Month: February 2010

Barna on Media Exposure, Addiction: Part III

~ brandon ~ Leave a comment

Scary media – whether that be in the form of slasher films, episodes about demonic possession or other portrayals of the dark side and sick behavior – have become the favorite genre of the Mosaic generation. One noted result is that feelings of fear about one’s environment are reaching record levels, manifested in nightmares, judgment of other people based upon appearance or stereotypes, and changes in daily behavioral routines to avoid scary places.

via Media Exposure, Addiction.

Okay, one more point I want to make.  This one is simple.  The fascination with slasher flicks is nothing new.  I can remember Friday the 13th movies, Halloween and Nightmare on Elm Street.  While a part of this is simply human nature, another part of this growing fascination is a failure of parenting.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things,” Philippians 4:8 tells us.  Yet, what are these kids consumed with?  Violence, fear, pain and all the ‘sick behavior’ of horror flicks.  Where they never taught that the Christian is to train their mind to meditate upon the things of God? Have they not been taught that perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:8)?  Or that we are not to fear anyone other than God (Matthew 10:28)?

So, simply put, I believe this growing fascination with horror results from 1) the de-Christianization of America and 2) Christian parents failing to disciple their children.

Media Exposure, Addiction Part II: Parenting

~ brandon ~ Leave a comment

Two decades ago, the average child under 18 spent about 15 to 20 hours per week digesting media content. Today, it has nearly tripled to almost 60 hours per week of unduplicated time. They now devote more time to media than to anything other than sleep.

via Media Exposure, Addiction.

Another aspect of Barna’s post on media addiction:  kids media consumption time.  It seems he includes in this TV, Movies, Internet and Gaming.  My question is, ‘How much of this reflects the increase in how much media we have?’  We didn’t have the internet when I was a kid.  Television was new when my parents were kids, and the radio was new before that.  Perhaps a part of this is simply a consequence of more media options.

At the same time, I can’t help but notice another trend.  Parents who have little or no time to spend with their kids.  Mom and Dad both work (for the kids, of course), so Tommy is carted off to all day preschool, before and after school care and eventually becomes what we used to call a latch-key kid.

Perhaps, then, it’s not simply how many options we have, it’s that parents don’t want to be parents-and media provides an easy babysitter.  Who doesn’t know the bliss of letting the kid play Wii so that you can get some work done?

The answer, then, is simple:  parents being parents.  Parenting, from a Christian perspective, is discipling.  We are training our kids to be men and women of faith in Christ.  That takes time–a lot of time.  It requires parents prioritizing how much time they spend with their kids, and making sure that time is well spent.

Family game night, with good old-fashioned board games, is a great way to connect with kids and teach them about healthy competition.  Family devotions are a great way for the family to read, pray and discuss God’s Word together.  Family movie night can not only be entertaining, but can provide fodder for faith building conversations.

Of course, each of these has a common denominator–parents actively and personally  involved in the lives of their children.

Media Exposure, Addiction from Barna

~ brandon ~ Leave a comment

One of the latter conclusions is this: media exposure has become America’s most widespread and serious addiction.

via Media Exposure, Addiction.

Read the whole article.  It’s an interesting take on our media saturated age.  One one hand, I wonder if its simply a new age.  Before books became widespread, folks were largely illiterate.  Ever since we’ve had some folks who prefer not to read, some folks in the middle and the bookworms–people with a voracious appetite for reading.  Yet, I’ve never heard a bookworm referred to as an addict.  Of course, like media, not all forms of books are edifying–and some folks love forms of books that a Christian might label problematic (think: romance novels, erotica, etc).  So, perhaps future generations will see our modern media age as another societal transformation which enabled more folks to become more informed.

On the other hand, silence and solitude are indispensible in the spiritual life of the Christian.  Christ set this example for us, as He regularly took time to be alone.  During these times we find Christ praying.  Likewise, the Christian ought to spend time alone with Him in prayer and quiet reflection.  Not only does this help us to hear Him, prayerful reflection upon His word helps us to internalize Christ’s teaching so it becomes a part of us.  Also, that quiet time digs a deeper well of peace in the Christian soul, enabling us to face the frustrations of life with a Christlike mindset.

Why not unplug the TV, Wii and Computer for awhile, sit down with the Bible and pray, read–even discuss it with your family?

What is the best way to witness to someone who doesn’t believe the Bible?

~ brandon ~ Leave a comment

Your question is becoming more and more relevant.  As our society moves beyond our Christian heritage, you will find fewer Biblically literate folks.  However, that doesn’t mean Scripture has no place in witnessing.  Scripture tells us that the Word of God is living and active—and its power doesn’t rely upon the faith of the hearer.  So please use Scripture to witness, but consider using it in the context of your faith story.

In John 9 Jesus heals a blind man.  The Pharisees, trying to trap Jesus, ask this man to testify that Jesus is a sinner.  His response is a model of personal witness.  He responds, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see,” (John 9:27, ESV).  The main thrust of his witness was simple:  Christ changed me.

Of course people need to hear what God has said, but they also need to know it makes a difference.  In sharing with others, share why and how you came to believe in Christ and the difference He makes.  Help them see that your faith is more than pie-in-the-sky, don’t-go-to-Hell kind of stuff.  Let them see that your faith changes how you live, and leads to a more abundant, peace filled life.

Ask The Pastor runs weekly in the Beecher Herald.

Why should a Christian study doctrine?

~ brandon ~ Leave a comment

At the link, below, you’ll find N.T. Wright talking about Hell.  It’s a great example of why Christians ought to take seriously the need to know what we believe and why we believe it.  Fr Wright makes the point that Hell, as we conceive it, was a middle ages invention.  Yet, Chrysostom wrote:

This is no trivial subject of inquiry that we propose, but rather it concerns things most urgent, and about which many inquire:  namely, whether hell fire has any end.  For that is has no end Christ indeed declared when he said, “Their fire shall not be quenched, and their worm shall not die.”

Clearly Chrysostom is teaching that Hell is 1) Real, 2) Eternal, 3) Involves some sort of fire (which, I believe, he took as God’s Wrath).  Now, you might ask, “When did this Chrysostom guy live?”  To which, I would respond, “Around 347-407 AD.”

Hmmm.  That doesn’t sound like a middle ages invention to me.

Ur Video: NT Wright on Hell | Out of Ur | Conversations for Ministry Leaders.