What is the Role of Christian Media Today?

This past week in Atlanta has been a hot unholy mess for me. Salacious news surrounding a well-known pastor, reminded me of some events I had hoped had drowned in the Sea of My Forgetfulness. But as more fodder fed into our news stream, an old troubling question—one that made me want to stop reporting Christian news and instead represent Christians to the media—resurfaced. What is the role of Christian Media?

• Is it to only report good news and avert bad news?
• Is it not to present current news that affect Christians?
• Is it the spin for Christians when secular media no longer drinks our Communion juice?

If the answer is “no” to any question, then why are we silent? Is that what God intended?

It’s hard for me to believe that God would want us to ignore this type news, especially when it continues to fester and splinter relationships with the Body of Christ. But as I discuss with peers and double check bad gossip, I’ve only come across a few thoughtful discussion from Christians in media here and here.  But it’s not enough by a Long shot.

If Christian Media’s purpose is to share current news that affect the Body of Christ, then let’s do that. We can begin here.

Dee Stewart is an inspirational book reviewer for Romantic Times Magazine,  contributing writer to Hope for Women Magazine, staff columnist for Christian Fiction Online Magazine, owner of Christian Fiction Blog and DeeGospel PR, an entertainment PR boutique. She is also Miranda Parker, novelist for Kensington Publishers Dafina Books. Her debut novel “A Good Excuse to be Bad” releases July 2011.

Comments

[PatriciaW]

I think most bloggers are stunned and don't know quite what to say or are waiting for more information to unfold before commenting.

As to Christian media/journalists, I've been surprised by how quiet they have been. No reporting on this topic, really?

[Tina]

I am glad to see you write about this, Dee. When leaders of Christian media keep quiet about such issues, it can come across as support. For examnple, I would have liked to see more Christian leaders in media speak out against the preacher who wanted to burn the Quran. When Christians keep quiet about such issues, we let the mainstream media speak for us. That's my rant. ;-)

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=520726901]

Hey, Pat! I didn't mean bloggers, which are more like op-ed columnists; I meant press. Press knows that they don't have to wait, because the information they need is now public record. They also reporting news has nothing to do with taking sides. In fact, press cannot take sides. They just report. That non-reporting concerns me. Not just on this issue, but on many things have happened in the past on my watch as a Christian journ.

I believe that we were created to counter mainstream media. Yet, when we don't respond--like Tina pointed out-- then it appears that we have taken a side, to pretend as if the matter doesn't exist.

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=520726901]

Tina, agreed. I wanted a response from our media regarding Pastor Terry Jones' Quran burning debacle, Joe Barron's Prestonwood foolishness, and many other stories that make it to mainstream media newsfeeds before us.

I understand that we don't want to promote sin, and that is a legitmate concern. However, if we reported right. If we stopped mimicking the world and use Christian Media as a Christian education component for The Body of Christ, then we may be onto something.

A friend of mine mentioned today a great example of a story that should have been written about last week's events: "How do parents respond to their children when church scandal finds its way to the school playground?"