Soothing Ourselves to Death – Christianity Today Magazine:
The decision by influential Christian broadcasters and music companies to avoid moral controversies could result in the church withdrawing from the culture as it tragically did a century ago. What is the job of Christian radio, after all? To give people what they want, or–as with any ministry–to give them what they need? Music is important in the life of the church and can inspire us to focus on Christ. But it cannot take the place of solid teaching.
(Via Christianity Today Magazine.)
Chuck Colson laments the removal of his Break Point four-minute program from Christian radio stations. He attributes this to avoidance of real issues by Christian radio.
While I would not make the argument that music replaces teaching, I’ve often said we are over-taught in the Evangelical church. The old guard still believes if you preach it, people en masse will change. The problem? Even in the churches with the “best” preachers, people in churches rarely change much beyond their initial conversion. And when they do, it is rarely because of great preaching but can be attributed to circumstances in life which drove them to a greater dependence on God.
I wish I could say the removal of Colson’s program is a sign that Christians everywhere are beginning to realize they need to practice spiritual disicplines and be proactive in their spiritual formation by doing more than listening to someone teach. More than likely, however, they are just painfully aware all the talking does them no good, and they’d rather just listen to happy-happy songs. Either way, though, this time is the reason there’s an emerging church. If Christians begin to see that “solid teaching” is only a small part of their spiritual formation, perhaps we can rise up and show them other important parts in their development in Christ?
Sometimes I get the idea that some syndicated preachers, like Colson, are convinced that the rest of us just can’t do without them.
Then there’s the other side of this “over-taught” equation. How many pew warmers are convinced that the more ecclesiastical verbiage they suffer through in a given week, the better a person they will be.
What if it’s just a multi billion dollar industry of interwoven codependencies?
bill
April 6th, 2006
i’ll tell you this: a few years ago, i was not a christian. but for some reason i kept listening to the christian music channel.
now i know why: it’s because it wasn’t hellfire and brimstone, it was exactly as the commercials said: positive and encouraging.
that positive and encouraging source on the radio indirectly led me back to him, it said that i could come to him exactly as i am, not being afraid of all the sins and wrongdoings of the world but i could use him as my mentor my guide and my light.
suzanne
April 8th, 2006
Colson and his like have been pushing friendship with this world and service to its priorities and purposes, for long enough. We not are not here to glorify any nations or constitutions or systems of this world; we are here to glorify the Christ and His Father. I am happy to see voices like Colson’s being quieted down, more and more, and I believe it is being done by God Himself.
Jonathan E. Brickman
April 17th, 2006
I think it is also related to the whole “dialog” thing. Young Christians are much more interested in the exchange, can you speak to them in a way that their “listening” will actually matter. There is ubiquitous “information” out there, it is the authentic and meaningful stuff that get attention. So pundits “preaching” on the radio doesn’t atract the same interest. The message, if it is good, must be embodied by the person. It is a quality control thing, though Colson has no understanding of it, he has not built a “relationship” with this next generation so they won’t listen to him.
Speaking of which, I listen to your podcast and have not chimed in before.
ryan
April 29th, 2006
yes to the above, and even a few hearty amens. . . but . . . is Colson’s removal symbolic of the ever-fluffiness of the body of Christ. Give us more Bubble gum for our soft brains and immature hearts. We may be tired of Colsons, but less of “them” may further our flabbiness.
Kerry Doyal
April 29th, 2006
Whether Colson on the air to me is not the issue. Colson is an intelligent, articulate Christian who has a deep understanding of the importance of having a Christian Worldview and how to intellectually reason and discern with logic and wisdom.
The great majority of The “Emergent Leaders” are not worth their bandwidth. They believe everything, not wanting to offend everyone and relate to everyone without applying wisdom, courage and discernment. Lets see how well, feel good theology holds up for 20-30years and see if they are as confused as they are now or maybe they will really start to believe in absolutes, not relativity to the extreme. I would rather sit under Colsons teaching and wisdom than say McLaren whining about how we need world peace and kindness to strangers and their pets. Yes, I have read his books.
Tim
Tim Wright
April 30th, 2006