Christian Radio

This past week I listened to a podcast where the hosts of a Southern California radio show were interviewing the producer of a Midwest radio show.  The producer commented that the demographic for Christian radio is a 65-year-old woman female.  At first I was shocked, but after thinking on it, the truth was obvious based on my experience.

Here in eastern Iowa, there is a Christian radio station to which my family listens only because it is the only such station that can be received in our house.  I have long objected to the programming as being largely frivolous and inane, because its continuing message is "Feel good about us," "We're family-friendly," "We are the pivotal tool in bringing people to God," and other sentimental slogans.  Now, I do not mind any of the messages the station shares, but I can get all that from listening to the local classical and jazz music stations.  For solid information on current events, I turn to talk radio.

What is the purpose for this or any other Christian radio station?  What should separate it from any other genre?  To answer these a goal must be determined.  If the intent is to pander to the lowest common denominator, as is happening with the example station now, the final effect will be listeners who have positive feelings about good deeds delivered with a hint of Christian slang, but nothing about Christ and him crucified will be communicated.  On the other hand, if the goal is to build Christians in the faith once for all delivered to the saints, I give some helpful suggestions.

Music
Arrangements and instrumentation are largely a matter of taste, but content is king.  I do not say that songs talking about losing keys or imagining certain cartoon characters praising the Lord are wrong.  We can appreciate them for what they are.  My hackles get raised when supposedly praise and worship songs speak more of me than the Savior; or when the song can be sung to my spouse by changing only one or two words.  Get rid of those, and I am happy.

Teaching
Programming with solid exposition should be available. I do not mean programs for self-help or understanding how to have my best life, rather solid Bible teaching, apologetics, and practical application to current events. Programs such as Stand to Reason, White Horse Inn, and Issues, Etc. are but a few of many that could form a solid base.

Events
Community events are important and should be promoted even if the station is not the main promoter.  Make it known.

Advertising
Feel free to have fundraisers, do not tell people that mentioning a certain company is just sharing that the proprietors are donating to the station.  Call it what it is—advertising.  If budget will not be made because you are sending the station manager and spouse on a trip to Israel or a cruise, cut the trip.  Do not continually come back asking for more through the year.  If there is a legitimate emergency, make it known.  The Lord's people will cover it.

This post has gone somewhat afield from where it began, but Christian radio and programming in my part of the country needs serious help, and I can guarantee others do, also.

Radio Static

Today I found the following Facebook status:

Hell's radio stations: Rush, Glenn, Sean & Alan, Contemporary Christian music with no commercial interruptions . . .

Lest anyone think these are the words of a liberal secularist bent on destroying the church and all that is sacred, the man who shared these thoughts has an M.Div. from a U.S. seminary and a Ph.D. in Theology and Ethics from University of Edinburgh. He currently teaches at a seminary in the U.S. I realize that with these credentials, he could still be a wolf amongst the flock, but I have known him personally for over 30 years and think his opinions have merit.

Talk radio
Let's start with the political commentators. I admit to listening to the first three men within the past 24 hours via radio and internet feed and have periodically over the years. Each is well-known for his conservative political opinions. There is one thing I have learned from listening: though they each purport to believe in God, each approaches socio-political problems from a humanist perspective. Glenn warns of the rampant spending and uncontrolled "czars." Rush trumpets American ingenuity and exceptionalism. Sean argued with Michael Moore about what constitutes a Christian viewpoint of capitalism. They each cited Jesus' words to bolster his case. Frankly, I doubt any of them knows what a biblical perspective looks like: pray for those who rule; care for widows and orphans in their need; live as resident aliens (because our citizenship is in heaven), seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, etc.

Does that mean I should avoid politics or not speak out? Not at all. When Tertullian wrote The Apology, the intended recipients were "Rulers of the Roman Empire"--the first words written in the treatise. This he did in the face of persecution. It seems no less important to do so while living in a free state, but that does not define us. We are not being made into the image of the Founding Fathers but into the image of Christ.

Contemporary Christian Music
I might be able to count on one hand the number of songs that have been written in the last twenty years having meaningful content. By that I mean words that do not dwell on my feelings or dwell on my relationships or repeat endlessly or repeat endlessly or repeat endlessly or repeat . . .

Music has purpose, and no, it is not to make us feel worshipful on Sunday morning. In the church it is a teaching tool. Look at Colossians 3:16

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Notice that there are two participial phrases: 1) teaching and admonishing; and 2) singing psalms and hymns spiritual songs. Paul is connecting these thoughts to help believers understand that music is to be doctrinally sound. On the whole, CCM does not fit the description, yet churches insist on using the popular choruses ad infinitum. Many hymns are no better. We just need to be more careful of what is being taught by the praise band.

Someone will say, "But the songs speak to me where I am." Fine, listen to mainstream country. Those artists and songwriters can say it much better. For worship I expect something that points me to the Lord of the universe. Someone else will retort, "But the psalmist talks about feelings." Yes, he does, but the ultimate focus is the person and work of God.

Conclusion
Ask yourself this question: Is my radio-listening governing me, or am I governing my radio-listening? By that, I am saying that you can listen to whatever you desire, but make sure it is active listening "with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ" (Philippians 1:10).