Media in worship

My research paper was all about the use of media in worship, so I thought it would be appropriate to express my feelings on the matter. A while back I posted about Z-church, an online worship experience. But here, I'm going to delve more into my reaction to things like that.

I grew up going to traditional church services. I would sit in an aisle inside  wide, ornate sanctuary. With 500 other members, I would listen to a minister preach from the pulpit. We would take communion and sing hymns. To me, these kind of experiences were what defined church. There was no media, apart from the microphone up on the pulpit and lectern. This traditional approach is what naturally became the "right" way to worship for me. When I would visit friends' churches and see massive projector screens and a full band, something felt off. I never saw it as wrong. I just simply didn't feel as connected as I normally did back in the style of worship I knew.

To me, the use of media in worship matters. I can't grow in the same strong relationship with God during a church service if there are distractions from technological aids. However, to some, it's what keeps them interested, focused, and engaged. Ultimately, that's what matters. If you can still get everything you're looking for out of a service that provides flashing light and loud music, then I'm happy. Who's to say what is the right way to worship? I think the right response to that question would be the acceptance that there really is no right way. Worshipping is connecting with God. So with media or not, if the goal is reached, that's all that truly matters.