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

i

n

g

 

 

 

 

RECEIVER

decoding

learning

worthiness

f

i

l

t

e

r

s

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

medium

message

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  feedback  
 
Ex. Nehemiah 8:1-12
 

Sender Issues
 
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
 

Receiver Issues
 
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?
 

Medium Issues
 
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
 

Feedback
 
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?
 
 
 

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