In his book Art and the Bible, theologian Francis Schaeffer talks about the importance of media literacy this way:
As Christians, we must see that just because an artist—even a great artist—portrays a worldview in writing or on canvas, it does not mean that we should automatically accept that worldview. Good art heightens the impact of that worldview, but it does not make it true… We should realize that if something untrue or immoral is stated in great art, it can be far more devastating than if it is expressed in poor art. The greater the artistic expression, the more important it is to consciously bring it and its worldview under the judgment of Christ and the Bible. The common reaction among many however, is just the opposite. Ordinarily, many seem to feel that the greater the art, the less we ought to be critical of its worldview. This we must reverse.
When it comes to engaging with media, many people are always immediately consuming the latest show on Netflix just because it’s popular, while others try to avoid most of pop culture altogether. The same might be said about news media specifically: many either dive into the deep end and turn “staying informed” into an obsession, or they bury their heads in the sand to avoid the doom and gloom of it all.
In the 1890s, newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst reportedly coined the phrase “if it bleeds, it leads” to explain his editorial philosophy. The sadder or more sensational the story, the more attention it was likely to get. Today, in an era of social media clicks and outrage, this same philosophy is often at play. Just like it’s human nature to crane our necks curiously as we pass a car accident, it’s human nature to be more interested and wrapped up in stories that highlight the brokenness of the world.
But as we’ve seen, the call for Christians is to engage media thoughtfully and intentionally—while always remembering that we’re all a part of a much bigger story.
Toward that goal, here’s a recap of what we’ve covered in this course:
- All media is a construction, not just a “reflection of reality,” and involves assumptions about the world on the part of those who create media.
- When we consume media, we should ask, “What’s good, what’s bad, what’s missing, what’s confused, and what does the Bible say?” to help us discern media messaging.
- Signs of AI-generated content may include stray pixels, unnatural shapes (like hands with extra fingers), text made of unreal letters, jerky movements, unnatural lighting, and objects suddenly appearing or disappearing in video.
- Image-selection can influence the stories people believe—in news, politics, or about how great our friends’ lives are or aren’t.
- Light coming from nowhere, shadows that shouldn’t exist, and unrealistic proportions can be signs that a photo has been edited.
- When engaging with news, remember: facts are what can be verified with evidence, bias can be revealed through story selection and word choice, and as Christians we are all part of a bigger story than whatever a particular article is about.
- Algorithms can create the sort of echo chambers that Paul warned about in 2 Timothy 4:3.
- The methodology behind gathering statistics can be sound or unsound; knowing the story behind how statistics are gathered helps us know whether to trust them.
- Many movies and TV shows rely on subtext to convey points to their viewers, which is by definition more subtle.
- The medium of video games can shape how players think about the world—specifically, that it’s possible to make real choices and that we can be participants in what happens in our world.
- Advertisements often rely on emotional manipulation, as well as social media influencers, to promote products.
- The songs we use to soundtrack our lives can shape who we become.
It’s tempting to believe that what we do when we’re alone doesn’t affect other people—including what media we engage with, and how. But when we’re alone, we are storing up the things that we’ll carry with us in our hearts—and, as Matthew 12:34 puts it, “out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” More than that, our words, and our actions are rippling out into a world that doesn’t know God and is often confused about what we stand for.
Our witness matters as Christians. Toward that end, we’ll leave you with these four final principles as you engage with media:
- Spend more time with God than you do with media. We need to be shaped more by the Good News than we are by the media. The loudest, most influential voices in your life must be those that call you deeper into Scripture, who encourage your faith, and who help you cultivate the fruit of the Spirit. If you spend ten minutes of your day reading the Bible and then three hours watching Netflix, news media, or an influencer’s reels, whose disciple are you? Adjust your habits so that Jesus’s voice is the loudest and most prominent.
- Keep an eternal perspective. Remember that you are first and foremost a citizen of heaven, not a citizen of whatever country you live in. If you read another country’s newspaper, everything would matter less to you because you feel some separation from their happenings. Reading earthly news as citizens of God’s kingdom should have the same effect on us. It doesn’t make us indifferent; but we are detached in a sense because this world, as it currently exists, is not our home. We know our future, and political outcomes and natural disasters and foreign wars don’t change it. Everything will end well for followers of Jesus. Remember your identity and your true home.
- Choose humility. Respond to the news with curiosity, realizing that our understanding of this complicated world is limited. Even when you do know the facts, be open to correction. We must be willing to reevaluate our stances and actions, humbly returning to the Bible in pursuit of the truth. Changing your mind or actions in light of new information is usually not a sign of hypocrisy, but growth.
- Take focused action. Helping the needy is central to our faith. But the needs in the world raised by the news media can quickly become overwhelming. While you can’t do everything, you can do something. Choose a cause that really pulls at your heartstrings, and take an action step to make a difference in that area.
This course is a collaboration between Axis and The Pour Over, a politically neutral, Christ-first news source.