The Lausanne Global Conversation is on the World Wide Open Network
المؤلف: Lars Dahle
التاريخ: 30.06.2010
Category: الإعلام والتكنولوجيا
Editor’s Note: This Cape Town 2010 Advance Paper has been written by Lars Dahle as an overview of the topic to be discussed at the Multiplex session on “Media Messages Matter: On Global Technologies, Glocal* Trends and Gospel Truth”. Responses to this paper through the Lausanne Global Conversation will be fed back to the author and others to help shape their final presentations at the Congress.
Media and Technology: Introductory Reflections
Wherever we live in today’s globalized and pluralistic world, information and communication technologies increasingly influence and impact our human lives, our Christian witness and our Christian ministries. The missional issues related to media and technology are therefore of real significance to themes and topics at the Lausanne III Congress. The varieties of local, global and glocal media messages certainly provide complex and ambivalent contexts for the key task of making the case for the truth of Christ in the 21st century.
The rapidly developing information and communication technologies of today’s world constitute a radically different media context for the Lausanne III Congress compared to the previous two Lausanne world congresses in 1974 and 1989, not to mention the much earlier conference in Edinburgh 1910. This is illustrated by defining features of the Cape Town 2010 Congress such as the Lausanne Global Conversation and the Cape Town GlobaLink.
The nature of the topic of this Cape Town 2010 Advance Paper invites contributions and reflections from others. This is partly due to the fact that the various contemporary media are no longer the privileged and exclusive area of media enthusiasts, media professionals and media academics. When it comes to media, most if not all of us are participants, observers and producers. Therefore everyone involved in Cape Town 2010 is a potential discussion partner in this area. But it is also partly because the current media situation is fundamentally different between technology-rich regions and other areas of the world, even though the situation in many places changes rapidly. Therefore we need voices and perspectives from various technology and media contexts to reach a more global understanding on key missional issues related to the media.
This essay is written in appreciation of previous significant work in Lausanne contexts on media and technology. The Manila Manifesto (1989) reminds us that the world of the modern media is a mixed blessing. On the one hand, “the mass media have contributed to the devaluation of truth and authority, by replacing word with image”; but on the other hand, ”the Christian media have a powerful influence both in sowing the seed of the gospel and in preparing the soil”.[1] There are also two significant Lausanne Occasional Papers on Radio in Mission (1989)[2] and on Media and Technology: The Rainbow, The Ark and the Cross (2004)[3], both of them with a number of valuable insights.
From Media and Technology to Media Messages Matter
Our various uses of media and information technologies shape our everyday lives and give us potential access to a variety of media cultures. Such contemporary media cultures may be global, local or glocal. The latter term (“glocal”) describes the fact that current media cultures often combine global and local elements and perspectives, both in terms of the actual messages and the ongoing interpretations. These media contexts create a number of challenges and opportunities both for authentic human living and credible Christian witnessing.
This advance paper suggests a missional framework for engaging the world of the media, and identifies media awareness, media presence and media ministries as three highly significant topics. The framework and the topics will be further explored at the multiplex session Media Messages Matter: On Global Technologies, Glocal Trends and Gospel Truth and in the subsequent related dialogue sessions.
This multiplex session will offer a fivefold interaction with media:
1) Understanding the changing information and communication technologies and how they impact our human lives and our Christian witness;
2) Understanding how a classical Christian view of truth, humanity and morality may shape our interactions with the information and communication technologies and how such responsible stewardship may be an individual and corporate witness to “One God and One Lord”;
3) Understanding how contemporary glocal news and entertainment media may constitute significant secular and pluralistic challenges to bearing witness globally to the truth of Christ;
4) Understanding how various media genres and formats may be used as lenses through which we can analyse and understand contemporary culture and biblical truth;
5) Understanding how the biblical Gospel of “God in Christ, Reconciling the World to Himself” (2 Cor. 5:19) may be communicated creatively, engagingly and interactively through the means of contemporary media technologies, platforms and formats.
These various dimensions are all related to the mission of the Christian Church, whether the focus is on (a) the biblical Gospel and its unique truth claims, (b) the cultural contexts and how they are shaped by various significant worldviews, (c) living and witnessing as disciples with both humanness and biblical integrity, or (d) the wide range of available arenas, approaches and formats when using media critically and creatively in Christian mission.
Media Messages Matter: A Missional Framework
“The world” is probably the biblical concept that comes closest to describing the media technologies and media cultures of our contemporary world.
There is in the Bible a fundamental ambivalence about ‘the world’. On the one hand it is God’s good creation, loved by him and to be redeemed by him; on the other hand it is the place of human and satanic rebellion and opposition to God. We have to bear both of these in mind, in creative tension, in all our missional reflection and engagement in the world. In evangelical circles there is a tendency to think of ‘the world’ primarily in the second negative sense, and we need to be willing to appreciate the other dimensions, for example in terms of what we can learn from all cultures of human beings made in the image of God.[4]
The same ambivalence is true of media and technology. They reflect humanity’s dual character. We are uniquely created in the image of God as communicating persons, with community, creativity and curiosity as key features. But we are also devastatingly damaged by sin, with rebellion, self-centredness, and lostness as defining elements. This tension within us as humans is well captured in C. S. Lewis’ memorable phrase from Prince Caspian (in The Narnia Chronicles): “‘You come of the Lord Adam and the Lady Eve’, said Aslan. ‘And that is both honour enough to erect the head of the poorest beggar, and shame enough to bow the shoulders of the greatest emperor on earth. Be content.’”
We have now started outlining a biblical worldview perspective on humanity and therefore also on media and technology. One of the most helpful current definitions of a worldview is found in the classic textbook The Universe Next Door:
“A worldview is a commitment, a fundamental orientation of the heart, that can be expressed as a story or in a set of presuppositions (assumptions which may be true, partially true or entirely false) that we hold (consciously or unconsciously, consistently or inconsistently) about the basic constitution of reality, and that provides the foundation on which we live and move and have our being.”[5]
Such a multidimensional understanding of worldview as a concept illuminates the world of the media. Media messages may then be understood as communicating elements – or traces – of various religious and secular worldviews. These elements (or traces) are found in the stories, the statements, and the presuppositions of the media. In many news and entertainment media messages produced in the Global North, influences from secular worldview perspectives such as (secular) humanism, naturalism, nihilism and postmodernism seem to be prominent. These perspectives are often supplemented in fictional stories by traces of religious worldviews including eastern pantheistic monism and New Age religiosity. All this underlines the importance of an appropriate understanding of key worldview traditions and trends for missional engagement with the media.
The increasing importance of media and technology for human existence in today’s world underlines the importance of missional reflection, discussion and action in this whole area. The underlying theological principle behind this holistic engagement is the fact that “if our mission is to be true to God’s mission, then it must embrace the wholeness of the earth and engage with the wholeness of human existence and need”[6].
Enabling Media Engagement: Gospel Truth and Truth Criteria as a Foundation
A critical and creative engagement with the plurality of media messages is an integral part of making the case for the truth of Christ in a globalized world. This presupposes a basic understanding of the nature of truth and a proper application of this understanding to various truth claims in media messages in general and specifically related to various worldviews.
This essay suggests that the combined use of three key truth criteria is the most constructive way forward whether we talk about truth as a key concept, truth claims in various worldviews, or truth in media messages. Accordingly, truth may be understood as (1) that which is coherent, consistent and makes sense, (2) that which corresponds to reality and the known facts and (3) that which changes and transforms. The proper combination of these three truth criteria opens up for a more holistic view of truth that is neither pre-modern, modern nor postmodern.[7]
If truth is to be understood as that which is coherent and makes sense, which corresponds to reality, and which changes and transforms, we need first of all to apply these central criteria to the case for the truth of Christ.
When looking carefully at the apostles’ apologetic ministry in the New Testament, we discover a responsible use of these key truth criteria, sometimes explicitly but maybe more often implicitly. One clear instance is Acts 26:27-29, where we find the apostle Paul in a challenging setting in Caesarea. He argued in a dialogue with King Herod Agrippa II (and with governor Festus in the background) for the truth and the reasonableness of the Christian Gospel, since it corresponds to the known historical facts and is consistent with the Old Testament prophets. Agrippa admitted also to the persuasive, life-changing nature of Paul’s message about Jesus Christ as unique Saviour and Lord.
This New Testament example illustrates that these key truth criteria may be taken as a helpful way of understanding three significant aspects of the case for the truth of Christ specifically and the biblical worldview in general:
(1) Coherent and consistent: The specific case for the truth of Christ is set within a coherent understanding of the triune God, the nature of humanity, and their relationship. The biblical worldview at large presents a consistent and gradually unfolding message of creation, sin, redemption and restoration.
(2) Corresponding with reality: The specific case for the truth of Christ is based on key historical facts about who Jesus was and what actually happened through His life, death and resurrection. The biblical worldview at large is rooted in creation, fall and God’s redemptive acts as fundamental realities, as well as in significant historical narratives and in the everyday lives of the many biblical characters.
(3) Changing and transforming: The specific case for the truth of Christ includes the unique and life-changing Gospel of grace, salvation, forgiveness and hope, because “God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself” (2 Cor. 5:19). The biblical worldview at large acknowledges and points to processes of changing and transforming at various levels. These include living in authentic human relationships, receiving forgiveness of sins from God, and being “salt and light” in the world.
All this implies that we may appropriately claim the biblical Gospel of Jesus Christ specifically – and the biblical worldview at large – to be true in the full and holistic sense of the word. Furthermore, these essential biblical perspectives provide us with an appropriate foundation for our critical and creative interaction with current media technologies, cultures, and messages. As “Gospel Truth people” we discover the urgent need to be committed to all aspects of media – to media awareness, media presence and media ministries.
Encountering Media Messages: The Urgent Need for Critical Media Awareness
There is an urgent need globally to develop critical thinking and awareness on how media messages are communicated and interpreted, with an emphasis on issues of truth and reality, worldviews and spirituality.
Almost everyone everywhere in today’s globalized world seems gradually – and at least potentially – to become both users of modern media technologies (such as satellite, Internet and mobile) and participants in modern media cultures (e.g. through television, DVDs and web-based social media). Through these global media technologies and cultures we are all constantly exposed to a wide spectrum of messages from various local and global media. These media messages include “facts” (such as news and documentary), “fiction” (such as movies, soaps and computer games), or “faction” (such as infotainment and reality television). When analysed properly, we discover that such media messages always contain traces of worldview perspectives and thus both reflect and shape current worldview trends. As evangelicals we need to engage these media – and such worldview trends – both critically and creatively as a global missional community.[8]
There is an urgent need to develop proper media awareness in local churches and youth ministries and to do this in global partnership. Such potential media awareness initiatives need to take into account both the global and the local media messages in any given cultural context. This means developing culturally relevant approaches and material, which integrate a number of complementary perspectives. Thus, we need to become more aware of how technological, aesthetical, cultural, worldview, theological and spiritual dimensions together contribute to the making of the modern news and entertainment media.
Such media awareness initiatives include the following issues and areas:
First, we need to understand the ambivalent nature of technology and how rapid technological changes are influencing contemporary media arenas, formats and genres.[9]
Secondly, we need to understand the cultural similarities and differences between local, global and glocal media texts and contexts.
Thirdly, we need to understand the aesthetics of various media texts, genres and formats and how to apply the appropriate hermeneutical questions. This may be illustrated in relation to cinema film where Tony Watkins presents an attractive set of illuminating interpretative questions to consider.[10]
Fourthly, we need to ask whether the various media messages we encounter present a true view of humanity. This includes asking the following questions:
1) Is the specific media image of humanity consistent and coherent? Does it cohere with a biblical view of creation, fall, redemption and hope?
2) Does the specific media image of humanity correspond to reality? Does it present both the glory and the tragedy of humanity?
3) Does the specific media image of humanity give space for real change and transformation, including forgiveness and character formation?
It should also be emphasised that a biblical view of humanity both is realistic and relevant. These characteristics can be confirmed daily when encountering media images of humanity in news and entertainment media messages.
Fifthly, we need to ask whether the various media messages allow and give space for religious convictions and faith perspectives. This includes giving voices to faith communities (such as evangelicals) that do not conform to political correctness.[11]
The multiplex Media Messages Matter will seek to present models for media awareness teaching in mission, church, school and family contexts.
Entering Major News and Entertainment Media: The Urgent Need for Appropriate Media Presence
There is an urgent need globally for appropriate, authentic and credible Christian role models, communicators and commentators in the general news and entertainment media.
There is often a lack of authentic Christian role models in the general (or major) media and a corresponding lack of proper training. As a global evangelical community, we need to practice an appropriate media presence in the news and entertainment media. This is where talented Christian journalists, documentarians and commentators have the opportunity to introduce neglected stories, key ideas and new perspectives. The same is true of gifted Christians in the areas of creative media and arts, where the creation of fictional stories may open up new ways of imagining Christian truths. One may add that there are increasing opportunities for media presence in the major news and entertainment media through the creative use of interactivity and social media.
The multiplex Media Messages Matter will introduce two significant cases of media presence:
The first example will be the major new documentary series Science and the God Question. The producer Iain Morris introduces the series in the following way:
“Think of Science and the God Question as a form of wrestling match. In it:
• Viewers are asked to wrestle with big questions of life that raise the ultimate question about the existence of God.
• Atheists and theists wrestle with the interpretation of scientific evidence in their search for truth about God.
• The producers, in making the series, are wrestling with the challenge of remaining balanced and fair while creating a forum in which it is hoped truth will be the ultimate winner.
Designed for people of any faith – or none – the first three programmes of the series are scheduled for completion by the end of spring 2010:
1) Cosmos and the God Question: Is There Space for God?
2) Life, Evolution and the God Question: Did Darwin Bury God?
3) Mind, Consciousness and the God Question: Is Belief in God a No-Brainer?”
This new series is an attractive model for how Christians may use the documentary format to present key issues to a wider public in a balanced and fair way. In this specific case this includes giving atheists, pantheists, and theists a voice, with the possibility of comparing and contrasting these different worldview perspectives.[12]
The second case study will be an appreciative and critical engagement with a major movie, with introduction and commentary by Nick Pollard. This exemplifies the so-called Damaris approach:
“... Damaris has great respect for contemporary popular culture and believes that it is an expression of people’s search for answers to fundamental questions. Damaris engages in rigorous study of its content and context in order to identify, understand and respond to the underlying worldviews with integrity.
... Damaris has great respect for people and their freedom, and acts as a humble guide to contemporary popular culture. Damaris invites people to evaluate and respond to the underlying worldviews.”[13]
This illustrates how we may engage with contemporary entertainment media with biblical integrity and cultural relevance.
Establishing Independent Media Initiatives: The Urgent Need for Creative Media Ministries
There is an urgent need globally for creative and combined use of “traditional”, “old” and “new” media formats and genres to communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ as authentic and relevant in the context of a holistic biblical worldview.
Alongside the major news and entertainment media, there is a wide spectrum of independent evangelical media ministries, often with a prominent history, complementary strategies and considerable experience. This includes global organizations such as FEBC, TWR and HCJB but also more recently established regional media ministries such as SAT-7 and COICOM.
Recently, the arrival of the Internet and related digital technologies has gradually introduced such media as key elements in most Christian organizations and local churches in technology-rich countries and regions. This is certainly true also of evangelical ministries and includes the increasing use of podcasting and of new social media such as blog, Facebook and Twitter.
We need a variety of strategic media mission initiatives and ministries in today’s global world. This involves the creative and critical use of various media platforms, genres and formats to communicate the Gospel Truth of “God in Christ reconciling the world to himself” in the context of a holistic biblical worldview.[14]
When facing increasingly secular and pluralistic media contexts, we need to learn from Paul’s apologetic approach in Athens, where he argued for “the Gospel of Jesus and the Resurrection” in the context of a holistic biblical worldview. Paul claims that the Resurrection of Jesus resonates with ultimate human concerns, indicates the uniqueness and authority of Jesus, and is based on sufficient, available historical evidence. And all this makes sense in the context of "natural theology" (i.e. God is both transcendent and immanent) and "ultimate authority" (i.e. God as the Author of Life has authority over life). These biblical perspectives and arguments are increasingly relevant for Gospel ministries in today’s changing media contexts.
Media Messages Matter: Actions, Repentance and Fresh Commitments
It seems appropriate to end this advance paper by indicating some of the key areas related to media and technology where we as evangelicals need to be called to action, to repentance and to fresh commitments:
• We must engage media and technology proactively as God’s ambassadors of truth, grace, love, peace and justice.
• We repent of our lack of proper media awareness, our neglect of appropriate media presence, and our often uncritical and inadequate use of media technologies and approaches in Gospel ministries.
• We repent – as individuals and as a community in the midst of secular and pluralistic media cultures – of our lack of critical reflection, our inauthentic and superficial relationships, and our neglect of genuine space for silence, biblical meditation and prayer.
• We commit ourselves as individuals – and as a global missional community – to making the case for the Truth of Christ in and through contemporary media arenas, channels and formats.
• We commit ourselves as a global missional community to a renewed critical and creative engagement in proper partnerships with media and technology.[15]
* Combining global and local
[1] http://www.lausanne.org/manila-1989/manila-manifesto.html
[2] http://www.lausanne.org/all-documents/lop-26.html
[3] http://www.lausanne.org/documents/2004forum/LOP48_IG19.pdf
[5] James W. Sire: The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalogue (Illinois: IVP Academic, 2009; 5th ed.) p. 20
[6] Christopher J. Wright: The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible’s Grand Narrative (Illinois: IVP Academic, 2006) p. 441.
[7] For a fulle
r explanation and application, see my “Acts 17 as an apologetic model” (2002) and “Encountering and engaging a postmodern context: Applying the apologetic model in Acts 17” (2002).
[8] The news and entertainment media as missiological challenges will be introduced in the multiplex by Margunn Serigstad Dahle and Tony Watkins.
[9] The technological developments and dimensions will be introduced in the multiplex by Joseph Vijayam.
[10] Tony Watkins: Focus: The Art and Soul of Cinema (Authentic Media/ Damaris Books, 2007); see especially http://www.damaris.org/cm/data/damaris/downloads/books/focus/Questions_to_consider_when_watching_a_film.pdf.
[11] See www.GetReligion.org – “The Press ... just doesn’t get religion”. This is a project of Oxford Centre for Religion and Public Life.
[12] For further information on this series, see http://www.searchfortruthenterprises.com.
[13] See http://www.damaris.org/cm/damaris/approach.
[14] The multiplex will present a spectrum of media ministries and approaches.
[15] For a guide to further resources related to media awareness, media presence, and media ministries; see my blog Media Messages Matter.
© The Lausanne Movement 2010
كلمات مفتاحية: Media, technology, communication, global, glocal, worldview, truth, globalized, gospel, missional
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تعليقات: 45
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الولايات المتحدة
A paragraph in section 11 of the Manila Manifesto speaks to the issue of modernization and technology. It confesses that "we have not struggled as we should to understand" such things. Again there is a determination statement about intentionally engaging in critical and Christ-centered ways new technology. And yet, years later, we find ourselves in a very similar place with respect to new technologies. The statements here were made in a day when our present technologies couldn’t have been anticipated. Yet, they speak powerfully to our context. Note, "We have used [the world’s] methods and technologies uncritically and so exposed ourselves to worldliness." Again, I am reminded of the importance of allowing our Manila predecessors to speak to us in Cape Town through the Manifesto.
08.10.2010
النرويج
@ Cody_Lorance:
Thanks, Cody, for emphasizing the importance of allowing our (Lausanne and) Manila predecessors to speak to us thorugh (the Covenant and) the Manifesto.
As you rightly point out, this is certainly also the case in the area of media and technology. (I mention this briefly on p. 1 in the advance paper.) Thanks for your key contirbution in the significant area of the social media and the spiritual disciplines!
Every blessing! / Lars
08.10.2010
الولايات المتحدة
@ Cody_Lorance:
The advancement of technology is so accelerated that I am not sure we will ever understand it as we should.
We must do our best to keep up with it without allowing it to over-shape our views.
It is our method, not our message.
10.12.2012
غانا
Frankly, I found this article painfully difficult to read. The author cited only two examples of Christians and media (Iain Morris’ Science and God documentary and a critical engagement with a major movie). Yet Christians around the world are faithfully utilizing media in all its forms (internet, radio, television, film, publishing, etc.). No doubt there is room for serious improvement, but why does the author conclude with a call to repentance? I prefer to rejoice!
13.09.2010
النرويج
@ Jeff_Korum:
Thanks, Jeff, for your frank comment. I’m afraid the lack of "rejoicing" in my paper reflects my academic background and my North European temperament!
May I add that your comment significantly complements my paper by pointing out the need to rejoice in the media. There are so many excellent and exciting arenas and avenues for the Gopel in the contemporary media world!
We need to learn from the best media practices - from our brothers and sisters globally. Hopefully, the Cape Town Congress will be a key arena for equipping and encouraging each other also in this area!
13.09.2010
الولايات المتحدة
@ Jeff_Korum:
Your comment caused me to reflect on the effect rejoicing in media can have on its recepients.
Much like any other type of media, rejoicing media must be authentic. Joy cannot be faked.
If authentic rejoicing and praise to God is documented in media, people will be drawn to God.
So yes, let’s rejoice more in our media. God deserves public praise!!
10.12.2012
الصين
Thank you for this well-conceived outline of some of the issues involved in developing a more robust evangelical engagement with various aspects of media. I found your last paragraph particularly helpful. For myself, I would love to hear more about how to realize those ideals and perhaps a bit less about the need to engage and what that might involve; the need to engage broadly seems obvious to me.
In my own context working in a second tier Chinese city, I am often haunted by McLuhan’s famous observation that "the medium is the message." And so I ask, what happens when we take various media across cultural boundaries?
As an example, what does it mean to receive the majority of one’s biblical teaching and training through media? In China, radio at first, and then audio tapes and dvd’s and now webcasts have been significant sources for biblical instruction in the lives of many believers. Recently, cross-cultural workers have invested heavily in increasing means to deliver training at a distance. But is there a point at which the electronic images and sounds either get in the way or become ineffective in the discipleship process? How much of whatever we choose to subsume within "discipleship" can be conveyed through media? What does it mean to be discipled by media rather than people? Can relationships be mediated without changing the nature of the relationship?
These are big questions, and I would appreciate any thoughts from others who may have asked similar questions as they watch the role of media expanding, particularly in cross-cultural contexts.
14.07.2010
النرويج
@ Swells_in_the_Middle:
Thanks for your insightful and important comment! You point to a key issue for all of us, whatever our cultural, media and Cjristian contexts.
Let me offer three brief and immediate reflections:
- McLuhan is right, of course; there are always "amputations" involved in communication through electronic media. That’s why we need to combine the strenghts of the various media in our Christian media ministries. E.g. the fact that the new, social media adds more personal and interactive dimensions to the "old" media.
- We should never be content with limiting ourselves to just communicating though the various media. Real face-to-face encounters is therefore indispensable, not the least in discipling processes. This has to do with achieving personal interaction, real dialogue and real mutual respect.
- There is a robustness to reality, however, that gives us hope. I am convinced that real humanness, real truth and the real biblical Gospel may be communicated adequately through the media.
I would certainly welcome contributions on this key issue from various cultural, media and Christian contexts!
14.07.2010
الولايات المتحدة
@ Swells_in_the_Middle:
It has been my experience with young people (I am a youth pastor for the past 10+ years) that "sermons" or "lessons" are only a launching point for future discussion and discipleship. Very little of what I say in a large group setting is transferred to a young man or woman’s life unless it is also personally confirmed in his/her life later.
In the same way, digital media records of teaching can and should be used as launching points, not as end goals. A website or DVD or audio recording can be great tools to open up the possiblity of relationships. And they are great records of teaching just as the written word can be, but real discipleship takes place in the context of relationships that can only come about with interaction from all parties.
10.12.2012
الولايات المتحدة
First off, thanks so much for your paper. The Lord used it to really get me thinking through these issues. I’ve posted my main reflections in a separate article here:
http://conversation.lausanne.org/en/resources/detail/10807
That article is focused on the intentional integration of spiritual disciplines with our engagement with social media.
A few other thoughts:
1. Why isn’t the Church awesome at media production? Does a greater network of people and resources exist on the earth than the Body of Christ? Am I crazy to think that our movies, our websites, our music, our whatever should simply be the best that there is?
2. Related to truth in media, I wonder if there could be the creation of "best practices" to serve as a guide to believers who seek to pursue truthfulness in their media production. These practices can relate to research principles, integrity of reporting, etc. A Lausanne banner on a website that indicates that the given ministry adheres to the Lausanne ’best practices’ for proclaiming truth.
3. I like the distinction between facts, fiction, and "faction." I had not heard that before. It is perhaps important to point out that "faction" is (it seems) dominant these days. And further, that faction is basically seen as "fact" by many.
Blessings!
27.08.2010
النرويج
@ Cody_Lorance:
Thanks, Cody, for your encouraging words and for your stimulating ideas. I do appreciate and recommend your helpful reflections on the intentional integration of spiritual disciplines with our engagement with social media.
Let me also offer some brief comments to your other thoughts:
- Yes, we as Christians should certainly exemplify and model quality at all levels in our media involvement!
- It is indeed worth considering how “best practices” in media within the global Lausanne fellowship (and beyond) should be encouraged, recognized and promoted.
- Yes, I do find the fact, fiction and faction distinction helpful. And I agree with your perceptive observations on the increasing role of faction and that faction is often interpreted as fact.
Some of these key themes are – or will be – addressed in my blog Media Messages Matters: Towards Christian media presence, media awareness and media mission.
Every blessing / Lars
01.09.2010
الولايات المتحدة
@ Cody_Lorance:
Wonderful thoughts. It strikes as sad to think about the lack of artistic integrity in so-called Christian media. It is my understanding that the Church was responsible for some of the most artistic expressions of the past several hundred years. The Sistine Chapel, the statue of David, much of the music from the classical period, etc.
Today, most of our "Christian" expressions are copy-cat adaptations. The church of the Creator should be the most creative of all people.
10.12.2012
ليسوتو
The negative impact of media technology especially on the young generation is overwhelmingly huge. I wish to address myself to a few points related to this paper particularly in regard to the proposal by the author on how the evangelicals should respond. I agree that there is a need to engage media that seeks to establish a global worldview. However, not all evangelicals despite, the restlessness that they may experience as they observe the damage caused by the rapid spread of worldview perspectives, are at a vantage point for any meaningful form of engagement. Hence my strong support for the need for cooperation and partnerships among evangelicals globally.
The point by the author on “urgent need for critical media awareness” is to me particularly crucial. I believe that there is a deliberate power that is using the power of media to shape human thinking and hence the world, contrary to God’s design, hence the need for this critical media awareness. Considering the proposed issues and areas for media awareness initiatives, I feel that it is time that evangelicals regard it as a calling, after critical evaluation of media messages, to develop counter messages that will portray the truth as Christ would have wanted in all spheres related to media and to deliberately produce messages that will innovatively promote the biblical worldview, given our different context of development. We are engaged in a battle with the enemy and should not remain defensive but should seek to be on the offensive in order to claim the victory that we have in Christ Jesus!
21.09.2010
النرويج
@ Moloki_Motaung:
Thanks, Lehlohonolo, for highlighting the urgent need for media awareness. Yes, media engagement and critique seems to be a forgotten dimension of Christian mission.
I do agree with you that we shouldn’t stop with analysing and critiquing, but that we also need to contribute media messages which reflect the Gospel, the biblical storyline and the attitudes shown by Jesus Himself.
As salt and light (Math 5.13-17), we are called to make a real difference as His disciples. In today’s meda saturated world, this certainly includes the media.
26.09.2010
الولايات المتحدة
@ Moloki_Motaung:
The accessabilty of multiple worldviews isn’t necesarily a negative. It only increases the urgency for us to spread the news of Jesus so that this is the primary worldview available.
Let’s not neglect to understand the positive effects of media as well. It’s not all negative.
10.12.2012
الولايات المتحدة
This is a powerful article. It is amazing how much the media and for that matter technology in general is shaping our worldview and that of the next generation. When we hear about how many are coming to Christ via technology like satellite and chat rooms we need to focus more in taking advantage of this God-given gift.
17.09.2010
النرويج
@ kshalhoub:
Thanks, Kamel, for your appreciative words. Yes, the various media channels and platforms are wonderful gifts to us that we need to be wise stewards of.
The social media give us new and unique opportunities, which is powerfully illustrated in this ongoing and growing Global Conversation. It is important that we reflect on these new media. I have presented some of my preliminary reflections on these new technologies in Transforming Technologies: Media and Mission Ministries.
Every blessing! / Lars
26.09.2010
الولايات المتحدة
@ kshalhoub:
I too think that our new way of communacating is a gift of God and we should use it. I also beleive God will not allow us to advance in any given area pass a certain point. We as the church must use evry tool available to us to spread the gospel.
22.04.2012
الولايات المتحدة
@ kshalhoub:
Not only is technology aiding the church in reaching those who were otherwise unreachable, it has become a necesary tool to disciple those in the church.
In the US, it is rare to find a church that isn’t using some sort of media either to advertise or as part of their services. Websites, TV commercial, and the like are almost par for the course when it comes to letting the community know about your congregation.
Because our culture is so media-saturated, it is almost unthinkable to go a few weeks without making at least one reference or sermon illustration that has to do with some form of media.
10.12.2012
الولايات المتحدة
A helpful paper. Thanks for the obvious investment of time, energy and thought into providing this resource for us.
I would appreciate more discussion and thinking about the structure of media. How does having 6, 60 or 600 channels available on our TVs -- and 200 million websites -- affect any given person’s view of reality? In what ways does a fragmented media environment generate a challenge to having a unified worldview and a coherent lifestyle? When members of churches are tethered to different online communities, media environments, and sources of information, how does this sociological reality impact unity within the local body of Christ? When media reports and editorial opinions on the same event are sharply different in distinct cities or countries, how does this affect unity within the regional or global body of Christ?
Thanks again for your thoughtful article.
14.07.2010
النرويج
@ Carson_Weitnauer:
Thanks for your warm, appreciative words and your insightful comments. You point rightly to media structures as an area which certainly needs more analysis, reflections and discussions.
You highlight media fragmentation which is an increasingly common experience in all technology-rich countries. It seems to me, however, that this illustrates how media always function as a double-edged sword for us as Christians:
- We certainly need to work on keeping the unity of our local church communities in view of this media fragmentation. Maybe the local church website could be an increasingly important common platform and point of reference? We also need to remind each other globally on the importance of keeping our loyalty to Christ primary and all our social, ethnic and political loyalities as secondary.
- On the other hand, the media fragmentation has real positive potential. The church is called to "equip the saints" for our everyday callings in our various day-to-day tasks. This includes our individual media arenas and platforms. This is a real challenge to everyone with teaching and discipleship responsibilities in the church! And an equally important challenge to each one of us to exemplify Christian integrity and wisdom in our various media engagements, however different these may be.
Thanks again for highlighting these signficant issues.
17.07.2010
الولايات المتحدة
@ Carson_Weitnauer:
Just a thought. One way to look at the mass number of media opportunities is to see that our message may get lost in the vastness of available alternatives. This also may lead people to neglect the content and focus too much on the "quality." (It has to stand out to be seen, and so the message get’s neglected for the sake of "flashyness").
As has been stated already in the article and its comments, the integrity of the gospel message must not be neglected, but neither should the quality and artistry.
10.12.2012
كندا
Grappling with technology is always a topic that I am drawn to; specifically the entertainment world. I love good stories and I love when they are captured in film or TV. Unfortunately good story telling is few and far between. I think that we are all drawn to stories. We love to hear stories of people’s lives, how they came to be who they are and where they are going. We want to live in other people’s shoes, fictional or true to try a different way of living. Sometimes it’s for escape and other times it’s to learn.
I connect a lot with why Jesus told stories. Unfortunately in North America we also want to put the moral of the story at the end. I don’t think Jesus always did that, he was asking us to seek out the message through them. They make us digest the message, play with it and seek out the Truth within it.
I would love to see the young people I work with take the entertainment they partake in and really dissect it. Whether it’s through the music they listen to, the facebook groups they are a part of or through the movies and TV they watch. I think we need to be wise about how we interact with technology and not to forget to listen to it, watch the trends, see how it has a positive influence and how it has a negative influence.
I do not like this time of year in North America. We are entering into the month of Halloween. That’s when everyone jumps on the band wagon of evil entertainment. All shows have to have their spooky theme and movies about evil flood the theatres. I was frustrated when I saw a brief commercial about a new movie coming out called “Devil”. There is this fascination with evil. There is a rejection of God and the good that he represents. Movies like the “Devil”, “Constantine” and shows like “Supernatural” are all about how humanity alone can defeat the evils of the world. People soak up the evil supernatural of the world and yet reject the idea of a good God who is there to help us through our own evil as well as the demonic. I wonder what a movie called “God” would look like. Would people flock to the theatre to see such a film? Can we turn the tide of desires?
While I think that we must be aware of the media messages and trends we should not be afraid of them. Rather we as Christians need to find those stories that challenge us and bring hope and invite others into a discussion about them. We cannot just be entertained. I think there are a lot of opportunities to challenge ourselves through the stories that we come in contact with – real and fictional. Our young people in North America have a distorted view of God’s role in our world because of entertainments dislike of God. He is not present in a lot of the teen shows that attract our young people. In fact you even have movies like “Legion” that display a hateful, vengeful God with desire to kill His creation. These distortions and lies shape a worldview that already does not know who God is.
I see value in watching, reading, and listening to beautiful stories where the characters and audience are challenged to love people and to live a purposeful life. As Christians we need to begin the conversation. I want to watch movies with the young people I work with and talk about them afterwards. I want them to begin to discern what is of value for their lives and how it shapes our culture and worldview. We need to engage in these conversations. Which means, we need to be aware of the technology and how it impacts our lives. It’s not going way, in fact it’s only going to get more advanced and connect us with more ideas from around the world. We need to know how to responsibly manoeuvre through it. As well as strategize how to use it in a way that shows the world who God is and why we need Jesus.
15.09.2010
النرويج
@ Shannon_L:
Thanks, Shannon, for sharing your excitement and your insights about stories. Stories as a key to communicating the biblical worldview in today’s world is certainly worth reflecting on. This includes the fact that the glory of the biblical storyline is that it is true and can transform people’s lives!
I do share your concern about being aware of stories, perspective and worldviews in movies. I would like to recommend Questions to ask when watching movies and soapoperas.
26.09.2010
الولايات المتحدة
@ Shannon_L:
Stories are a powerful tool is changing people’s lives. Jesus used stories. As ministers, I think we should spend a significant amount of time learning to be good story-tellers. After all, we have the greatest story ever! We should be able to communicate that in a compelling way.
10.12.2012
الولايات المتحدة
Well written with great insight. Having served in the US church for over 25 years as a missions director, I have had to play "catch up" to my missionaries on the field who were always first with email, then skype, and now facebook. Without the encouragement of a young missionary to get on facebook, I probably would not have done so and missed out on a wonderful tool, which used correctly is of great benefit to me. I have much more communication with my under 25 age group through facebook than email anymore.
My concern, and that of some of my associates is the "cost" of facebook on our newer missionaries serving overseas. They have direct access to their family and friends here in the States which has taken away from their opportunities of connecting with their new communities, because they don’t have to with facebook allowing them to "stay at home" through media.
My question is how to help them to wean off of the computer and allow God to use them to their fullest in their present location among those people He has called them to serve? Loneliness has taken on a different way of coping in this generation. Any help?
23.09.2010
النرويج
@ Liz_Gold:
Thanks, Liz, for your appreciative words. You do highlight a key issue of utmost importance in today’s global mission context: How to combine continued digital presence in the cultural "home context", with real committed presence in the cultural "mission field context"?
I don’t know if I have any really good answers to this, but I do think we need to take this issue really seriously. I invite others to comment on this dilemma!
Here are some preliminary comments:
Maybe some missionaries (or others) could share their personal experience of this dilemma with us all, and how they have handled it?
Every blessing! / Lars
26.09.2010
الولايات المتحدة
@ Liz_Gold:
Liz,
Thank-you for your thoughts. Missionaries have always had to contain with Homesickness, During the different eras it was handled differently. Hudson Taylor complained about missionaries grouping themselves together instead of doing the work. When I went out in the 1990’s there were articles on how computer games were pulling new missionaries from bonding with the host culture. So now the means has changed though the problem has not.
Ways to help. When screening missionaries before they go out questions could be asked on their social relationships, are they primarily internet based or face to face based.
I and a friend of mine choose to limit the amount of time we spend social networking. I skype my family once a week.
People at home can help in not expecting the missionary to respond immediately to every request. This would help them feel less pressured to constantly keep in contact with their supporters.
Also the home base can help in helping the new missionary write about their daily life in the new place of ministry and prayer needs. This way their communication is building a relationships and intimacy rather than talking about nothing at all.
I hope this helps
18.10.2010
الولايات المتحدة
@ Penny:
I think your idea of limits is a great one. My first instict is to say that this should be the way everyone opperates. But the more I watch young people interact, the more I am accepting this "new" way that people socialize.
We must face the facts that we are in a global community. Physical distance doesn’t have near the impact it used to. I would not be surprised if in the very near future, technology made it acceptable for people to not even visit home for Christmas. When "grandma" is today’s twenty-something (that’s just a few decades from now), "grandma" won’t find it so odd to Skype in your holiday visit.
On the mission field, personal relationship are important and in most cases, that requires face-to-face with the people of the region. But let’s not be blind to the fact that face-to-face may soon be a non-essential part of relationships.
10.12.2012
الولايات المتحدة
One thing that I think is also important about the impact of media is that it needs to have some level of artistic integrity. Through my teenager years (1990s) so-called Christian media lacked artistic integrity. Much of the music, movies, TV shows, and even some worship services were poor attempts to replicate the style of what was going on in popular media. There was little originality and the quality left much to be desired. Most of my Christian friends who partook of such media admittedly did so not because it was good, but because it was Godly. This is a great criteria to base your decisions upon, but these two qualities should not be mutually exclusive. In fact, media designed for God’s people to bring God glory should be more than excellent. God deserves the very best!
10.12.2012
الولايات المتحدة
Have you ever received an email from someone and forwarded it without even thinking about what you were passing along? Sometimes, that is the way we move messages to others pertaining to the church. Technology enables us to move news so fast, we sometimes fail to make sure what we move is true. Technology, whether it is through media or other means is a wonderful tool to use in sharing the gospel. It is also a tool that can be used to spread things that aren’t very sound. We need to make sure that whatever we use is presenting the truth.
At least for me, it is sometimes scary as to what we can present through media and technology. It also excites me to think about how we can communicate with so many people around the world.
12.12.2011
الولايات المتحدة
@ brucec:
I agree that it can become scary how anybody can send infromation across the world and many people think it is truth when it may well be a lie. Just like everything else in the world our new thec. cand be used for good or evil. I even warn my church members how simply watching a movie that is surpose to be bibical can be misleading if you don’t study the word yourself.Before you pass infro. on check it out.
22.04.2012
الولايات المتحدة
Dear Penny,
Thank you for the good idea of asking about their social life - medai or otherwise. I plan to include that as a question when people are heading to the field, but also request it as something in our annual report questionnaire to just make us and our missionaries aware of the concern that the social media piece could be if abused. Your insight and decision to limit your skype time shows your awareness of how this could become a problem if not properly maintained.
I appreciate your response and Lars in askig the hard questions!
Liz
19.10.2010
ألمانيا
Warm greetings from a participant of the media technology forum at Pattaya 2004 - I can tell you what I remember best is the traditional african story telling presentation we did at the end before the plenum. May the Holy Spirit open your understanding of all kinds of media both traditional and new media, Ingrid from Germany
18.10.2010
الولايات المتحدة
the I really appreciate the emphasis in this paper on, "the importance of an appropriate understanding of key worldview traditions and trends for missional engagement with the media.” In my experience, Christians have often either turned a blind eye to the reigning worldviews and consumed mainstream culture without discernment, or we have staged boycotts and created our own media with Christian messages, which are often poor in quality on all fronts. Much of what is deemed “Christian media” is a poor imitation of what is popular, which does not glorify the Creator whose image we bear. My hope, as an arts professional working mostly outside the church, is that Christians will become more intentionally engaged with the mainstream arts and media/entertainment on all fronts. I pray for more thoughtful engagement – for Christians who are willing to approach mainstream media not as reactionaries, but as interpreters. I would love to see more Christians pushing back, rather than fleeing altogether or giving up the ghost and simply swallowing it all.
To that end, I also appreciate that “there is an urgent need globally for appropriate, authentic and credible Christian role models, communicators and commentators in the general news and entertainment media.” This is very much part of my work seeking to equip aspiring, emerging, and established professionals in the arts with solid pragmatic and philosophical framework for approaching their work with an eye on creating art (i.e. film, novels, visual art, theater, dance, etc) that is good, true, and beautiful.
There will always be films, novels, and music made by Christians and for Christians. But how about more Christians making art for the world at large? Leaders in excellence, storytelling, visuals, writing, performing, etc? It is happening... I long to see it happen more!
15.10.2010
المملكة المتحدة
I would say it is not so much that technology is ambivalent, but rather it is neutral in itself. The consequence of the dual nature of humanity (created by God but fallen) is then that technology is used both for evil, and for good and Godly purposes - or at least it has the potential to be so used. So the internet is full of pornography on the one hand, and persuasion that the Biblical gospel is true on the other. The dangers are immense - the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11 is all about humanity’s arrogant attempt to glorify itself through co-operation and the use of technology without God. But with God, co-operation and technology can be use powerfully for his glory.
The issue of the captivity of the main media channels in the West by an unrepresentative atheistic secular elite needs to be addressed. For instance, in the UK, it is prohibited by law for religious groups, including Christian, to own national broadcasting licences. The churches bear some responsibility for letting this happen. Unless Christians are fully aware what they are getting into if they seek to be a presence in such established media, there is a high risk that they will succumb to peer pressure and lose their gospel cutting edge.
The digital revolution is just as dramatic as the printing revolution that fuelled the Reformation, and challenges the monopoly of the big broadcasters in a potentially very fruitful way. There are huge possibilities opening up for Christians. We have tried to make a start at the church in the North East of England where I minister. We now have a 24 hour internet TV channel, Clayton TV (www.clayton.tv). We are on a steep learning curve!
05.10.2010
النرويج
@ Jonathan_Pryke:
Thanks, Jonarhan, for your perceptive comment. Technology (at least in many cases) may be neutral, but our human use of technology is always ambivalent.
You also rightly point out the urgent need to address the captivity of the main media channels in the West by an unrepresentative atheistic secular elite. Or to phrase this key concern in another way: Are major news and entertainment media agents of secularization? Thanks for your important emphasis on the new media as a platform for challenging these agents of secularization.
Every blessing! / Lars
08.10.2010
الفلبين
I agree with the "urgent need globally for an appropriate, authentic, and credible Christian role models in the media." I have watched some reality tv shows with some participants confessing their Christian faith and beliefs. There were those that have won friendships and respect of their co-participants and televiewers. However, there were those who received insults and anger. One ended up as the grand prize winner. Were they aware of the impact of their media presence? I think it is important to outline a Christian role model profile. Purpose, strategies, goals, are need to be clearly identified and communicated. "Without revelation/vision people cast off restraint." -Proverbs 29:18. "My people are destroyed because of lack of knowledge." Hosea 4:6. Moreover, after watching these reality tv shows, in order to be an effective witness, we need to be R.E.A.L. (Real and Relevant- Example of Excellence in -Attitude and Aptitude - Love-led.)Truly, "People will not care how much we know unless they know how much we care."
07.10.2010
النرويج
@ Janine_A:
Thanks, Janine, for highlighting the need for appropriate and authentic Christian presence in reality shows.
With the enourmous popularity of many of these TV shows comes a media celebrity status which often makes it extremely challenging for participating Christians to be faithful to God’s Word. However, as you rightly point out, whenever the concept of a reality show makes it possible and participating Christians live authentic Christian lives, this is a very powerful witness. Not the least in the way other participants are treated.
This illustrates both the need for media awareness resouces (for everyone watching!) and mentoring / prayer (for those participating!).
Every blessing! / Lars
08.10.2010
الفلبين
I agree with the "urgent need globally for an appropriate, authentic, and credible Christian role models in the media." I have watched some reality tv shows with some participants confessing their Christian faith and beliefs. There were those that have won friendships and respect of their co-participants and televiewers. However, there were those who received insults and anger. One ended up as the grand prize winner. Were they aware of the impact of their media presence? I think it is important to outline a Christian role model profile. Purpose, strategies, goals, are need to be clearly identified and communicated. "Without revelation/vision people cast off restraint." -Proverbs 29:18. "My people are destroyed because of lack of knowledge." Hosea 4:6. Moreover, after watching these reality tv shows, in order to be an effective witness, we need to be R.E.A.L. (Real and Relevant- Example of Excellence in -Attitude and Aptitude - Love-led.)Truly, "People will not care how much we know unless they know how much we care."
07.10.2010
الولايات المتحدة
Two areas of the five proposed interactivity caught my attention:
Understanding how a classical Christian view of truth, humanity and morality may shape our interactions with the information and communication technologies and how such responsible stewardship may be an individual and corporate witness to “One God and One Lord.”
and
Understanding how the biblical Gospel of “God in Christ, Reconciling the World to Himself” (2 Cor. 5:19) may be communicated creatively, engagingly and interactively through the means of contemporary media technologies, platforms and formats.
Both of these are highly desirable but both will depend upon “being one…phil 2) This will require a supernatural act (or millions of them) of humility of mind as one of the greatest hinderences to the gospel witness is the ongoing inter-faith feuding. As one person noted, the Body of Christ is so busy dividing that it cannot multiply. Let us reflect the mind that was in Christ Jesus so powerfully described in Philippians 2.
While the application of this commitment to unity is more obvious in the case of the first statement’s focus on responsibly witnessing to “One God and One Lord,” it is also significant in the area of creative engagement. If the truth criteria set down in this paper: coherency, consistency, corresponding to reality, changing and transforming are followed in the areas of creative and imaginative media, can we give enterprising and cutting edge messengers the benefit of our support?
Being a creative, it is often hard to get ideas underway because someone is too afraid that something could be taken wrong or there is too great a risk to attempt a bridge build with a contemporary or cultural idea or commodity because it could “taint” the gospel rather than have the gospel expose or illuminate the idea in question. No risk, no reward. Just because a piece does not reflect our personal aesthetic or perception does not make it wrong. Different maybe but not wrong.
As a storyteller God has no equal so as His regenerated image-bearers, we should become the best weavers of narrative the media sees. Supporting arts and artists who believe God has called them into this rich mission field, creating communities where these abilities are nurtured and having a church that values them are important steps.
The threefold distinction of the different types of media messages may be oversimplified a bit. For instance, “facts” are more often than not “faction” – news passed through the sieve of the worldview of writers, producers and corporate news outlets. Even straightforward messages can become selectively edited for “sound bites” and “gotcha” moments that serve the ends of those who broadcast.
The desired outcome expressed in 2 Cor 5:19 is a great one. Telling the truth in a winsome way, inviting humanity at large to see their place, their faces in the grand story by focusing on what an earlier generation referred to as “common grace” as well as our common sorrows and challenges may be the start of a radical media reformation.
19.09.2010
النرويج
@ RagamuffinRese:
Thanks for sharing your helpful insights and perspectives about Christian unity, creativity, and interactivity.
Yes, I do agree that we should give "enterprising and cutting edge messengers the benefit of our support". We hope to be able to show some key examples of such groundbreaking Christian media engagement in the multiplex Media Messages Matter: On Global Technologies, Glocal Trends and Gospel Truth.
Every blessing / Lars
26.09.2010
الفلبين
This is a very insightful article that tackles a significant issue in our world today. Thank you for reminding us about our responsibilities as God’s workers in “proper media awareness”. I believe that with this responsibility comes our task of:
- Educating our young people in rural churches of new trends & how to rightfully cope & handle the fast-changing & fast- developing technology. This is a need especially for us from developing countries in equipping those who don’t have access to such technology but will soon be taking the world when they start working and when they become the future leaders of the next generation.
- Assuring & Assisting the not-so-young people in our urban & rural churches that there are still applicable mediums available for them without struggling through these new technologies. Sometimes they feel threatened hearing these new developments.
- Contextualizing or finding what fits a certain culture or audience. As we train, coach and mentor our co-workers in the cross-cultural areas, we need to see how one medium will affect them or will they understand it better or will it cause confusion. Sometimes we are too excited to use new things but we don’t really see how it will affect them.
I especially appreciate how you reminded us in your last paragraph specifically with points 1 (we must engage as God’s ambassadors) & 3 (the case about silence, biblical meditation & prayer. For me these three things are still one of the best ways of being continually transformed in the Lord.
Thank You for reminding us to be extra careful in using diverse modes of media. Yes, indeed they are also God’s gift for us so we might as well use it for His kingdom’s advantage.
11.09.2010
النرويج
@ abigail:
Thanks, Abigail, for your appreciating and encouraging words. You highlight the need for both cultural and generational sensitivity. We all need such key reminders in our search for appropriate approaches when sharing the Gospel.
Yes, the fundamental need to create genuine space for silence, biblical meditation and prayer is a constant challenge for most of us. At least this is true in the Global North. This whole area is certainly something to focus on in Cape Town.
Every blessing! / Lars
12.09.2010
النرويج
The criteria of truth play a key role in my advance paper on Media Messages Matter: On Christ, Truth and the Media. Some people have asked me (by e-mails and in personal conversations) to expand on the third more pragmatic criterion of truth - i.e. "truth is that which changes and transforms".
This third criterion - or test - of truth presupposes the other two crteria. When making truth claims, we should both make sense (the first test) and describe reality in an appropriate way (the second test). If these two primary truth criteria are satisfied, the third test may also be applied.
A helpful explanation of the third test of truth is provided by evangelical philosopher and ethicist E. David Cook:
"... The third test is some form of pragmatic one. This is a varied kind of test stretching from the crude and direct form of "If it works, it must be right" to a popular expression in the philosophy of science which uses the standard of fertility in producing new insight and other theories...
...Christian faith must work in the sense of transforming human life and society.
Thus, the [Christian] believer is required to talk sense rather than nonsense, to point to the reality of God in ways that are appropriate, and to show the difference God makes to life. Then, indeed, Christianity may be taken more seriously by the unbeliever." (E David Cook Thinking about faith (Leicester: IVP, 1986) p.26)
His full explanation of all the three criteria is also worth reading.
The relevance to media awareness, media presence and media mission ministries should be obvious to all of us. Do we in our engagement with the media "talk sense rather than nonsene, point to the reality of God in ways that are appropriate and show tha difference God makes to life"?
06.09.2010
يتوجب عليك تسجيل الدخول أولاً لكي تتمكن من نشر تعليق. إذا لم يكن لديك حساب، يمكن التسجيل الآن (إنه مجاني وسهل!)