To Change the World Campaign – Through Five Core Principles Part 2

Do you know the real message the media culture is communicating? Is there a singular story, a general theme? Whether it’s on a conscious or subconscious level, we are being told, “You, as an individual, are the center of the universe.” You are more important than anything else. Your needs, wants and desires must be met at any cost. The message comes in the form of instant gratification and the glorification of wealth, power and sex. This helps to explain our obsession with consumerism, which is at the root of most of our problems.


Businesses and corporations want to sell you something. Media outlets need cash to produce programming. In turn, they are able to create content that can influence the culture. Their influence turns into desire. As desire increases in the culture, it creates demand. Demand fuels the cycle, which takes us back to square one.

Craig Detweiler, a professor at Fuller Seminary in California, puts it this way. “The media is a process lived in the marketplace, driven by consumerism, fueled by advertising, and obtained by celebrity.”

This situation that we find ourselves in is similar to when satan tempted Eve with the DESIRE to taste the fruit. She was convinced she had to have it. Today, its like DESIRE created by the media culture is on steroids.

Nowhere is this affect more intensified than on our youth. Today’s media culture has become the ”new church “ for a new generation. It is a place of worship. It takes place in our local multiplexes, mobile media devices, computer screens, and flat screen televisions.

Under the age of 18, the average daily consumption of media is nearly 8 hours a day. It’s raising our kids. Some studies suggest that 70% of kids that are now in church youth groups will abandon their faith. I realize that this is disturbing. And many people I talk to refuse to accept the findings.

I have been involved in media ministries for over 25 years. In that time, I have worked with high school and college students. I have also worked with many youth ministries. I’m convinced that the numbers are right on target. I’ve got eyes to see and ears to hear.

Often, I am able to ask questions when kids are more relaxed and open. My findings are first, most young people don’t know what they believe. Second, what they do believe; they can’t tell you why. Third, they have a somewhat fragmented Christian worldview. For parents, “it’s everybody but my kids” approach. They believe by setting standards, such as no cable TV and other guidelines that they are safe. Are they? Parents and youth workers see what they want to see. Sure, everything might look good on the surface, but nobody is willing to look under the surface. We really don’t want to see the truth.

The media crisis is everybody’s issue. Every Christian must play a part in finding a workable solution. Our ability to function as a Christian and be effective in our ministry is directly proportionate to our response as the Body of Christ to the media culture crisis. Currently, we have no plan. We have no strategy. No unified effort. I think we need one. I want you to know that there is a plan. It starts by accepting the first principle. There is hope in this crisis.

Consider this analogy. Have you ever tried to work outside in the sun on a hot summer day? Let’s say a really hot summer day at 105 degrees. How productive are you? Everything is a challenge. It takes every effort just to stay cool and survive. What would happen if you turned the temperature down to say 90 to 95 degrees? It would still be hot. But it would be a little bit more bearable. Perhaps we would be more effective and productive in our work. What if we could get the temperature down to 80 to 85 degrees? Now the environment would no longer be in the way. We could be fully productive and no longer concerned with just trying to survive. The media culture is like a hot summer day at 105 degrees. It makes us ineffective. Somehow, we have to find a way to turn down the temperature. By doing so, no matter what our ministry, we will be in a better position to further the cause of Christ. The reason that ministries are not successful is because of the environment the media culture has created.

This is every Christian’s issue—yours and mine. No matter what the cause or ministry, from the pro-life movement, outreach, youth ministry, teaching, local church, family counseling, etc., we all can play a part that will make a difference. Our part is to turn down the temperature. Everyone playing their small part equals the whole.

We don’t have a choice because in five years, the temperature is going to be 110 degrees. We must do something NOW, not tomorrow. We have to care about this issue because it’s in our self interest. It amounts to self-preservation. We’ll act when we accept Principle One.

Principle One—Christianity is rapidly loosing its impact on culture. Today the media controls the culture and, by doing so, controls the hearts and minds of the people. That includes both young and old, Christians and nonbelievers. In fact, it is no longer possible to determine where culture starts and where media ends. They have combined to create a media culture. We now have a “media culture crisis”. Every Christian must play a part in solving this crisis.

If we reject this principle, there is really no hope or anywhere else to go.

We cannot change the media culture until we, the Body of Christ, are willing to change. Are you ready to move on to Principle Two or not?
TUESDAY PART 3