WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE POSITIVE PEN (OR KEYBOARD) -Bob Reccord
by: Bob Reccord
For several years now I have been watching with saddened amazement at the press, the growing realm of blogs, and public communication in general. It seems we as a society have not only shifted, but perhaps more accurately, been swept in a “mud” slide into a focus on what’s wrong with something or someone. And no one is immune…especially if someone is in any leadership role. Look at our President, our Attorney General, those running for either Democratic or Republican presidential nominations, local state or municipal leaders, or even NFL coaches (whom I am told now have about an average stay of two years!). What a pressure cooker of negativism we live in these days. As one person recently said, “It is much easier to find fault than anything else in life.”
The blogs world is burgeoning but I notice that much of what is written on many of them is acidic, pejorative, and demeaning. As it has become so epidemic we now have a term for it…”ranting on the blogs.” Since when was “ranting” about anything a character trait to be treasured and sought?
There just seem to be some people who are born in the objective case and the kickative mood! We had one of those (a reporter) call our home recently. My wife answered and found every question from Mr. Warner laced with innuendo, assumption of the negative, aggressive and accusatory. And the amazing reality was that the subject matter he was probing was and issue regarding a church’s autonomy, not a press issue! And the last time we checked, the churches in our denomination are fully autonomous. She felt like saying, “How dare you invade the privacy of my home and address me with an attitude of superiority and condescension.” But, catching herself and being unwilling to lower herself to the reporter’s level, she turned the conversation to a totally positive direction…
“Let me tell you of some wonderful life-impact that happened recently in a ministry in the church you mentioned. Wouldn’t you love to write about that?
No answer!
“By the way,” she asked, “who was the last person you shared Christ with and what was the outcome?”
Stammering, he could only say, “That’s not what this call is about.”
“Why not,” Cheryl replied, “isn’t that what Christians should be talking about with each other…changed lives?”
No answer!
So, we all have a basic decision to make. Are we going to be part of the problem or part of the solution? James 1: 26 warns, “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.” Are you willing to help turn the tide? Let’s start finding what’s right…what we can build up…what is good! And let’s not allow anyone to get us off task!
March 27th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
Thank you, Bob, for reminding us that road rage on the information superhighway runs counter to the Bible’s guidance for communications by believers.
Our standard is not “whatever words grab attention and qualify for the First Amendment’s cover,” but “whatever is right or deserves praise; things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable, or commendable.”
It is sad that Christian journalists such as Mr. Warner and Mr. Westbury have strayed from the touchstone of truth by repeatedly linking you with “corporate jets” that never existed and travel “across the world” that never took place.
Our Lord winsomely reminds us to check the beam in our own eye before zealously pursuing specks in others’. May ranting recede and graciousness grow among those who wield the quill and seek to follow Christ.
April 4th, 2007 at 8:00 pm
Thanks Claude. I really appreciate your comment. It has saddened me that some “Christian” jounalism has ended up being more like the National Enquirer than focused Kingdom news. What has saddened me is that there has been no correction of the inaccuracies, misinformation, or straight misinformation. But perhaps that is too much to expect from Christian journalism.
Thanks for giving a great affirmation as a Christian gentleman, and man of integrity and a wonderful attorney who I have had the privilege of working side by side with in one of the most significant mission ventures on the globe. What a blessing.