c. 2006 Religion News Service
(UNDATED) A seminary professor this week (Aug. 9) issued a challenge to U.S. Christian churches. He called for our churches to speak out against the current Mideast war in a way that was more than a lament.
“Where are the U.S. churches?” wrote the Rev. Mark Lewis Taylor, a professor of theology and culture at Princeton Seminary, in a Religion News Service guest commentary. He added: “They are often silent. Too many churches are in lockstep with growing Christian Zionist movements, exchanging faith in the God of Jesus Christ for a nationalist loyalty to an imperial Pax Americana/Israelica, thus giving a blank check to U.S. and Israeli governments’ attack policies.”
Taylor is a victim, like most Americans who rely on secular mainstream media for their news. He is captive of an oblivious news machine that ignores mainstream Protestant and Orthodox churches most of the time _ including the churches’ recent vigorous statements on this latest Mideast war.
News editors across the land routinely spike statements and news releases from mainstream religious leaders because editors think “that’s what they’re supposed to say.” They say we United Methodists, Evangelical Lutherans, American Baptists, Greek Orthodox and Presbyterians are predictable and that’s not news.
But let one outrageous, fire-and-brimstone heretical Christian leader rally his Christian Zionist followers into a right-wing frenzy and the media just swarm the story. Editors and producers love outrageous. I know. I used to be one.
The Wall Street Journal’s July 27 edition gave 67 column inches _ beginning on the front page _ to an event the previous week hosted by Pastor John Hagee. The San Antonio televangelist organized a pro-Israel rally in Washington that attracted 3,500. He has since predicted millions will die in this coming war, and that it happily marks the beginning of the end of the world because Jesus is coming back _ in the midst of the carnage on all sides. Several other news organizations covered the event.
Most respected biblical scholars _ and I suspect Taylor is among them _ can cite you numerous examples of misinterpretation of the Scriptures around the so-called “end times.”
That same week, the leaders of the National Council of Churches (NCC), Churches for Middle East Peace and a dozen other Protestant and Orthodox organizations called on President Bush to broker an immediate cease-fire. While the Bush administration was dragging its feet allowing the violence to roll on unabated, a majority of leaders in the mainstream religious community was vocal and outspoken. But if you aren’t a regular reader of denominational or religious news publications or Web sites, you would not have known it.
Denominational media professionals grow frustrated with broadcast, cable and print outlets because they seem to want only sizzle. I’ve often said to my church media colleagues they want the hatred, injury, doubt, despair, darkness and sadness side of the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, not the love, pardon, faith, hope, light and joy side that church people are interested in.
I share Taylor’s frustration. The message of the U.S. churches is not getting to most of the television, radio or newspaper audiences. Groups like the Network of Spiritual Progressives have resorted, in frustration, to buying full-page ads in national newspapers. Those are expensive and the readership is limited.
The media strategy we have in much of the mainline churches is to keep on message. That message of love and forgiveness we see in Francis’ prayer doesn’t attract much media attention. Then again, it is often frustrating being faithful.
Someone once said we are called to be faithful, not necessarily successful. Faithfulness to Francis’ prayer _ to be made an instrument of peace _ is far better than any headlines we might or might not receive in today’s media.
(The Rev. Daniel J. Webster is director of media relations for the National Council of Churches. Before becoming an Episcopal priest, he spent 25 years in television news at several local stations as well as NBC Network News and The Associated Press.)
KRE/PH END WEBSTER
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