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The strategy of God
Doing good: The shape of the Christian life (Part 1): Why we don’t
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Scott Tubman on "We are poorly dressed" - Part 2 (20/08/2008).
Ian Carmichael on Sola Gratia - Tahlia's story (20/08/2008).
Cathy McKay on "We are poorly dressed" - Part 2 (20/08/2008).
Gordon Cheng on An interview with Mark Thompson (20/08/2008).
Martin Kemp on The indivisibility of truth (20/08/2008).
Andrew Barry on "We are poorly dressed" - Part 2 (20/08/2008).
Scott Tubman on "We are poorly dressed" - Part 2 (19/08/2008).
Scott Tubman on "We are poorly dressed" - Part 2 (19/08/2008).
Alex Phillips on A freebie for you: Jonah in the ESV (19/08/2008).
Nicole Starling on "We are poorly dressed" - Part 2 (19/08/2008).
Recent posts
An interview with Mark Thompson by Sandy Grant (1 comment). Today we interview Mark Thompson... Mark, how did you come to Christ? I first heard the gospel … more
Sola Gratia - Tahlia’s story by Lionel Windsor (4 comments). Tahlia was born addicted to heroin, thanks to her mum Shae’s addiction. Tahlia (not her real name) lives with … more
“We are poorly dressed” - Part 2 by Nicole Starling (9 comments). Thanks to everyone who contributed comments in answer to the question that I raised in my previous … more
The indivisibility of truth by Tony Payne (4 comments). This Saturday’s classic Briefing extract is about the indivisibility of truth. It’s from Briefing #8, August 1, 1988: If … more
Dread, joy and Morning Prayer by Tony Payne (5 comments). Standing on the 5th tee at St Michael’s, in Sydney’s East, the golfer experiences a mixture of nervousness and dread. Here … more
A freebie for you: Jonah in the ESV by Gordon Cheng (10 comments). Here at Matthias Media, we read and recommend the English Standard Version Bible, the ESV, as a superior … more
‘We are poorly dressed…’ - Part 1 by Nicole Starling (15 comments). “We are poorly dressed… Be imitators of me.” (1 Cor 4:11, 16) “All her household are clothed in … more
Where’s your ministry ‘AT’? by Ben Pfahlert (11 comments). Christians and soldiers have a lot in common, or at least they should (2 Tim 2:3-4). Firstly they both know that … more
Countering Nowism by Lionel Windsor (2 comments). It’s been interesting to follow the comments on Tony’s post about the … more
The evangelical inferiority complex by Tony Payne (3 comments). It’s Saturday. Must be time for another classic snippet from the early days of The Briefing, this time about evangelicalism’s … more
Tony Payne
Tony is the Publishing Director at Matthias Media; editor of The Briefing; author of Islam in our Backyard, Fatherhood and numerous other Matthias Media resources; husband to Ali; father of five teenagers; and an avid consumer of books and almost any televised sport.
Sola Panellists
- Tony Payne (convenor)
- Peter Bolt
- Gordon Cheng
- Sandy Grant
- Gavin Perkins
- Ben Pfahlert
- Archie Poulos
- Nicole Starling
- Mark Thompson
- Jean Williams
- Lionel Windsor
Journalists, especially opinion writers, crystallise public thought. If their responsibility is to reflect the culture they live in - ie. one of relativism, pragmatism and rampant individualism - then they are very “responsible” to their calling.
But if we choose to define the responsiblity of the media as one of a higher calling - ie. to infuse debates with principles and morality, no matter how anachronistic they seem today - then they often, though not always, failed to act responsibly.
I don’t think they set out to do this in the first place. A media lecture I went to in my uni days was entitled, “Why moral posturing is ruining public debate”. I think that says it all. In short, we need more christians in the media.
-Sophia (a journalist)
I’m not certain that the 2 examples cited were intended to reflect current culture as much as they were ‘posturing’ to represent political correctness.
I definitely agree with Sophie - we need more Christian Journalists who will express a Christian-Worldview based opinion. I realise that’s hard though because it WILL come at a price (usually loss of job, image etc).
But there’s a role for the “Gordon Cheng - type Christians” too. i.e. those that write letters to the editor etc.
I wonder though, sometimes at the personal cost to non-Christian and Christian journalists/writers/etc of the dualism (nice word for hyprocrisy - sorry) they have to maintain. When you speak with some of them “off the record” the views they espouse so passionately from behind the microphone or word processor often contradict what they truly think/feel about the matter. Reflecting the culture you’re communicating to is one thing, but omitting to provide honest analysis compromises their ethics and integrity.
(ok I’ll get off my soap box now or else my comment will end up longer than Peter’s article.)
Is it possible for theological commentators to write clearly anymore?
If a journalist wrote about the views of christian commentators in the same way that Peter Bolt writes about journalists, there would be pulpit rumblings.
Peter cites someone “on the airways”. We don’t even know if they are a journalist. Its like reporting the views of a “prominent preaching identity”. We don’t know if it is Brian Houston or Phillip Jensen. Both might be offended.
Peter cites a female commentator - from the dailies. Still don’t know if she is a journalist , or the context. Perhaps a comment piece on an oped page?Journalists or not, commentators in the papers, contra Bolt, expect contradiction, whether in the letters page or the column of a rival. They are part of a flow of comment, and objections principled or not are bound to be raised.
Unlike preachers, they can expect public feedback.
Judging by strength of argument this part of the sola panel appears to be operating at low power.
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Those are some excellent insights, John. If Christians wish to improve the standard of journalism, they would do well to set an example first. I’ve seen enough Christian journalism to demonstrate to me that it is not merely the secular media that are to blame.
It’s worth pointing out that considerable debate exists about the role that journalists play in the reporting of the news. Should they be impartial observers, or is it actually beneficial for the journalist to write from his or her own perspective. Is such a thing as neutrality even possible? Personally, I’d suggest not, which is why independent media and differing perspectives from within the same publication is necessary.
Sadly most of the media are trapped by their own self-deception of political correctness. Like the Emperor’s
New clothes, they are afraid of departing from the “ correct"line.
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