Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Carly Fiorina, Pope Francis, Jeb Bush, Bernie Sanders…
What’s Francis doing in that list? Well, the media coverage I’ve been seeing about his visit is akin to the tone of their political coverage. Climate change, gay issues, immigration, relations with Cuba. Oh, yes, there’s communion for divorced Catholics and maybe even for gays, but that too is reported as another partisan struggle for the church, with implications for the Democrat and Republican parties, of course. Dear God, is that what reporters think your Church essentially is?
Yesterday the Wall Street Journal had a special section about the papal visit. In that section I found only four references to Jesus, and they were passing. And Jesus, You didn’t even get a passing nod in yesterday’s New York Times. Listen, reader. This isn’t about proselytizing, but there are substantive issues of belief that the media ignores. What’s the reason for differences between Roman Catholics and Protestants? How do different Christian groupings look at church-state issues? Reporting on those things doesn’t make you Billy Sunday, but so much reporting, not all but much, is shallow, willfully ignoring the substantive depths of faith communities. Read James 3:1, journalists and editors. By virtue of your reach, you’re included. And I’ve seen a lot of denominational publications that are essentially denominational propaganda, Jesus doing only cameo appearances.
When Jesus began His visible ministry, “he entered the synagogue and was teaching. And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes” (Mark 1:21-22). One of the great possibilities in the decline of church attendance and membership is for church members and leaders to make clear to the world that the Church is people who follow Jesus Christ (John 6:68). If we do that more in the future than we have in the past, maybe more people will recognize and reject secular media’s censorship of faith. The challenge is on us to do what Paul did, publicly portray Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:1). When the masses see Him, they say, “We never saw anything like this!” (Mark 2:12).
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