George Barna, in his recent book, Revolution, identifies the seven major spheres of influence in our culture:
1) Movies
2) Music
3) Television
4) Books
5) Internet
6) Law
7) Family
Further, Barna’s research shows that local churches have virtually no influence on society.
Ouch.
I can hear it now. The collective groan as the church whines from its pulpits about the evil media and remembering the days of yore when it could talk and people would listen. That was a long time ago.
How about this…maybe the church could focus on doing a better job of training and challenging (and becoming relevant) to those in the media industry (which, by the way makes up the top 5!) and helping those Christians already there to be salt and light right where they are.
I believe it’s about the church going OUT into those worlds and changing lives. NOT spending time and effort on how to get the media to listen to what they have to say. It may be news to you but “THE MEDIA” is not some big bad machine infecting us with its twisted thinking.
The media is made up of people…in many cases hurting people. People with spouses and kids and moms and dads. People trying to pay mortgages and fighting the afternoon rush hour. People in many cases just like you. THEY need what the church has to offer. Or let me re-phrase that…they need what a relevant church has to offer.
It’s my projection that the church will never again be in the top seven of cultural influencers. But it’s also my contention that if the church will re-tool itself and be courageous enough to do the work of Jesus it can become a major influencer among the people in the media and in law, moms and dads and families. Instead of just talking about Jesus, it’s time to be His hands and feet.
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