Media and Our Capacity for Humility

A fool does not delight in understanding,
But only in revealing his own mind (Prov 18:2)

In the previous post regarding holiness and modern media, I contended that we hinder our walk with Christ if we use modern media uncritically and naively. In the posts to follow, I hope to demonstrate how capacities inherent to faithful Christian discipleship are endangered by an unthinking embrace of media. We want to follow this by examining Ephesians 5:15-17 and its application to the media world, and finally conclude with a few practical suggestions on how Christians might use modern media with wisdom and discernment.

The first capacity endangered by media, particularly that of the published and communication variety, is a properly humble self-awareness. The Christian is called to "all humility" (Eph 4:2), in view of God's sovereign grace (cf. Eph 2:8-10), and to remember "he is nothing," so that he is not hindered in the need to "bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ" (Gal 6:2-3). Yet, cultivating humility is certainly not the focus of media.

Via such venues as blogs (go ahead, chuckle at the apparent hypocrisy!), texts, Facebook, and Twitter, we have the historically unprecedented ability to instantly update and broadcast our perceptions, criticisms, and experiences to a mass audience. Though this potential may come with a price... foolishly believing that sharing our own mind is really that important.

William Deresiewicz, in his article, "The End of Solitude," made a similar observation:

The goal now, it seems, is simply to become known, to turn oneself into a sort of miniature celebrity. How many friends do I have on Facebook? How many people are reading my blog? How many Google hits does my name generate? Visibility secures our self-esteem, becoming a substitute, twice removed, for genuine connection.

Nicholas Carr, addressing Twitter in particular, is even more direct:

Twitter is the telegraph of Narcissus. Not only are you the star of the show, but everything that happens to you, no matter how trifling, is a headline, a media event, a stop-the-presses bulletin.

Reflecting universal and total depravity, narcissism is unavoidable as a cultural phenomenon. But for Christians it is inexcusable, because it unsettles the foundation of the Gospel itself:

...the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,so that, just as it is written, 'LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD' (1 Cor 1:28-31)

The reality, however painful it may be to admit, is that our thoughts and experiences are terribly unimportant (Take a minute and let that one soak in... I know it stings a bit). If His Word is inestimable (e.g., Ps 119:127) and our words are negligible at best, which should be the focus of our contemplation and communication?

Pray for Iran

Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body (Heb 13:3).

Another post on media is forthcoming later today, DV, but for an example of media used wisely watch this CBN report on Iranian Christians with Voice of the Martyrs' Todd Nettleton.



*We're not big fans of the 700 Club, but this report was a good reminder that Christ would have us pray beyond ourselves and our immediate fellowship.

Holiness and Modern Media: Introduction

Therefore be careful how you walk... (Eph 5:15)

We're going to interrupt the previously attempted restart in order to post on my recent foray toward a Biblical understanding of Christian holiness in a media-drenched world. A sufficient number of requests have prompted us to post the audio of Sunday's class, "A Wise People: Holiness and Modern Media," on the website, but its Socratic nature may make a blog series more helpful.

Our way forward in holiness amidst modern media, will not be through Christian obscurantism, which would condemn every technological advance since 1611 and directly connect every modern medium to the coming of the Beast. After all, if we accept Merriam-Webster's definition, that media denotes "a medium of cultivation, conveyance, or expression," we must conclude that media was God's idea.

Condescending to communicate to His creatures, God has written a book, which is, in fact, a medium! There was even a book before the foundation of the world (cf. Rev 13:8). God, in His mercy, is a revealing, communicating, transcribing God, so to condemn the use of media in toto would be short-sighted. Needless to say, media has undergone a bit of development since God finished His book sometime in the late first century.

We live in an age of prolific media opportunities and intrusions, where the means of communication and expression develop at a speed unseen by previous eras of humanity. We may organize the media onslaught in three general categories:

• Published Media, which is disseminating information for public viewing and would include books, periodicals, websites, and blogs.
  
  
• Broadcast Media, which is the transmission of information to a mass audience via audio and/or video signals and would therefore include radio, television, movies,Mp3 players, etc.
  
  
• Communication Media, which is the transmission of content between two or more individuals and encompasses cell phones, texting, social networking, etc.

Yet, while the efficiency and immediacy of these forms of communication receive great attention, we have not always given the same care to critically consider the media we use, especially as Christians. Have we even thought to ask whether our use of media may have trade-offs or draw-backs? The truth is we often assume that because something is new it must be better and if it is new and fast... well, then, what imbecile would stand in the way of such apparent progress? And as we are swept along, we may be failing as followers of Christ, holy and set apart by His blood, to ask the most important question: how is this medium affecting my life before my Savior and my God?

So, in the few posts that follow, we'll be seeking to uncover some of the capacities that may be endangered if we do not consider such questions as

• What values are inherent in my use of media?
  
  
• How does media impact my thought, my worship, and my relationships?
  
  
• Are the patterns and habits cultivated by media helpful or harmful in my walk with Christ?

All of which is essentially to ask, how carefully do I walk?

A Plain Word

...have you not read what was spoken to you by God? (Matt 22:31)

Okay, I'm back. Doubt any of our five readers are still paying attention. However, since I'm so painfully long-winded when I teach my church, that I end up rushing important points and skipping pages of notes that die in obscurity in my filing cabinet, I figured that disseminating teaching into the blogosphere might be helpful (or at least garner some measure of personal fulfillment). So, I'm back.

Why not begin by filling-out a survey on the Bible's clarity, addressing the phenomena of the divergent interpretations of the Bible and the difficulties that are faced when one reads the Bible? So, in subsequent posts, we'll attempt to answer two questions: (1) How does the Bible address its own clarity? (2) Why do Bible readers face difficulties and arrive at divergent conclusions on the meaning of any given text(s)?

We'll begin in earnest tomorrow, Lord willing, followed by a short break, as the prostrate Calvinist becomes the vacationing Calvinist (1 Cor 10:31!). So, to whet the appetite on this matter consider perusing:

• "The Perspicuity of Scripture" by Larry Pettegrew
  
  
• A Clear and Present Word by Mark Thompson
  
  
• Kevin DeYoung's blog summary of Thompson's book

Thankful for an Imperfect Church

...just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless (Eph 5:25-27).


It has been one month since we left mercy ministry in a para-church organization to be a minister of mercy in a local church. Any regrets? None.

We are grateful beyond measure to pastor a local church. Not because she is perfect. There are areas of weakness, immaturity, and sin that are assuredly beyond the purview of the leadership. Nor because we expect her to ever arrive at perfection on this side of the Lord's return. Certainly our exegetical skill, theological depth, and pastoral wisdom are massively insufficient to lead this church anywhere near a destination resembling perfection. This church is not perfect, but she is beautiful because she is beloved by Christ.

A holy temple of God (1 Cor 3:16-17), purchased by His blood (Acts 20:28), the Lord Jesus has cleansed her that she might be presented to Him as a glorious and holy bride. And it is this reality that infuses pastoral labor with joy. Iain Murray noted the same of the Reformers and Puritans who pursued the reformation of the Bride of Christ:

They could say with Robert Rollock: 'Whilst I live I never expect to see a perfect Reformation in the Church.' Their vision for the Church was one which stretched beyond the boundaries of time and earth; by faith they saw her in her future beauty as the faultless bride of Jesus Christ. Yet this view, far from making them complacent about existing conditions, rather gave them the passion and determination to see that God's people upon earth acted as consistently as it was possible for redeemed sinners to act in relationship to the claims of the Saviour who had purchased the Church by His blood.

-- Iain Murray, The Reformation of the Church, p. 9

Lacking in passion for an imperfect local church? Consider her future glory. Consider that Christ has redeemed His bride. She is not what she should be, but she will be what He has made her. Passion for the present is derived from our assured hope for the future.

Semper Reformada

Calvinist Crossing

New blogs are forthcoming. Maybe even later this week, DV. We are beginning to fall into a groove at RCG, so some extra blog-time is anticipated.

As a matter of principle, however, we would like to remind one sundry acquaintence that we have, in fact, posted in 2009. It's right below.

Until further notice, some Calvinist Crossing...

Why Read Christian Biography?
We usually answer, "To remind us that other saints have been far more faithful to Christ in far worse circumstances than we face." Ms. Cook, however, offers some more articulate reasons: (1) a grand overview of the progress of the Christian church, (2) the development of a deeper appreciation of the basic principles and progress of the spiritual life, (3) the outworking of faith in the experiences of widely differing individuals, (4) the warnings it gives, the signposts along the way of dangers to be avoided, of pitfalls awaiting the unwary, (5) how to suffer rightly, and (6) tracing certain recurring principles and patterns of the activity of God.

Is Arminianism Damnable Heresy?
A reminder to be kind to those Arminian brethren whose hearts are better than their heads.

Myanmar Abusing Christian Chin Minority
It was not long ago that we sat having tea and encouraging these brethren in Yangon. Remember the prisoners... (Heb 13:3) ...I was in prison, and you came to Me (Matt 25:36)

Same Theology, Different Location

As we're sure our vast readership has noticed, TPC has been dormant as of late. The management begs your forgiveness and assures you it is not a byproduct of theological vacillation, historical revisionism, nor personal lethargy. The truth is that we were just... busy.

After several months of discussion, prayer, and reflection, we have received a call to the pastoral office at River City Grace Community Church in Sacramento, CA. Thus, years of prayer, training, and preparation have come to fruition in full-time vocational ministry in the local church. God's kind and gracious hand has knit our hearts to RCG and it is with great enthusiasm that we join this body to share in the joy and burden of ministering the Word and shepherding the flock for Christ.

So, in this case, blog silence equals life activity, such as packing, moving, Christmasing, and unpacking... which are all good things. But do not despair, the TPC has more to share! Until then, we would covet your prayers for His grace to fulfill the mantle of pastoral leadership commended to Timothy by Paul:

Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.

Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.

Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.
- 1 Timothy 4:12-16

Soli Deo Gloria