospel. I think that is wonderful, but if there are those who are needy within your own back yard or even in your own house, why not put a priority there before you venture to far mission fields?
The Church in America, I believe, is failing in its mission. It isn’t about doing the Father’s business. All too often it has become its own business seeking money for its own agenda by catering to making people feel good. It isn’t about speaking the Truth. This shows as there isn’t enough faith to bring in the resources and to serve its members’ needs. Love is short when the faith is lacking. Wake up, Church!
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