This summer marks the end of an era. Best Buy is announcing that, like K-Mart before them and so many others who are following suit, they will no longer sell CD’s. Goodbye. Eject.
If you’re like me, you’ve lived through a few music format changes. I used to own vinyl albums, 45’s, and cases of cassettes. I even had a friend who had an 8-track player in his car! Only niche listeners use those formats anymore. (see graph)
But when CD’s emerged, people praised their clear sound and portability. And, (unless you scratched them) they were supposed to last “forever.” Well, think again!
The announcement highlights an important fact – nothing in this world is forever.
Do you even remember what was the last physical CD was that you bought? These days, music is everywhere: Spotify, iTunes, Pandora, Amazon, etc. You can stream it, download it, or subscribe to a satellite radio. Automobile manufacturers even warn that CDs in cars will soon disappear.
One thing is certain when it comes to technology; it will change! And, this fact is a great reminder for Christians. While God does not change, adapting to new formats is important; nothing (on this earth) lasts forever!
Not long ago, churches agonized over using PPT in worship. Some preachers still insist on hearing “page turning” rather than digital devices for Bible reading. Many people don’t share blogs or sermons online because they won’t learn new formats.
Don’t get me wrong – CD’s will still be around for a while, and there is no need to throw away your printed Bible just because others use a Kindle, phone, or tablet. If you prefer the page turning that’s just fine with the Lord. But as we reach out to others, we should do everything we can to reach as many as we can (1 Corinthians 9:22).
Of course, we must never compromise the truth. Nevertheless, we must consider new formats that meet scriptural moral standards. The times may be a-changing, God doesn’t! (Numbers 23:19; Hebrews 13:8; James 1:17). The eternal truth of God’s Word never changes…no matter what the format.
