When we turn to the daily news in America, we are rather sure that we will receive a significant amount of time devoted to both weather and sports reporting. The producers know that listeners want to hear that news. They are usually well reported by announcers who seem to look like their fields of interest. I do not remember a wimpy sports person, or a football tackle reading war reports. Weather reporters have more latitude in appearance but seem to know their subject from education, experience, and a respect for the nature of news and future projection. This recital might proceed with other fields, but the point may be made for this Page. There is a mystery related to the effectiveness not only to the personalities of reporters, but found in the nature of the field they are reporting. The best weather news reporter I have ever known could not renew his contracts on television in a major market. Something was missing. It may be that the reporter had the wrong eyebrows, or a slight smirk in his smile, or a bit too scrambled vision of his talents. In a different context, but in the same field, he is quite successful. His successor in the visual broadcast is not scholarly in tone, but light-hearted and quite popular. There is a winning vision.
The internet doesn’t generate quite the interest found in television and newspapers for weather and sports – although scandals gain considerable coverage. Perhaps that will change as changes expand competencies. What is most important in our lives carries a kind of sharing and camaraderie that permits the fewest negatives in feelings and beliefs. What might happen if this dream of entertaining, reporting, camaraderie, idealism, and hope for our side, were carried over to our communication of values – even values in sporting competition? The sports world argues for winning. Winning seems to be nearly everything. How the game was played is second, except for purists in the game. Christ argues, as did reporter Grantland Rice, for how one plays the game according to the rules – and the expectations. In this is ultimate success. Alerted from Scripture, I discover God’s expectations and style. I don’t want to err or stumble in godly vision. (Isaiah 28:7) There are many reasons for error and loss. Isaiah uses drunkenness as a figure.
There is no question in my mind but that God uses much of what appeals to the public interest in presenting the Christian message. We face serious considerations in determining how far to go in adaptations. I am deeply concerned about effective communication in a church, and longevity for the congregation with growth, perhaps multiplication in mission. One of the continuing disappointments growing out of my studies of ministry and the church was the fading of some magnificent ministries like that of Israel in ancient history, or even specific instances like that of Jonathan Edwards from his church in the 18th century. He was the American leader in the Great Awakening, the most dynamic thinker of the colonies for the century. How could there be a falling out between the pastor and the congregation? He turned for a time as a missionary to the Indians in western Massachusetts, was invited to become the president of Princeton College, accepted, was infected by a contaminated needle in the newly introduced inoculation program, and died. The church building housing his former congregation had fallen into some disrepair and declined in influence. A modern example of my unhappy feelings relates to the Crystal Cathedral in southern California. It was the vision of the founding pastor who, with significant support and encouragement, built the structure accenting the use of glass, presented a popular program broadcast on world-wide television, hired numerous employees, and became a center for ministry costing millions of dollars each year. The tourist often sought out the address on Sunday morning to sense the spiritual impact of the church, perhaps to carry it home for inspiration locally. It sustained a growing influence until the retirement of the founder. Decline and debt, partly aided by the lesser influence of the founder’s family and the loss of the original leadership, ended the ministry as envisioned. At this writing it has been sold to other managers. It remains to be seen if the vision revives through biblical teamwork. In all this we are driven to the apostolic vision that accented the redemptive message centered on the person and work of Christ. It called for lay leadership and Christian culture to manage the work of the Church in standard methods of management. The Apostles would focus on spiritual ministries. Therein is church vision. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020