When the Media Became a Nuisance

This new media reality has introduced what I call "conversation stoppers" for Christians. Conversation stoppers are those questions that nearly everyone on the street knows to ask when the sensitive subject of Jesus comes up. They might say, "Well, what about all those other Gospels that never made it into the Bible?" Or, "Don't you know that history is written by the winners, and now that we can hear the losers, we need to revise the Bible's story?"

What Christians often do is get angry or talk about the media's attempt to undercut our faith. Neither reaction accomplishes much. The media are simply reporting on the topics being raised and discussed in the public square. In sum, they're doing their job, albeit often with a specific agenda in mind. How should the church respond?

Individuals: Rather than seeing new media reports as conspiracies to rail against, why not see them as opportunities to discuss faith with friends and neighbors who will find them intriguing? Only we mustn't do so with an angry or dismissive tone. Rather, we ought to respectfully explain the historic Christian view. Becoming equipped for such discussions may require seminars organized by local churches. Imagine churches working together to help believers contend for the truth in their communities.

We need to understand that public discussion of the Christian faith has changed—permanently. So the next time you hear an earth-shattering announcement about Jesus from the media, don't get angry. Rather, take three deep breaths, sit down with your Starbucks coffee, and watch how the announcement is treated on blogs and other media. Above all, prepare yourself for the opportunities it presents.

Darrell Bock is research professor of New Testament studies at Dallas Theological Seminary and the author, most recently, of Dethroning Jesus: Popular Culture and the Quest to Unseat the Biblical Christ (Thomas Nelson, 2007).

bmflr

Why the smart money is on Duncan Hunter
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1926032/posts

2 posted on 12/12/2007 1:35:05 PM PST by Kevmo (We should withdraw from Iraq — via Tehran. And Duncan Hunter is just the man to get that job done.)

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