Christian Talk
When you add the word "Radio" to the two words that identify this post you have created a near impossibility. Many times radio that is supposed to be Christian is infected by a vitriol that causes the programming to be neither "Christian" nor "Talk" and is often much more caustic in tone than the secular musings of Rush Limbaugh (on the Right) or Al Franken (on the Left).
I host a "Christian Talk Radio" program in Detroit. I listen to a variety of "talk radio" in my car and over the internet. Nothing is more disturbing to me than to listen to talk radio that purports to be "Christian" but leaves one with the feeling he has just been psychologically terrorized. The danger in me saying anything at all about how I feel about "Christian Talk Radio" is that I literally live in that glass house.
I bring this up because it was a true joy to have as guests on a recent program The Reverand Barry Lynn (yes - that one - he of Americans United for Separation of Church and State) and Professor Brendan Sweetman from Rockhurst College in Kansas City, MO. These distinquished gentlemen hold differing views on the subject of the place of religion in the public square, a hot-potato issue if there ever was one. And yet the truly amazing thing is this: the three of us (a Catholic, a conservative evangelical, and a liberal minister in the United Church of Christ) were able to actually "talk" in a Christian way. Which is to say, though we disagreed among ourselves on a variety of issues and agreed on some others, no one raised their voice and no one indictated the other was less than Christian because they held an opposing viewpoint.
To me, what makes Christian Talk Radio relevant is not the decibal level of the participants but rather the depth of understanding one can reach by carefully listening to the reasoned arguments of one with whom one disagrees. Christian Talk Radio is more about LISTENING than it is being heard - and yet so much of Christian Talk Radio is so focused on being heard, no one really hears anything at all.
But I always find that the listener has a different attitude about how "Christian Talk Radio" ought to be conducted by the host. Whenever I have a guest on like The Reverand Barry Lynn, one who is viewed by the majority of the evangelical right as an enemy combatant, if I never characterize that kind of guest as evil personified, the audience comes unglued and believes me to be evil personified. Many "Christians" in a "Christian Talk Radio" audience are much like the crowds of pagans gathered in the Colliseum to witness lions eating Christians for dinner: they don't feel the experience has equaled the price of admission unless and until the host of the program makes his guest lion fodder and plenty of blood is spattered around the studio.
I get the same reaction from Christians whenever Governor Jennifer Granholm (the liberal Democrat Governor of Michigan) or any other liberal for that matter, is on the program. Because I won't call her a baby killer to her face my email inbox is filled with hate from loving Christian brothers and sisters informing me that their experience didn't equal the price of admission, and that I will share eternity in hell right alongside the good Governor (and Barry Lynn).
I want to thank The Reverand Barry Lynn and Professor Brendan Sweetman for allowing me to eavesdrop, and at times facilitate, their very interesting conversation. Christian Talk Radio needs more real conversations like that one. You can stream it here.
I host a "Christian Talk Radio" program in Detroit. I listen to a variety of "talk radio" in my car and over the internet. Nothing is more disturbing to me than to listen to talk radio that purports to be "Christian" but leaves one with the feeling he has just been psychologically terrorized. The danger in me saying anything at all about how I feel about "Christian Talk Radio" is that I literally live in that glass house.
I bring this up because it was a true joy to have as guests on a recent program The Reverand Barry Lynn (yes - that one - he of Americans United for Separation of Church and State) and Professor Brendan Sweetman from Rockhurst College in Kansas City, MO. These distinquished gentlemen hold differing views on the subject of the place of religion in the public square, a hot-potato issue if there ever was one. And yet the truly amazing thing is this: the three of us (a Catholic, a conservative evangelical, and a liberal minister in the United Church of Christ) were able to actually "talk" in a Christian way. Which is to say, though we disagreed among ourselves on a variety of issues and agreed on some others, no one raised their voice and no one indictated the other was less than Christian because they held an opposing viewpoint.
To me, what makes Christian Talk Radio relevant is not the decibal level of the participants but rather the depth of understanding one can reach by carefully listening to the reasoned arguments of one with whom one disagrees. Christian Talk Radio is more about LISTENING than it is being heard - and yet so much of Christian Talk Radio is so focused on being heard, no one really hears anything at all.
But I always find that the listener has a different attitude about how "Christian Talk Radio" ought to be conducted by the host. Whenever I have a guest on like The Reverand Barry Lynn, one who is viewed by the majority of the evangelical right as an enemy combatant, if I never characterize that kind of guest as evil personified, the audience comes unglued and believes me to be evil personified. Many "Christians" in a "Christian Talk Radio" audience are much like the crowds of pagans gathered in the Colliseum to witness lions eating Christians for dinner: they don't feel the experience has equaled the price of admission unless and until the host of the program makes his guest lion fodder and plenty of blood is spattered around the studio.
I get the same reaction from Christians whenever Governor Jennifer Granholm (the liberal Democrat Governor of Michigan) or any other liberal for that matter, is on the program. Because I won't call her a baby killer to her face my email inbox is filled with hate from loving Christian brothers and sisters informing me that their experience didn't equal the price of admission, and that I will share eternity in hell right alongside the good Governor (and Barry Lynn).
I want to thank The Reverand Barry Lynn and Professor Brendan Sweetman for allowing me to eavesdrop, and at times facilitate, their very interesting conversation. Christian Talk Radio needs more real conversations like that one. You can stream it here.
posted by Paul Edwards at 5:51 AM
4 Comments:
I stumbled across this post somehow -- I'm not even sure how I got here.
I'm glad I did. This post encouraged me, knowing there are Christians out there like yourself who can take this attitude.
Thanks.
Rob of UnSpace
Thanks, Rob, for the encouraging note. I'm glad you found the blog.
Blessings,
Paul
Respecting a person, while strongly disagreeing with ones perspective . Priceless.
When we attack in order to "slay" the "enemy" verbally, he crowds may cheer, but change doesn't (generally) take place, and I doubt that God cheers with the crowd.
Attack can only bring 2 responses, fight, or flight. Either way- the negotiation and conversation is OVER.
We are commanded to love our enemies and to speak kind, gentle words when faced with wrath...Jesus never said to "blast em" with verbal venom.
(but then, this is all spoken by a hot headed, Italian woman... who has learned the hard way how to kill a conversation;)
Although there is certainly no place for violent, argumentative assault on a person through the medium of words, there are certainly always times when the truth must be spoken. Our Blessed Lord always spoke the truth - and spoke it candidly and without varnishing it. Christ was never slow to call a spade a spade, or a hypocrit a hypocrit. But, He never called it a shovel, or the person an unjust name.
There are ways to speak of the evil - either deliberate, wilful evil, or evil of inaction - which men (and women) do, and to give them their correct titles, which lie within Christian charity.
Love stems from the truth - Jesus said that He was the truth, and He always spoke the truth. Saint John said "God is love". How can we reconcile these issues when sometimes to speak the truth may hurt or offend someone?
When we speak of someone, we should always seek to speak the absolute truth about them - and draw conclusions based on their actions. If they tell untruths, then we can justifiably call them a liar. If they have sex with someone other than their spouse, we can call them an adulterer.
Are we judgemental? I think we are - and I think that is what separates us from the animals. We have an intellect, we can make a judgement.
Is it an insult to give a man a title which is based on his actions? No - it is the truth.
I find it refreshing to hear on Paul Edward's show him speak the truth about actions taken by many people - and also for him to invite people who also speak the unvarnished truth. Today's guest Michael Voris of The One True Faith spoke nothing but the truth - truth that may have been uncomfortable for Governor Granholm to hear, but was nonetheless the absolute truth.
I for one am glad that Paul Edwards and Michael Voris had the courage and charity to speak the truth - for avoiding it is a disservice to everyone. Is not the first act of Spiritual Mercy to admonish the sinner?
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