Here's some penetrating observations from our long-time friend and colleague in the Lord's work, John Malek. It struck me the other day and I was reminded reading your blog, that it seems odd (or maybe sad) that the government wants to reinstitute the Fairness Doctrine or some more stealth muzzle to "right wing" talk radio, but not to "Christian" radio.
Is that telling of Christians being irrelevant?
I know there is plenty of anti-Christian sentiment among the ruling class and I know the church has been weakly active in opposing same sex marriage, abortion, and probably some other stuff :-), but I just think it interesting that the government sees "right wing" talk radio as more of an obstacle to it's totalitarian dreams than the church is.
Of course spiritual freedom is more important that temporal freedom, but it seems the Church ought to recognize unbiblical forms of government and have something to say about it and maybe even explain to their congregations why some forms of government are unbiblical...
Wow. And right on, John. A few years ago, one of the Christian radio stations in our town adopted as its slogan, "Safe for the Whole Family," a rather bland and neutral phrase I've always been uncomfortable with. For though Christians have obvious responsibilities to live, as the Scriptures command us, "pure and unstained by the world," we certainly shouldn't be ducking for cover in the culture wars.
Holiness is not a passive thing, but a very active, even martial lifestyle -- a calling to serve as a soldier in Christ's service, armed with spiritual armor, weapons and purposes. And with an offensive mindset. Our calling isn't to stay out of harm's way (an unavoidable implication of the radio station's slogan) but rather to "occupy" until Jesus returns. Primary in that service is a holy lifestyle but natural accompaniments are 1) the bold, unequivocal preaching of the gospel, 2) ministry to the needy and the "least of these" in the Name of Christ, and 3) delineating to the surrounding culture what the Bible teaches, including the very "unsafe" topics like those John mentions above.
There are some Christian radio stations who have continued a prophetic voice. But not very many. Most have gone into an inspiration/entertainment mode, eliminating Bible teaching programs and issue-oriented programs altogether. Indeed, the Christian activists in my circle are no longer listening to Christian radio (the Bott Radio Network which has a station down in Lincoln is an exception) but find more inspiration, information and relevant calls to action from folks like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, Michael Reagan and company.
Most Christian radio is just too "safe" to be very helpful.
John, as usual, my friend...you're spot on here. Thanks for the wise exhortation.
