Our communications should build, give vision, provide tools for change

QUOTE:

Though al-Qaeda could destroy, however, it could not build. In its unwillingness and inability to offer anything resembling a constructive vision for change, al-Qaeda gradually descended back into irrelevance.

from: "Al-Queda losing relevance" by Shadi Hamid, USA Today, Wednesday, May 4, 2011

COMMENTARY:

Destruction has its uses.

It is powerful; it can accomplish powerful goals. As church communicators we need to be aware of its power, but at the same time be very careful how, or if we ever use it.

Fear of destruction accomplished a lot for me. I confess, I was scared into becoming a Christian. My mother read Bible stories to my sister and me every night and I loved them, but what really pushed me over the line was I didn't want to go to hell. Our preacher at church convinced me that hell and eternal destruction was the fate of the unsaved.

When I found out that Jesus made it possible for me to go to heaven when I died and not hell and destruction, I wanted that. I asked Jesus to come into my life.

The same church in Colorado Springs that scared me into salvation, had some of the early Navigator staff members (a Christian ministry that emphasizes Bible study and disciple-making) attending it. As soon as I was old enough to take part in Navigator Bible Studies, conferences, camps and anything else I could, I was there. The church also had focused on training and growing in your Christian faith. That training, that building of God's Word into my life, provided a solid foundation for my life and ministry. The church may have destroyed my heart with fear for a brief moment, but it spent decades building me up in the faith.

So many of the messages communicated today, even from many who claim Jesus as Lord, are filled with condemnation, destruction, despair. It's become a common practice to destroy your opponent verbally and viciously, with it seems like no other goal, than to prove someone or some plan or some program wrong.

Even in some church communications, the practice of using  snarky, cynical words that mock how something stinks or isn't what we consider valid, important, or useful has become commonplace. Catchy, witty, often over-blown criticism is an expected form of public commentary from religious sources. This kind of communication might bring an approving nods or a chuckle from some, but it is not worthy of our Lord.

At these times we need to remind ourselves that we aren't like Al-Qaeda--we do not communicate only to destroy. We have a faith that not only provides salvation from coming judgement, but that enables Jesus' followers to build lives of passion, purpose, and eternal value. It is much harder, much more work, and much less exciting for church communicators to create the tremendous amount of materials needed to grow people in the faith, but this is our job if we are to be faithful to our calling to "make disciples."

Remember Jesus said,

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Jn. 3:16-17.

Don't focus on condemnation and destruction; Jesus didn't. In your communications, focus on salvation and building up the Body of Christ.