Huff Po
_Phil Cooke, Ph.D._ (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/phil-cooke-phd)
How Christianity Lost Its Voice
in Today's Media Driven World
Posted: 12/05/2012
Historians can keep arguing about whether or not America was founded as a
"Christian" country, but one thing is for sure: For most of this country's
history, Christianity has been the dominate cultural force. From the engine
behind social service outreaches, to the founding of our greatest
educational institutions and hospitals, to prayers before government sessions
and
sporting events, the Christian faith has made an indelible mark on our
society -- at least until recently.
Today that voice is in decline. Although a 2012 Pew Forum Study indicated
that 73 percent of Americans still identify themselves as "Christian," that
number would drop dramatically when it comes to significant areas of
influence such as the media, academia, business, entertainment and more.
In my new book, "Unique: Telling Your Story in the Age of Brands and Social
Media," I point out that Christianity has always had a love/hate
relationship with the culture -- particularly the media. Historically,
innovation
and technology has more likely been perceived as a threat than friend. The
Catholic Church rose up against the specter of the printing press, fearing
the common man's ability to read the Bible for himself would undermine the
Church's authority. As a result, William Tyndale spent most of his adult life
running from the authorities, living among smugglers, and eventually being
martyred, all for the "crime" of translating the Word of God into English.
Since that time, the Church has learned some important lessons. By 1833 the
largest publisher in America, Harper and Company, boasted one
horse-powered printing press and seven hand presses. But at the same time, the
American
Bible Society owned 16 new steam driven presses and 20 hand presses.
Early in the 20th century, the Church embraced motion pictures, radio, then
television and now the Internet and social media. But in the vast majority
of cases, we're not using those platforms to engage the greater culture,
we're living inside a bubble. After all, why tweet, when you can join
"Christian Chirp," the "Christian alternative to Twitter." And don't go to
eHarmony or Match.com if you're looking for a Christian mate, use "Christian
Mingle." From the web, to publishing, to record labels, TV networks,
universities and more, the last 50 years have seen a remarkable withdrawal
from
mainstream culture and a move back to a cloistered, protective bubble.
In all honesty, the Church isn't losing it's voice, it's giving it away.
But Jesus never advocated protective bubbles, and never retreated from the
challenges of the culture around him. Jesus spent his life where the people
were -- in the marketplace, social gatherings, or the Temple Square -- and
He wasn't afraid to answer the hard questions. And in Acts 17, the Apostle
Paul went directly to the pagan philosophers at Mars Hill. He understood
their beliefs as much as they did, and was so intriguing they invited him
back. But today, when it comes to the culture around us, the Church is far
more likely to protest, criticize and condemn, rather than actually engage.
To regain our voice and re-engage today's culture, we need to understand
the power of perception. In the '80s, The Moral Majority may have been
motivated by noble reasons, but to the greater culture, they were about
condemnation, rather than grace. As a result, they were perceived as simply
the
frustrated and angry cry of those the culture had left behind.
The great challenge of the Church today is speaking into a culture that
perceives us as an irrelevant, out of touch museum piece. During my lifetime,
living by Judeo-Christian principles was assumed and taken for granted. We
all [k]new the rules, so it was acceptable to harshly question people who
went against Bible teaching. But in a world where bestselling books are
titled "God is Not Great," and hostility to the faith is championed by much of
the culture, we must react differently if we're to engage the hearts and
minds of those around us.
The Christian Church has to come to terms with the fact that while it's
role in leading American culture may be over, it's voice at the table is not.
That doesn't mean we side-step issues that matter, but we speak the truth
in a way that engages rather than condemns. In a media-driven culture,
perception matters. Two thousand years ago, an obscure, marginal group
following
the teachings of Jesus became the dominant religious force in the Western
world. They didn't have political power, an army or vast wealth. But
through their lifestyle, their relationships and their actions, they changed
the
perception of Rome, and eventually impacted the world.
Phil Cooke, Ph.D., is a filmmaker, media consultant, and author of
'Unique: Telling Your Story in the Age of Brands and Social Media.'
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