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Posted On
08/28/2007

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What Do You Discuss when Christian Media Leaders Fail?

In reading the responses from the last week regarding Randy and Paula White and Juanita Bynum, I’m amazed at the wide range of opinions and ideas. I didn’t post to start a conversation about the ethics or Biblical perspective of the marital problems – although that’s not a bad idea for someone else. I do believe that
when you choose to step into the spotlight as a national media ministry, and spend so many years pushing to be noticed on a national stage, you can’t be upset when you stumble, and people want to talk about it. If you get in the game at that level, you need to be able to play ball even on your bad days.

But my goal with the posts was to open a discussion on how choices like this impact our image and witness to the world. As one reader put it, “It’s difficult to share your faith about how important marriage is when our leaders decide it’s not worth it to stay married.” It’s not a question about human infallibility. We all make mistakes and do stupid things. Paul said he was the “chief among sinners.”

But for too many years, these things have been swept under the rug. When major religious personalities fail, we don’t discuss it, ignore it, and pretend it didn’t happen. As a result, younger leaders march right into the same problems. So a discussion like this is of paramount importance.

I do think our reaction is critical. Christian leaders personal lives are their personal lives. Whether they stay apart or choose to work it out doesn’t impact me personally. I certainly pray that they can make it back together. However, this blog is about the intersection of media and faith.  And as a student of media, I'm more interested in it’s impact in a media driven culture. What happens when major religious leaders destruct publicly after using the media to get them noticed nationally?

So let’s talk less about their personal failings – and certainly cut the gossip – and focus more on the ramifications for national ministry, and how it effects getting our message heard by the culture. It's ideas I'm interested in. Eleanor Roosevelt probably understood it best when she said:

“Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people.”

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 28th, 2007 at 5:10 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

  • Nathan Magnusen

    "Christianity" in America is a joke because of people like this….the only reason a Christian can "Put away his wife" is for adultery….also, she never should have been a 'pastor' biblically speaking, and he has now 'cancelled his ticket' and needs to step down from any leadership role…

    I fear for this country…REPENT AMERICA…turn from your wickedness and walk in the fear of the Lord

    Proverbs 1:7
    The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction

     Luke 12:4-5 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

  • concerned

    Talk about Christian spotlight and media! Has anyone looked at Paula's website today? I check it often to see if she has made any comment to her viewers and partners. I saw that there is no message, but a large new photo of her in front of the arc asking for offerings for the day of atonement. I am really not trying to be ugly, but I just can not understand this. What are any other thoughts on this? Is it just me? Has anyone else wondered why there have not been any apologies or statements on the websites? Will she actually just go on with the show? Take a look at the website. I found it a little troubling and bold. I don't know, it really makes me feel a little embarrassed for her and for Christians. Does anyone else think it is a funny time to ask for money and offerings?  What would non-believers think?

  • candi

    I feel you on that one.  If you think that was bold then you must not have watched her show.  She was up there asking for offerings.  She was asking people to sow $200 into her ministry.  She actually referenced a $200 seed that she had sown years ago an she said that seed materialized into $15,000.  Well, I don't doubt the power of God and the laws of reaping and sowing; but if I was her I wouldn't ask anybody for a dime right now!

  • X-Tither

    To Concerned:

    The reason Paula White has not spoken out is because she is trying to let it all die down. She does not want her sins exposed. Plus, many of her international audience probably knows nothing about their "affairs." (Pardon the pun).  Paula and Randy White have become "exactly like the world" but their notoriety still remains, for the most part, in Christiandom…..or should I say "Christian-dumb."   

    Souls are at stake and people believe they are being saved under this false gospel that they preach. It is imperative that we keep speaking out against this type of heresy.

     

     

  • Ryan Boone

    I can understand the lack of anything that acknowledges the Whites' marriage problems on Paula's website. First of all, I don't think that I would want to discuss personal problems with complete strangers who are on their personal witch hunt to make themselves feel better about their own personal beliefs. Second of all, from a PR point-of-view, when something happens that could be damaging to your business, the strategy-of-the-day is to do all you can to NOT talk about it and hope it goes away. I'm not saying this is the correct way to handle this situation, but I do understand the motivation behind it.

  • X-Tither

    TO RYAN BOONE:

    "Second of all, from a PR point-of-view, when something happens that could be damaging to your business, the strategy-of-the-day is to do all you can to NOT talk about it and hope it goes away."

    Do you hear yourself? "damaging to your business" this is CHURCH we're talking about. Unfortunately you are correct, it has become lies and BIG BUSINESS!!  Souls are going to hell because of the greed of these false teachers.

    These heretics should be in front of their congregation, and on their websites begging their flock to forgive them instead of trying to fleece them further. It's disgraceful!!

    Watch and listen, because these walls are tumbling down….. 

  • Phil

    Actually Ryan, from a PR perspective, that’s not true. Remember the Tylenol scare a number of years ago, when some poisoned pills were discovered? The President of the company dealt with it immediately, and they spent a fortune in advertising and public service announcements talking to the public. More recently, remember Jet Blue’ scheduling disaster last winter that left hundreds of people stuck on planes for hours? The President of the company immediately went on national TV, took the blame, and explained what they were doing to fix it. Today, Mattel is doing the same with the lead poisoning issue with toys made in China. Organizations not dealing with problems like this are in the past. Today, the strategy is to face up to your problems, talk to the public, and share your strategy for fixing the problem. That wins enormous goodwill from the public.

  • Ryan Boone

    Point taken, but remember that these were stories that brought intense media coverage. All I'm saying is that there are certain PR schools of thought that believe the less you say the better. Again, I'm not saying I agree with this, I just know why they're so tight-lipped about it. 

    The problem, I suppose, is that many ministries have adopted this closed-door policy. Maybe they think they shouldn't let the right hand know what the left hand is doing.
  • Brian Sinks

    When you've made a mistake being vulnerable is tough. But if, instead, you insulate yourself and put on an act to avoid showing your faults, doesn't it make you look like that much more of a liar when you are forced to reveal the truth or you are exposed by someone/other factors. The thing that bothered me and other non-media (objective) friends the most was that the Whites made it look like everything was going well and their marriage was strong ("We're best friends!"). Their only battles were the press' attacks and his daughter's illness. Then SUDDENLY they announce their marriage is over but "everything will be okay." But everything is not okay and looks like it hasn't been for a long time. The "gasp" reactions from their church members show no one had a clue. I really feel we shouldn't create an unshakable/stable media kingdom (people put their hopes in) that we can't live up to. We need to show: we are human…we have problems…here they are…watch how God works on me in front of you…etc… Isn't sharing how God saved, healed and changed your life (faults) why people found you interesting and inspiring in the first place?

  • Elle Doza

    I think everyone should just realize that "we" are not in control of others actions. We have all sinned from day one and will continue to do so, it's human nature, NOBODY'S PERFECT. We should be here to pray (and not judge) for each other, we ALL fall short at one time or another. I have ALWAYS said, even before accepting the Lord as my Savior, ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE ME. A few more words i'd like to add: "People get ready, Jesus is coming soon we'll be going home. People get ready, Jesus is coming to take from the worl His own…"

  • Beth

    Ella, Christ is coming soon, to take HIS PURE BRIDE…the church better understand that the bride is going to be spotless before him. If we can’t work toward keeping things spiritually clean here ..don’t expect the Lord Jesus to take up the dishonest, money hungry, soiled bride, who refuses to endure hardships….the bible says a lot of scripture based on being pure in deed and thought…and also TELLS US to judge the brethren…I judge everyday if the teacher is going to be good for my child, and banker is going to treat me right, and if the cleaners are cleaning my clothing right…why would we not take notice of our preachers as to whether or not they are doing what they tell us to do…it’s plain and it’s simple…one of the reasons America is getting herself in such a mess is because Christians are intimidated by the great fad of “tolerance”…that is why the kids are killing each other..because the parents are too busy, too permissive or too tolerant. There are no guidelines for people anymore, no character training, no God in the schools…the kids are completly confused today…tolerance is a nice little name for “parents who are too lazy to teach the bible, go to church or just explain good from bad”. The babysitter is all this generation has bad …(whoever he or she is this week). How much more do we tolerate, in fear of judging? I imagine the kids of this generation would really like to see someone who is what they say they are.

  • Phil

    Here's why I think keeping quiet will kill an organization or person today.

  • Elle Doza

    ATTITUDE
    by Charles SwindollThe longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.

    Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company… a church… a home.

    The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past… we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude…

    I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you… we are in charge of our Attitudes.

  • nathanj

    As one who rarely watches Christian TV (let alone regular TV) I am not all that familiar with the teachings of the White's, Jaunita Bynumn, etc.  Saying that, I have looked at their websites and purused their books, I see that their message is more about feel good "Chistianity."

    There is no doubt in my mind that these media ministries will further hurt the cause of Christ.  There is a broad stroke placed against Christians by the general public.  When I speak with unbelievers, they will comment on the greedy preachers who want your money.  Perception is reality.  It is that way in politics as well as religion.  I feel that we are judged by the World more by the actions on tv then by the message of Christ! 

    In all honesty, there are times that I would like all media ministries to be off the air.  I know that is not the answer, but the damage continues.  I would rather be judged by knowing Jesus than being judged by media ministries.  I know many feel the same.  The question is do most Christians agree?

  • Victorious One

    The challenge presented was to talk about IDEAS and "the ramifications for national ministry, and how it effects getting our message heard by the culture."

    I believe that the world and much of the church despises mega-TV ministries.  Since the days of the Bakkers, the world has been challenging the influence of the TV Gospel message and the TV messengers.  The "haters" in the Body have also been very critical, and some of this criticism has been valid.

    I don't think these recent events alter an already overwhelmingly negative perception of the church in general and of mega-ministries in particular.  I think these will be two more reasons for people to reject the gospel, reject the church, challenge the Christians they know in their circles, and for Christians to once again be on the defensive (or to join in the "fun" of criticizing ministry leaders).

     The second-most important message in this is that God abhors violence, and that abuse in marriage is not supported in Scripture.  (The most important message is that He is risen and God is still on the throne, amen!)  Somehow, the issue of the attack on a human being by her husband got lumped into the same bag with the (presumably consentual and non-violent impending) White's divorce, as if the issues are related, similar or equally important.  They are not.  Someone's imminent safety and ongoing protection is far more important that other stuff going on.  It is my hope that the church will begin to speak more consistently, stringently, and accurately against the tide of violence that continues among believers in marriages and relationships.

    The only idea I really have for change is for the Body to work together to think of new, effective, accurate, authentic methods of bringing the Gospel to a lost world.  We rely way too heavily on TV mega-ministries and, inadvertently, on TV evangelists to get the Word out.  One-to-one witnessing in our lives and participating in our local church outreach ministries are essential, but other methods besides TV are also viable in this electronic information age.  Perhaps if some of our TV ministers were "smaller" (in terms of their perceived importance and relevance when compared to other methods of delivering the Gospel), then their falls wouldn't hurt our message so badly.


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