Are We Worshipping God or Watching Ourselves Worship? - The Digital Dilemma

Are We Worshipping God or Watching Ourselves Worship? – The Digital Dilemma. In churches and worship gatherings around the world, there’s a new kind of light shining—not from glass windows, but from phone screens. As the music swells and hands rise in reverence, so do phones, recording videos, snapping selfies, and livestreaming sermons.

While these moments may be heartfelt attempts to preserve powerful spiritual experiences or to share the gospel online, the question must be asked: Are we truly present in the presence of God when our focus is split between heaven and a camera lens?

Social media has, without a doubt, become a powerful platform for spreading the Word. A single clip from a worship concert can reach thousands, stirring souls in places a church may never reach physically. “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation,” Jesus commanded in Mark 16:15. And perhaps in the digital age, some interpret this as “preach it on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook.”

But while the motive may be pure, the moment often suffers.

Worship is, at its core, an intimate exchange—a surrender, a moment of vulnerability between the believer and the Creator. Capturing that intimacy on camera, while others are lost in reverence, can sometimes turn sacred moments into spectacles. One can’t help but wonder: Are we worshipping, or are we watching ourselves worship?

In Ecclesiastes 3:1, we’re reminded: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”

There is indeed a time to record and share, but also a time to be still (Psalm 46:10)—to be present, unfiltered, undistracted.

We live in a generation where “If it’s not posted, it didn’t happen” often becomes our unspoken mantra. But worship isn’t for the algorithm—it’s for the Almighty. The power of a worship moment lies not in how well it’s edited or captioned, but in how deeply it transforms our hearts.

That said, this isn’t a condemnation. Technology can be a bridge. Some have found Christ through a YouTube worship video or been reminded of God’s love through a worship reel. But balance is key.

Let us ask ourselves: Can we allow ourselves at least some worship moments that go unrecorded? Can we challenge ourselves to lift up holy hands instead of holding phones every time the Spirit moves?

Worship is not a performance. It’s not a highlight reel. It’s raw, real, and holy. And maybe—just maybe—some of the most powerful encounters with God aren’t meant to be shared with the world, but treasured in our hearts like Mary did in Luke 2:19: “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

So next time you’re in church or a worship concert and feel the urge to hit “record,” pause. Ask yourself: Is this a moment to share, or is this a moment to savour?

Because sometimes, the most divine moments don’t need an audience. Just obedience.