“Video” has been on my mind for a while now.

Maybe it’s because I got a brand-spanking new Logitech Webcam so I can have outrageously interesting conversations on Seesmic, or maybe it’s because my daughter is growing up so fast that the paternal instinct of capturing digital memories for future embarrassment (like her wedding perhaps) has kicked into full gear, or maybe, just maybe, it’s because the Holy Spirit’s been prodding me for the past month about it and has opened my eyes to a potential need in the general Christian community regarding online video technology on the web…

It’s probably a combination of the above three things and more.  But certainly there’s a need.  A few thoughts after the break.

If there’s one thing that I’m absolutely certain about is that the future of video in the Christian space must be about (among a number of very strong and important things) the Word of God.  I don’t see anything else sustainable.  And by sustainable I’m talking about having an eternal perspective:

“BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER, and this was the Word which was preached to you.”  -  1st Peter 1:25

So the future of Video in the Christian space must be a focus on the Word of God.  To make any impact of significance, it simply has to.

Secondly, the future of video in the Christian online space must present the Word of God in such a way that it aligns with the purpose and utility of Scripture:

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  -  2nd Tim 3:16-17

Online video must be a means to communicate the Word effectively and must find it’s ultimate purpose in being used to teach, rebuke, correct, and train in righteousness.

I would add to this list humbly that online video in the Christian space should be also used to encourage and provide accountability.  It is the accountability part that doesn’t appear to exist…

Online Christian Accountability… and Video.

I’m big into spiritual disciplines (or at least I’m daily, by the Spirit, trying to become more interested).  One of them is the simple discipline of reading the Word of God daily.

I think Christian accountability is a beautiful thing.  When aptly applied, with wisdom and discernment, it can be an extremely powerful, moving, and motivating force and tool for growing in knowledge and wisdom of our creator God and His Son Jesus Christ.

In tandem, accountability is a tool used by the Holy Spirit for His salvific purposes, specifically sanctification, as we become more and more into the likeness of Christ.

But a question that has always remained on the outskirts of my brain and psyche was this:  “How do we use online technology as a tool for Christian accountability?” Is it possible?  Can the web be used for God’s sanctification purposes?

Perhaps…  possibly… probably… yes…?…?!

At one point I thought that the online journal thing was going to be it: I blogged daily about my spiritual walk, quoted scripture here and there, provided spiritual songs in the background for my readers to enjoy as they read my dripping-with-spiritual-insight entries…

But were my readers keeping me “accountable”?  No.  Not really.  The more “eprops” (I’m talking Xanga here) I got the more incentive (from an egotistical perspective) and motivation I had to sit down and write another entry, but from a purely Christian accountability standpoint it was not it.

And never did I feel that I was keeping others accountable when I logged on and made some comments here and there on other people’s blog.  I felt that, at the very best, I was supporting them in their efforts to spend time in front of their computers writing entertaining journal entries and blogs.  Keeping them accountable from a spiritual perspective was not my intent.

And so if not blogs, then what?

I think video may be one potential answer, among many.

Too some, video may appear to be a glorified blog (instead of typing out your blog, your speaking it into a video camera).  To that I would say “Yes, I agree.”  So what, then, would be the differentiating factor?  I believe a lot of that has to with the facilitation of content, then centrality of the community, the information architecture, and very clear and defined purpose and reason of existence.

Simply put, if done correctly, the site would establish a particular culture and/or expected experience and the users would then carry the vision into fruitful demonstration; providing crowd-sourcing-esque guidelines and a self-policing culture that would be beneficial to all.

Sounds rather utopian, right?

Perhaps.  But I think it’s worth a shot.  I think that anything that seeks to advance the Kingdom work of God, that seeks to encourage others to passionately pursue Christ, is worthy of our time and resources… right?

And that’s what I’m attempting to do.

In the next few days (or week… ah… who knows) I’ll be launching a new video sharing service that’ll attempt to provide Christians with a place to upload their own videos.

Sounds like Godtube, right? Yes… and no…

What makes this different is that there is a specific and defined purpose (and content) that we’ll encourage our users to upload:  Videos that showcase your own personal devotionals and quiet times.  Whether they appear in the form of daily scriptural readings, personal songs, messages, testimonies, or prayers is up to the user.

But a guiding principle is that the user must be engaged with the Word of God, because our intent is encourage others to passionately pursue God through daily reading of the Word.

So how does video enable this and support accountability?  We hope that people will find the site valuable, first for their own personal faith journey and second as they meet others, listen to their scriptural readings, and join in the general community of faith.

Hopefully, this will create a desire to daily return to upload their digital devotionals as well as to support, encourage, and keep those that they’ve met through the site accountable to their daily devotionals as well.

To that end, I believe that video, in this very specific way, may provide valueable digital online accountability through social technology and social networking.

But, who knows, right?  Who knows…

If you’re interested in learning more or helping out with this site at a much bigger level (or whatever), feel free to drop me a line.