Love for Media? Love for People?
on Aug 19 in Art and Media, FaithI love creating media that moves people emotionally, and challenges them spiritually. I love creating media that makes people ask the most difficult questions of life. And I love creating media that offers the true life of Christ.
My problem is this: It’s so easy to forget that good media is simply a tool Рthat it’s spiritually neutral. There is no such thing as “Christian media” Рthere’s only the message we infuse into that media. That message will make it Christian, or not. Our media is impotent if not created with the target of people in its scope.
Truth is, I can find myself aiming at all sorts of alternative targets with the media I create at Floodgate. I aim at making money for our company. I aim at impressing people with talent (and secretly hoping that I’m validated in some way by it). I aim at a spot in the top ten of WorshipHouse or Sermonspice.
Crap.
Jesus came to save. He came to save people. He used illustrations from the Palestinian countryside and the Jewish landscape to communicate to people. Those illustrations were mostly about the Kingdom of God. The media Christ used was always a tool for understanding, or for further confusion or confrontation (he wasn’t actually too concerned if the religious elite didn’t understand or embrace him). People were his endgame, and media was the means.
Do we love our media more than the people we serve with it?
I gotta be ready to answer that question when I walk into the office tomorrow morning.
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I used to love the media more than the maker. I wanted to use the talents He'd given me, and passion (I thought) He'd given me, to be an actor. I decided that I would be the absolute best actor possible and try to influence the people around me by living a life that was different and Christ-centered. The problem you ask? Well, I set goals that had end results of validation based on the world's standards of success: a house in the Hills, public recognition, an Oscar… God gently allowed me to try my best to follow my own plans and then end up in a place of great humility and brokenness. I still have the skill-set that makes me relevant on any stage, television or film set. I do work professionally, but the standard of validation for myself has changed. I no longer care one iota about awards or peer recognition. I am content with any living situation. I am deeply grateful for a vehicle that runs (even though it's not a Rolls Royce). I seek validation from God alone, while keeping my eyes focused on the prize that Paul speaks of (Phil 3:14). Thank you for these great thoughts and insights Gary!