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The Validity and Value of Christian Media Presence

Author: Lars Dahle
Date: 31.07.2010
Category: Media & Technology, Truth & Pluralism, Workplace Ministry

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"Why should an evangelical mission organization (such as Norwegian Lutheran Mission) own and operate a university college (such as Gimlekollen School of Journalism and Communication) with an emphasis on educating journalists and other media communicators?"

I am constantly encountering this critical question in Norway and beyond, both inside and outside Christian circles.

Usually, my answers to this question include one or more of the following reasons: (1) the biblical cultural mandate also includes the whole media sector; (2) historically, academic and vocational education started within a Christian context; (3) in principle, any faith community has a right to start any such education; and (4) contemporary mission work needs qualified media workers, both for awareness and production.

This leads to the main point in this blog post: We need to emphasize the validity and value of Christian media presence in the major news and entertainment media, whether these are local, national, regional or global.

Such media presence presupposes professionalism and includes a number of complementary roles:

Christian journalists and documentarians - introducing neglected stories, cases and angles
Christian commentators - introducing neglected ideas, values and perspectives
Christians in the creative media and the arts - introducing new ways of imagining Christian truths
Christian apologists in media opinion and debate fora - arguing for the credibility of biblical truth over against questions, objections and worldview alternatives

Evangelical churches and ministries should give freedom to talented Christians to enter such pluralistic media fields with courage and wisdom. We need to grow young Christians with integrity who are committed to biblical truth, personal holiness and media professionalsm - and who are equipped with a holistic Christian worldview.

Equipping such talented Christians for these significaant media roles is definitely a key missional task within the media field for the future!

Keywords: media presence, pluralism, marketplace

Conversation Post Comment

: Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down Danny_McCain (2)
Nigeria

Lars, Thanks for the work you are doing. I have no problems with an evangelical organization creating an organization that will serve the whole community. However, I do sometimes worry that we are isolating ourselves from others. If we can create an organization that attracts non-evangelicals and even unbelievers to our institution, that would be outstanding. However, if we are creating an organization where only evangelicals are present, I wonder if that will really prepare them for the non-evangelical market place which is obviously our real goal.

I suppose I am more interested in penetrating not only the marketplace but the public educational institutions that are preparing people for the marketplace. I would hope that some of your graduates will make a deliberate effort to secure jobs in secular institutions that are also doing media-related training.

Obviously, God is a God of variety and uses many different approaches and I commend you for yours. Obviously, trying to influence the mainstream world media today should be one of our most strategic goals. Lead on, brother.

Danny McCain

09.09.2010

Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down Lars_Dahle (4)

Norway
@ Danny_McCain:

Thanks, Danny, for words of real encouragement and true wisdom. You rightly highlight the danger of creating evangelical ghettos.

Let me offer the following brief reflections:

The vision of my own institution is to educate students in journalism and other media-related fields on an evangelical foundation. This certainly includes a considerable number both of non-evangelical students and non-Christian students.

The academy is definitely a key worldview-shaping institution in today’s world, alongside the mainstream media. Possibly even more important than the media!

It seems to me that evangelical academics in non-religious higher education institutions and confessional evangelical colleges have complementary and equally important roles.

Every blessing for your ministry! / Lars

11.09.2010

: Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down jerryjoule (0)
United States

Not only should Christians be involved in media, we should be leading the way in creative broadcasting. Unfortunately we have not been able to compete in terms of quality. This is probably due to the issue of lack of support and financing. I hope we can see great things out of Christian media worldwide in the years to come.

12.08.2010

: Reply Flag 0 Thumbs Up Thumbs Down Lars_Dahle (4)
Norway
@ jerryjoule:
Thanks, Jerry, for this helpful and important comment! I do agree with you that we as Christians often have lacked both creativity and quality in our media involvement.

As you indicate, this is partly due to funding. But I am convinced that is is also partly due to the fact that we do not educate and encourage talented young Christians to be entrepeneurial, professional and culturally engaging in relationship to media.

There is certainly space for committed Christians be leading in creativity, whether this is broadcasting, new digital media, publishing etc.

We need many such Christians nationally, regionally and globally - with talents and integrity - in major news and entertaintanment media as well as in various Christian media ventures.

13.08.2010