Word of Truth Ministries – Kenya

Let me begin this discussion with a bit of personal confession. I wish to observe that I am not qualified to probe Christian media in their entirety because I have worked actively with radio more than television and the print media. I must, admit, nevertheless, that I have numerous friends in the latter with whom I hold discussions and have been a guest on several TV programmes, besides contributing articles to various print media. Radio has been close to my heart since 1976 when my father bought the very first transistor for the family and little did I know that I would ever be involved in broadcasting as a blind man. It was quite a surprise to many of my friends that I was willing to spend precious money to purchase a television set for my family, since I was unable to appreciate the visual.

I mention all this to say two things: First, that I am deeply committed to Christ as the Lord of my life and hence consider myself a Christian. Second, I am greatly interested in media, especially insofar as it affects the faith and daily living of individuals in society. Right here, however, is my conflict. With a deep interest in both Christianity and the media, I am brought to wonder what the concept of “Christian media” entails, whether there is a biblical mandate for it, and, more seriously, whether what we see in Christian media today furthers or hinders the growth and publishing of our common faith.

There are two ways to understand the concept of “Christian media.” It could mean media as used by Christians, or media insofar as it carries Christian content. Here, we will employ the first usage, i.e. media as used by Christians. The reason for this preference is that Christians are to master creation rather than let creation master them. Besides, it is my understanding that media are simply channels of communication. For this reason the Christian should control them rather than the media control the Christian use of them. As a partial participant and great observer of what goes on in Christian media, I think this is where the crux of the matter is. I am drawn to believe that the modern Church has largely let the media control faith. By this I mean that the church has allowed herself to sink to the level of letting her members believe that if something with a Christian label is presented through the media, then it is authoritatively true and necessary for faith and practice. Some people wearing the Christian label, having realized this and knowing the power of media, have, I would say, come to blatantly abuse the practice of our common faith by exploiting innocent searchers of God’s truth for personal gain. But, what does Christian media really entail?

Just like the secular media, setting up Christian radio, television or magazine is an expensive venture. For this reason, there has to be a noble reason for spending large sums of money to set up any media, Christian or otherwise. How the initial capital or running costs for such media is harnessed, however, is a matter of serious moral consideration. While bank loans and other forms of capital investment can be harnessed for the establishment of media houses, the problem comes with the need to ensure sufficient provision for the day-to-day running of such houses. While the secular media can keep afloat by tapping into just about any form of advertising in keeping with secular freedom, the Church tends to be – and indeed ought to be – selective with such advertising, accepting (I would assume) only the kind of advertising that is in keeping with the Bible. But right here is one of my concerns.

If Christians use the media in accordance with the authority of the Bible, then how far should this go? Just as far as it is possible to refuse the advertisement of cigarettes, liquor, the use of condoms and misleading recreation places, or as far as examining advertisement that comes in the name of Christianity but which actually violates the teaching of the bible?

Around the Reformation time, one of the Pope’s representatives named John Tetzel went around selling Indulgences. Indulgences were some form of promise that if someone paid a particular sum of money, he/she could buy a dead relative or friend out of Purgatory. Many bought the Indulgences without question until men like Martin Luther spoke about this as being unbiblical and immoral. When Charles Russell, the founder of the Jehovah’s Witnesses sect began to advertise his “miracle wheat” in the 19^th century, many Christians bought the wheat believing that they would have better harvests than their secular counterparts. Yet, we must notice the subtle ingredient in the whole matter. Russell’s “miracle wheat” was bought, mainly because it was publicized by one who came in the name of the Lord. Perhaps this partly explains why in the recent past many Christians accepted without question or suspicion the claim by “Archbishop” Gilbert Deya of Kenya that, through the power of God, he was able to offer “miracle babies” to barren women.

The problem does not, however, stop here. While some Christians may, in fact, question the validity of getting many children in less than five years, many do not question the content of numerous ads that come in the name of the Lord. When a “Christian evangelist” or “man of God” advertises, “Join … this Saturday for a great miracle crusade …” and concludes the ad with, “all the sick will be healed,” and then all the sick who attend the crusade are not healed, what happens next? But do not miss my point here. What one is asking is not whether miracles still happen, for they do, but, how come, even though in all of these meetings thus advertised not every of the sick gets healed, why does the Christian media continue to earn revenue from these kind of ads?

This brings me to listener-supported programming. While it is healthy for listeners to give towards Christian broadcasting, must not the solicitation of such support be tested by biblical acceptability as well? Here, I am asking the biblical justification for such media events as “fund-raising weeks) where all sermons are geared compulsively towards the giving by listeners and viewers. Here, my problem is not that there are “fund-raising weeks”; rather the tailoring of Bible passages to say what they do not say so that stations can get support. Besides, how come that it is during such events that we hear the most prophecies, the most miracles and the most promises from such media houses? Does it not stumble Christians and non-Christians watching or listening to hear a preacher say that the Lord had told him/her that there was someone in the congregation that was going to give, say, one thousand dollars. When someone with that amount shows up, is it not often the case that either the figure will shoot up or another “revelation” follow that, now it is not just that one person with a thousand dollars, but another two, then five, then ten, etc? How about when someone stands up and announces, “Believe God with me for a car,” and then goes ahead to announce, “The Lord is telling me that there is someone here who is going to be blessed for giving up something precious …!”

All I am asking is this: Is it morally, let alone spiritually, acceptable, for Christian media owners to let this kind of usage of the media in the name of Christ go on? Besides, is it permissible to earn support through this manipulative means? Is it really right for us as Christians to condemn secular media for broadcasting or publishing immoral content and then broadcast the above kind of immoral behaviour, believing that, because it bears a Christian lable, then it is alright?

Assuming that Christian media should preach the Gospel of Christ, teach God’s truth as presented in the bible and minister to the needs of the audience, I would like to suggest that a few things be considered by those who set them up:

1. Consider the motive of setting a Christian medium up. If the aim is commercial or any other kind of personal gain, I propose establishing such a medium, but leave out the label “Christian.”
2. Consider the impact of such a medium on the society. If a media house is going to help the society grow then it should exist. If it breaks or destroys the society, then it should not exist.
3. Consider the spiritual consequences of existing as a media house. Any medium that promotes lies in the name of God is worse than one that lies without appealing to God. Besides, any media that takes advantage of people through manipulation or exploitation in the name of Christ should be closed down or changed to become secular because it embarrasses the Lord and His people and gives a false impression of Christianity. This applies to radio, television, magazines, websites, and any channel of communication that comes in the name of the Lord.

This entry was posted on Sunday, December 14th, 2008 at 11:45 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.