Media Conversations and the Way We Participate in Them
Responsible Media Participation
The media is both a blessing and a challenge.
The Blessing of the Media
The blessing of the media is that in a moment, we can instantly connect with people across the globe. A hundred years ago, it would take months for a letter to reach from one side of the globe to another. It would involve walking, a horse, and a ship. Some places were completely inaccessible due to the terrain or the harsh weather conditions.
The blessing of the media is that we can now have meaningful relationships with people all over the world. Social media enables us to engage in conversation with others on a wide range of ideas. I am thrilled with my online friends from all over the world and the life-giving words we exchange through blog posts and emails.
The blessing of the media is that the Good News of Jesus Christ can now be heard around the world. I’m not talking about religious broadcasting. I’m talking about the unadulterated good news that Christ came to earth, died for our sins, rose again, and is seated at the right hand of the Father interceding for us that we might have everlasting life. There’s nothing greater than God’s love for us demonstrated through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The Challenge of Media
We have all seen the media falsely accuse people, and as a result, they face intense consequences due to the media’s rush to judgment, desire to grab headlines, or their own bias. The media’s quickness to speak can harm the innocent.
An instance that comes to mind is the false accusation of Richard Jewell as being the prime suspect in the 1996 Summer Olympics bombing at a free concert in the park. In truth, he was a security guard who discovered the backpack, faithfully evacuated the area, and reported the security breach to bomb experts. His quick thinking saved countless lives.
Yet, Jewell experienced a ‘trial by media’ resulting in personal harm to his name, reputation, and employment opportunities. Instead of presumed innocence, the media presumed him to be the criminal.
Nine years later, Jewell was exonerated when Eric Rudolph confessed to the crime. Jewell sued four media outlets for defamation and later settled with them out of court. He sued to vindicate his reputation - and not for financial gain - though the harm done to his name was never completely removed.
Responsible Media Participation
It is important that we discern the truth in the media:
Is it an article trying to disseminate true or false information?
Is this article calling forth the best or the worst inside of me?
Is the article trying to elicit a reaction out of me?
We can be proactive as we evaluate the media:
Pause before we respond.
Monitor our internal reaction and the reason for it.
Research the source and the information revealed.
Gather multiple sources from varying perspectives and weigh the pros and cons.
Consider the Biblical perspective on the information we gathered.
Weigh the reason for responding or not responding online, and choose to engage only if it is life-giving to the conversation.
Let our speech – whether in speaking or in writing – be seasoned with grace, authored in love, and based on truth.
Biblical Words of Wisdom
The Bible encourages our words to be full of grace.
The wise in heart will be called understanding, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness. ~Proverbs 16:21 NASB
Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. ~Colossians 4:6 NASB
Our words reveal our hearts – whether good or evil.
The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings out that which is good, and the evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings out that which is evil, for out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks. ~Luke 6:45 WEB
God calls us to walk in wisdom.
Now everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. ~James 1:19b NASB
Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles. ~Proverbs 21:23 WEB
The heart of the righteous weighs answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil. ~Proverbs 15:28 WEB
The Word of God calls us to walk differently from the world.
Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak]. ~Ephesians 4:29 AMP
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor [perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding] and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice [all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence]. ~Ephesians 4:31AMP
And beyond giving an account for our tongue, let us also consider how our words – whether in speech or in writing – affect others.
Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also the interests of others. ~Philippians 2:4 AMP
Honor calls us to rise above the noise, discern what’s real, and focus on what truly matters. ~Steve Fish, Hometown Honor
Final Thoughts
I would like to share the words a friend of mine posted on social media on June 23, 2024.
As a mother in the Faith, I have a cry in my heart to love, comfort, and help guide in these turbulent waters. A cry to bring wisdom, perspective, and leadership. A cry to submit myself more fully to the true fear of the Lord.
To do this, I must first present myself on the altar, present myself in humility and vulnerability to God first.
To sit with Him and weep…all kinds of tears. To sit with Him and listen, trade my thoughts for His. Sit with Him and receive true wisdom that only comes from His presence. Receive His heart for what needs to change. His power to redeem and reform.
The fear of the Lord can be religious terminology laced with self-righteousness; it is actually a place we all go in humility to submit ourselves fully to God. A place of honesty, vulnerability, and true repentance. A place where mercies are new every morning and righteousness is a gift that comes only from Jesus.
This place. This place is where I choose to be right now. This place is where I want to sit with Him before I share a response on social media.
…there is a difference in a reaction and a response. There is room for both. Just understand the difference as you are scrolling. ~Marci Fish
I don’t remember the specific cultural event that inspired this post, but the heart of love and the profound wisdom it conveyed prompted me to take a picture of it. Coming across the picture today prompted this post.
In today’s media climate, let us be people who pause, discern, pray, ponder, and respond. Let us be intentional in our refusal to be baited into a quick reaction, a virtual ‘trial by media,’ instead of researching and responding with grace and love. Let us be people who walk in wisdom.
References
Amplified Bible (AMP) Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995), copyright 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.
World English Bible (WEB) by Public Domain. The name "World English Bible" is a registered trademark.
How will you refuse media enticement and walk in wisdom?
This is so good Lisa. I have social media FB IG & X but I'm not a fan and use them minimally. Social media is distracting and I'd rather keep my eyes on Jesus and other important things and people in my life.
Thanks so much for sharing with Sweet Tea & Friends this month sweet friend.
Social media has always been a challenge for me. I recently closed my IG account, even though I have not used it to post anything ever. This is truth >>> "In today’s media climate, let us be people who pause, discern, pray, ponder, and respond."