Phil Cooke

To be brutally honest, I think it all started when it went from basic soul saving to saving the saving of the religious bottom line and politically correct religion seemed to be a confortable wave to ride at the time. Everyone ran from their denominations to a generic, non offensive message disguised by feel good music.

Take the presentation and showmanship out of religion and see if God’s word still sells. No smoke, No mirrors. That might expose more truth and a back to basics sell in religious broadcasting.

I am not wanting to destroy the business, I think this approach could bring more VALUE and TRUTH in brodcasting religion, with less light on the biblical interpreter or in many cases the star of the show! Is it to late or even doable in this day and time ?

Walt
(not in the industry)

I always encourage those looking to reach non-believers (by Internet or any media) to spend a LOT of time just reading the gospels over and over and over again in various translations.

I am always floored at the MULTITUDE (thousands!) who followed Jesus, by foot, in the heat or whatever the weather, with nothing to eat (unless He provided). There was something about Him that drew the non-believers and the believers of that day. They simply HAD to hear His message, be with Him, follow after Him.

And then He would blow their minds by TOUCHING the "notorious sinners" of the day…and then go home and EAT with them, which was one of the most intimate things you could do back then.

And they loved Him all the more for that.

Of course, the RELIGIOUS people of the day couldn't stand all this, but again I was struck that everyone simply ignored them. Jesus would make comments, but the crowd–who usually had to bow down to the religious leaders–usually ignored him.

Today, the masses of non-believers stay away in DROVES from our messages/Message. We scream at the sinner, keeping them away, while Jesus justed loved them to Him.

I remember an old Cornerstone magazine comic about the difference between mainstream rock and Christian rock:

Mainstream rock: WE'RE GOING TO HELL!

Christian rock: YOU'RE going to hell!

To the leaders who don't want to hear the truth, the masses will stay away. For those who WANT to hear the truth, they may have to get back to the gospel and see how simple and humble it always was, and always is.

What surprised me about the comment was the fear of hearing what someone else had to say. Speaking the "Truth" in this case simply would have been hearing the "truth" according to Phil. If I were you, Phil Cooke, I would take that as a major compliment. They must feel your version of the truth is worth it's weight in Gold! The reason I say 'version' is that in many things there is no absolute right or wrong way to do things (other than the glaringly obvious ones that make newspaper headlines). One size does not fit all, and one consultant is not the gold standard (sorry Phil). What concerns me more is when we are not willing to hear alternative viewpoints from someone with no ax to grind. I'm sure all of us fail in this area at one time or another – be it at home or at work - at least I do.

It's the reason the world thinks the church is out of touch…well, part of the reason. We broadcast, print and post stuff that's mediocre at best. The church continues to look for the path of least resistance (and dollars) and then pats each other on the back. Just because someone has Photoshop doesn't make him a designer, just because you bought a mac doesn't make you the next Scorsese.

But telling someone what they are doing sucks and doing so in a loving way is not easy. The problem often lies in the emotional connection they have to the work, to the video, to the logo, to the preaching…etc. We aren't just critiquing the work, we are critiquing the worker.

Until we learn to take and give honest critique we will continue to fall behind and stay in the shadows. Growth pains happen…but they also tell you you are growing.

Wow, I've no idea how you got there Robert.

Media ministry is only for entertaining prophets? Are you kidding me? I'd suggest you experience what media ministry is before making such a sweeping generalization that is completely inaccurate.

I have lived your article, and survived, well, kinda. I told the truth, and my administrator listened and said that he wanted to change things, but it would have to wait. After 10 plus years of always needing to wait till "next fiscal year", an opportunity in the secular world opened up in marketing and sales, and I went for it, and I am loving it!

So my experience is that I spoke up as often as I felt appropriate, but no change, so I made a change for myself. I thank the Lord for this opportunity, and for tools like your articles and books from Seth Godin (The Dip), and Patrick Lencioni (3 Signs of A Miserable Job) of wisely pursuing another career elsewhere. My wife too is happier…much less stress!

 I have never been happier, and it was a result of being honest with them, and myself.

 Thanks for being honest Phil!

As someone who is a self-described 'brutally honest person', there's two ways to take our personalities:

1) You always know where you stand with us;

2) You always know where you stand with us.

In other words, if we're saying something you don't like, you know it's the truth; and if we're saying something you do like, we're telling the truth.

I like what APWIII said above: it's the "telling the truth in love" that's always the key to sharing our thoughts.

As a consultant myself, I'm always told "hey, tell us like it is; that's why we hired you." But what many people really mean is "tells us the stuff that's negotiable, but don't bother with our non-negotiables." Now insomuch as being honest and evaluating the why as much (or more) than the how or the what, those 'non-negotiables' may be the very things that need the most change. It's one thing to not change the Scriptural and doctrinal truths; it's another to get past the "but we've always done it that way" mentality.

Phil, take it as a compliment: being told you're brutally honest affirms that you're not talking to make a buck, but often bucking them to let you talk.

Interesting thought Anthony…

When I first read Phil's account, I was thinking this ministry leader simply knows that he and the organization are not quite ready to be 'students' as you're old saying goes. He was simply being brutally honest and wise that Phil's candor on a situation might hurt more than help … right now. But maybe in the future the organization can be wise enough to take the brutal honesty that may be necessary for them to learn and grow.

I hear you Phil, and I know you're right, but sometimes I get tired. 

It's exhausting work to tell the truth to people who are going to be sad, enraged, frightened or disappointed.  Their emotions wear me out.  When they act out, it's so tiring that I make my relationship with them less personal than it previously was.  It's how I leverage a bit of peace for myself.  Truthfulness is a matter of integrity, but peace is a matter of survival.

It's one thing to be hired as a consultant and tell the client something he finds uncomfortable.   It's another to maintain a relationship over time with someone who tantrums over the smallest exposure to uncomfortable information. 

If you came in and told one of my tantrum throwers something s/he didn't want to hear, I'd drop to my knees and thank God.  It would spare me the necessity of doing it myself and taking the flak.  

There are lots of people who bend the truth or lie by omission to keep the tantrum throwers on even keel.  I used to be annoyed with these folks, but I'm coming to understand them better.  At the very least, I sympathize.  If the tantrum throwers of the world don't hear the truth as often as the rest of us, maybe it's at least partly their fault. 

I'm betting a lot of employees are grateful when a hired consultant comes in and tells the boss hard truths.   After all, if they told a certain type of boss something he didn't want to hear, the retaliation would be swift and sure.

I know of three upper management ministry media/marketing types who have been given the left foot of fellowship this year due to delivering the brutal truth. These are guys who don’t have to pick up another client, they have to find another way to pay the mortgage — and since do-not-compete agreements are commonplace in ministry today, they end up having to uproot and rebuild everything in a new location.

Phil, I bow down in your general direction for delivering “brutal truth” — I have witnessed it at a major media ministry that I brought you into. It is now about 2 years into that contract, and major changes are happening. The bad news was not received when given by staff, but when they paid a fairly good amount, and flew the consultant in, they would have been stupid not to at least hear you out. Thank you.

Face it — these leaders have built something and it has grown and for them to hear and act on new advice is to admit that they don’t have all the answers and that they are not infallable and that they are a bit more human than they probably want to admit. Often a catharsis has to take place before hearing happens, and then action is a whole other topic.

Tell the truth, keep working and praying toward excellence and keep your resume polished and your network intact.