Media

<<means of communication>>

At the time of Christ the primary medium of communication was direct speech though educated people were able to read and write. In today’s world there is a vast array of media for sharing our thoughts and messages.

The mass media, whether printed or electronic/digital, have immense power to influence or indoctrinate the general population often distorting the truth with biased reporting that is either intentionally or unknowingly not completely factual and so misleads. They have the power to shape culture and erode the standards of the past. When media push the boundaries and sanction previously off-limits values, the effects work like a poison in the culture bringing further decay. Do not gullibly accept all that is publicized, instead ideally, we should receive our information from several unbiased, reliable sources to minimize such influences. Discernment is needed as is critical thinking to ascertain what is the truth as there is a lot of misleading information propagated as fact.

Social media use mobile, electronically based devices which allow people to interact with one another by creating and sharing information and pictures. It is important to use such media wisely and also train our children to do so.

In spite of these revolutionary advances in technology, face-to-face communication has deteriorated.

Remember that ‘people should come before things’ and the message is more important than the messenger.

God still communicates with us through His Word (written, electronic or audible) and the Holy Spirit within us, and modern media can assist us in sharing the gospel.