The media is an area where investment made can make a lot of impact. I imagine what it would have been like if television and other forms of mass media were to be available during Jesus’ sojourn on planet earth; He would have used them to the fullest.
Incase you doubt me; consider the wisdom in gathering people at seashore in order to speak to them the word of life. Naturally, at any moment in time without human’s interruption, seashore can be regarded as a very serene and quiet environment. This could enhance the reflection of sound and thereby enabling a large audience to be addressed without the use of the modern day equipment like public address system.
The environment in seashore, I believe, is a type of media that must have enhanced adequate assimilation of Jesus’ messages by those who listened to Him then. Thus, on more than one occasion, He chooses to use the seashore as a rendezvous in passing His message across. Gathering thousands of people on the seashore, Jesus then will preach to them about the urgency of that time which still remained the urgency of now - God’s Kingdom.
In emulating Christ therefore, believers are suppose primarily to look out for new ways and opportunities, to pass across the gospel of the Kingdom using as many means as possible. There is need to actually commend the efforts of Churches with television ministries cutting across several countries and the world at large. Jesus, I believe, would have done exactly and even more better were He to be physically around at this time in history.
The focus of this write-up therefore is to point the attention of the body of Christ in Nigeria to some areas that are yet to be explored as far as media is concerned. In an earlier article titled The Nigerian Gospel Music Industry: Does It Exist? Published in No. 3 Vol. 1 of the GN Mini-Magazine, I had analyzed the gospel music industry in Nigeria showing the areas of improvement that the body of Christ needs to take cognizance of.
In referring to the media here, it means more than the television, radio, newspapers and probably billboards. Media in this view also include the home videos, musical recordings, the Internet and several other media less utilized for the propagation of the gospel. However, the major area emphasis will be placed is in the area of Christian music and movie production. With the rate new movies are churn-out of Nollywood (Nigeria’s movie industry), and new concepts being developed by the secular singers, one will have no doubt with regard to the investment that must have gone into the two industries.
It is no longer news that popular cultures across the globe today are derived from these media materials (movies, musicals etc). Several studies in the field of mass communication have shown that media played and is still playing a significant role with regard to influencing behavior. If the pace of events is then being set by people in this area of endeavor and the world including Christians are embracing the concept being disseminated, why should we sit down and act as if we are not concerned? What would Jesus have down?
Every Sunday, the truth of the word of God that can mould, shape and build lives as well as establish God’s Kingdom on earth is being preached in various Churches. Who will take these messages down to those outside the church in the form of inspired lyrics, well scripted drama? I bet, the salvation of many is hinged on this. It is time Christians began investing in the media by owning for example Christian record labels; where music being produced are up to standard according to the word of God and also professionally. Others include movie outfits that will engage in soap operas that will portray Godly values and educate the people on the Christian faith.
Before the advent of the home video, stage drama; which is still popular with Churches today, use to be the major ways people get entertained. As technology advanced however, what use to be domicile in a particular building before is now being taken to as many homes without the barrier of having to travel to the cinemas; though some still go to the cinemas today, they probably go to see an already made motion pictures in contrast to what use to be at the earlier times. The Church however seems not to have advance beyond the stage play thing. We are comfortable by acting for the people in church alone; people who probably are more pastor than the pastor himself.
Beyond making clear the above information, I exclaimed within myself… Oh that the Church may know! That it will be very costly for us to ignore the media for the simple reason that it remained a great way through which a people can be influenced either for good or for bad, Oh that the church may know!! That salvation of souls is no longer achieved only on Sunday morning by calling people to the pulpit, Oh that the church may know!!! That there is no better time to start than now!
Incase you have been considering the idea of owning a Christian record label for example and you felt the resources at your disposal will not be enough to get you started, look around you, I am sure you will get to see other Christians who share the same ambition. As I conclude this piece, my final word to you out there is to come out of your shells as there are more beyond the four walls of the church to be accomplished. Remember, the world earnestly awaits the manifestation of God’s children and that includes you. Shalom!
Incase you doubt me; consider the wisdom in gathering people at seashore in order to speak to them the word of life. Naturally, at any moment in time without human’s interruption, seashore can be regarded as a very serene and quiet environment. This could enhance the reflection of sound and thereby enabling a large audience to be addressed without the use of the modern day equipment like public address system.
The environment in seashore, I believe, is a type of media that must have enhanced adequate assimilation of Jesus’ messages by those who listened to Him then. Thus, on more than one occasion, He chooses to use the seashore as a rendezvous in passing His message across. Gathering thousands of people on the seashore, Jesus then will preach to them about the urgency of that time which still remained the urgency of now - God’s Kingdom.
In emulating Christ therefore, believers are suppose primarily to look out for new ways and opportunities, to pass across the gospel of the Kingdom using as many means as possible. There is need to actually commend the efforts of Churches with television ministries cutting across several countries and the world at large. Jesus, I believe, would have done exactly and even more better were He to be physically around at this time in history.
The focus of this write-up therefore is to point the attention of the body of Christ in Nigeria to some areas that are yet to be explored as far as media is concerned. In an earlier article titled The Nigerian Gospel Music Industry: Does It Exist? Published in No. 3 Vol. 1 of the GN Mini-Magazine, I had analyzed the gospel music industry in Nigeria showing the areas of improvement that the body of Christ needs to take cognizance of.
In referring to the media here, it means more than the television, radio, newspapers and probably billboards. Media in this view also include the home videos, musical recordings, the Internet and several other media less utilized for the propagation of the gospel. However, the major area emphasis will be placed is in the area of Christian music and movie production. With the rate new movies are churn-out of Nollywood (Nigeria’s movie industry), and new concepts being developed by the secular singers, one will have no doubt with regard to the investment that must have gone into the two industries.
It is no longer news that popular cultures across the globe today are derived from these media materials (movies, musicals etc). Several studies in the field of mass communication have shown that media played and is still playing a significant role with regard to influencing behavior. If the pace of events is then being set by people in this area of endeavor and the world including Christians are embracing the concept being disseminated, why should we sit down and act as if we are not concerned? What would Jesus have down?
Every Sunday, the truth of the word of God that can mould, shape and build lives as well as establish God’s Kingdom on earth is being preached in various Churches. Who will take these messages down to those outside the church in the form of inspired lyrics, well scripted drama? I bet, the salvation of many is hinged on this. It is time Christians began investing in the media by owning for example Christian record labels; where music being produced are up to standard according to the word of God and also professionally. Others include movie outfits that will engage in soap operas that will portray Godly values and educate the people on the Christian faith.
Before the advent of the home video, stage drama; which is still popular with Churches today, use to be the major ways people get entertained. As technology advanced however, what use to be domicile in a particular building before is now being taken to as many homes without the barrier of having to travel to the cinemas; though some still go to the cinemas today, they probably go to see an already made motion pictures in contrast to what use to be at the earlier times. The Church however seems not to have advance beyond the stage play thing. We are comfortable by acting for the people in church alone; people who probably are more pastor than the pastor himself.
Beyond making clear the above information, I exclaimed within myself… Oh that the Church may know! That it will be very costly for us to ignore the media for the simple reason that it remained a great way through which a people can be influenced either for good or for bad, Oh that the church may know!! That salvation of souls is no longer achieved only on Sunday morning by calling people to the pulpit, Oh that the church may know!!! That there is no better time to start than now!
Incase you have been considering the idea of owning a Christian record label for example and you felt the resources at your disposal will not be enough to get you started, look around you, I am sure you will get to see other Christians who share the same ambition. As I conclude this piece, my final word to you out there is to come out of your shells as there are more beyond the four walls of the church to be accomplished. Remember, the world earnestly awaits the manifestation of God’s children and that includes you. Shalom!
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