Discerning critics eh?

The text book called "Understanding Evangelical Media" by Quentin J. Schultze and Robert H. Woods Jr. states five essential principles of "faithful media stewardship”. In other words, they describe what they believe to be the ways in which believers should handle media production and consumption. One of these Principles is “being discerning critics”. This principle explains that non-Christian media often see their audiences only as consumers who are mere receivers of their message(s) without thinking critically about what they are taking in. As Christians we need to oppose this view by realizing that the audiences that will be receiving our content are active people who we need to have so called "conversations" with.

According to this text book, God wants believers to be discerning critics who intentionally become engaged in culture and think about the kinds of lives they are living as well as which messages are being sent and received. I agree with this idea. God wants us to actually use the hearts and minds He gave us in order to discern what is around us and how we act in this world. We are to be in the world, but not of the world. There are many debates of what this statement means, but in my opinion, we as believers, are to engage in the culture around us by making the faith exciting and attractive (to reach out to the unbelieving) while NOT compromising our beliefs and not letting the outside world set the bar.

The lost are the ones who need saving. When Christ came to earth, He spent most of His time with the sinners of the world. Therefore it would make sense that if we are trying to be like Jesus, we would also try to find creative ways of inviting the lost to discover the truth. However, it is far too easy to become engulfed in the ways of the world. If believers concentrate on being of the world, a result can be compromising their beliefs and ways of living. This can include things such as Consumerism, a “me-first” attitude, and simply filling time with purposeless entertainment.

However, if we can be critical of what’s around us by questioning and researching what the world teaches compared to what we believe AND show our faith as both the truth and appealing, we are able to be faithful believers who represent Christ in an acceptable and inspirational way. By doing so, we become more than just mindless consumers who gobble up anything that is put before them. By putting effort and care into thinking about and acting on the ways we can be a part of media while learning, growing, and displaying God to the world, we are then living up to our responsibilities as believers.