Why Religious Media Isn’t Making More Impact
When it comes to communicating our message, essentially there are two types of audiences Christians should be reaching. First, to teach, motivate, and challenge other believers, and two, to engage unbelievers. That’s pretty much it. The problem is really with the balance. Take a survey of most Christians who communicate through radio, TV, web, film, publishing, recording, etc… and the vast majority are doing the first: reaching each other. We call it preaching to the choir.
On the other hand, the number of Christians out there really creating content for the purpose of engaging non-believers is pretty small. The apostle Paul focused on two tasks: Teaching believers in the growing early church, and also engaging the surrounding culture. Remember Acts 17 when he approached the philosophers at Mars Hill. He also had plenty of opportunities to speak to the political leadership (usually after he got arrested).
Teaching the Church is great, and I’m all for it. It’s a big part of our work at Cooke Media Group. But I’m calling this generation of believers to re-think the balance.
Get to Hollywood. Write for secular publishers. Get in the news business. Create videogames. Record with secular labels. Let your life and work tell the story of your faith. Trust me, there will always be plenty of people to create media for the church.
But the rest of us need to pop the bubble, get outside, and change the world.
Phil Cooke, PhD. has been called “one of the most innovative communicators of our generation.” As a media producer, writer, speaker, and consultant, his client list includes major film studios and TV networks as well as major Christian organizations like Voice of the Martyrs, The Museum of the Bible, The Salvation Army, and others. He’s also coached and consulted with many of the most influential churches and nonprofit organizations in the world, helping them use media to tell their story. You can hear his podcast here.
