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Using and Consuming Media

Writer's picture: Dr. Matt RichardDr. Matt Richard

Preachers sometimes quote Karl Barth as saying that “we must preach with the Bible in one hand, and the newspaper in the other.” His point was simply that we should have an awareness of what is happening in our world as we preach and apply God’s Word to our hearers. This has always been a goal of mine, but Barth wrote this in 1966, back when the news was more streamlined and standardized.


When Walter Cronkite reported the news, he signed off with the simple statement “and that’s the way it is,” and for the most part, people took him at his word. This did not mean that the news was completely unbiased in what it reported. I am not sure there is such a thing. But it was not openly biased, as it is today. The three stations that reported it basically told the same story, and if the president was on television, you were out of luck if you were hoping to watch your favorite show.


The era of cable news started in 1980 when CNN first launched. This seemed like a great idea, because people would not have to wait until the news came on at a specific time, but could be informed by tuning in whenever they wanted, twenty-four hours a day! Would you have ever imagined then, that unlimited access to the news could be a bad thing?


With the advent of this, there would be no such thing as a “news cycle” anymore. People no longer had to wait to find out things that happened during the day, or even the past week. I remember walking into the living room during the early 90’s, and the television would be broadcasting live from The Gulf War in Iraq. At the time, I did not understand why my parents, grandparents, and every other adult I knew was obsessed with watching it, but now I understand it was because they had never had this kind of access to an important, world event.


One thing its innovators may not have thought about in regard to cable news, is that when there was not a war, a disaster, an election, or some other kind of major event going on – news providers would find it difficult to come up with programming. Thus, the era of “entertainment news” with commentary, “talking heads,” and even comedy began.


Fox News began in 1996 as a conservative alternative to all that cable news had become, and now we have an unending plethora of sources to choose from that range from television and radio shows, to podcasts and online articles – each tailored to a specific audience. If this does not muddy the waters enough, social media has created a world where people not only consume media, but also use media.


In the early days of social media, no one cared what others posted. I wrote blogs in college, all-but-certain that my professors and peers would read them and praise me for my insightful opinions about theology and the Bible. I was wrong! The “newsfeed” feature on the social network formerly known as Twitter (currently “X”), which was eventually adopted by Facebook, made it so that anyone could read and comment on anything their “friends” posted, and ensured it would be immediately available. What could possibly go wrong? There was a reason that people use to advise their families not to talk about religion or politics when their crazy uncle came over for Thanksgiving. Suddenly, we all have instant access to our crazy uncle and his views on our computers, phones, and tablets. And this is why it is necessary for a Christian to consider the way they use, and consume media, as a follower of Jesus.


A Christian’s use and consumption of media should be done in service, and/or subordination to their membership in the body of Christ.


In Ephesians 3:16-17, Paul states: “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” A very basic way of saying this is that Paul is praying that the Ephesian’s faith is REAL; that it affects their hearts, and becomes their first priority. When it does, it takes priority over circulating fake, or unsubstantiated information, and responding in anger. Furthermore, when faith is prioritized, God’s agenda is more important than what the media sensationalizes, and his grace is a lived reality for the individual.


Dr. Joel Gregory prophetically told us in my first preaching class at Truett Seminary that as our ability to communicate continues to increase, our quality of communication will continue to decrease. Media is primarily seen as something that is used for information, whereas a disciple of Jesus is equally (if not more) interested in transformation.


What if you substituted some of your engagement with media with connecting with people? Instead of reading what your social media feed says about the candidate you love/hate, volunteer to work at the polls. Interact with people on both your side, and the other. Recognize that they are made in the image of God. Volunteer at your child’s school. Get to know people at work.


In other words: let real life and God’s Word influence how you see people, and then engage with media accordingly.

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