Exploring Media Theology
Three ways to look at what the Bible says about media:
1. By Principle
God is a communicating God.
We are created in the image of God.
We are communicating creatures.
We live in a fallen world.
Our communication is fallen.
Build on these principles.
Can you find other principles relevant to the media?
A few principles I've found as I've looked at what the Bible has to say about media:
God uses a variety of mediums to convey
His message (God is a rich and diverse communicator).
God's preferred method is to use human
beings to convey His message.
God is patient, using multiple ways
to make sure people have the opportunity to understand His message.
Every message God sends is worth paying
attention to.
2. By Method
telecommunication
tele - communication
tele (Gk.) -
communication (Gk.) -
Do these terms fit together?
Can
distant communication be personal?
How does God "bridge the gap" in mass communication settings?
What methods does God use?
Consider Jesus:
1
Timothy 2:5 - For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus. (NASB)
John
1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God. (NASB)
Jesus
is the medium and the message, making the distant personal!
3. By Model
|
SENDER encoding teaching worthiness
g a
t e k e e p e r s |
medium __________________ message |
__________________ |
RECEIVER decoding
f i l t e r s |
|
|
|
|
|
Ex. Nehemiah 8:1-12
What messages are
worth sending?
Does the sender
have any responsibility for what they send?
How should messages
be encoded?
Typically, there
are gatekeepers
People who direct the flow of information
Access to information is not unlimited
What messages are
worth receiving?
Does the receiver
have any responsibility for what they receive?
How should messages
be decoded?
What filters are
being employed?
Is one medium better
than another?
Not all transmission systems are the same
The medium influences what is sent
The medium influences how it is sent
Is this loop necessary?
Why/why not?
In sum,
Whatever the approach taken, consider this final application question:
How is your media theology relevant to us today?