Television Preachers

WHY DON'T WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO WATCH AND

SUPPORT RADIO AND TELEVISION EVANGELISTS?

Is it wrong to be devoted to Oral Roberts, Billy Graham, Pat Robertson, Warren Wiersbe, or other radio and television evangelists?

First of all, it is unwise to lump all radio and television ministries into one category. Our own church, too, uses radio and television in it's ministry. "The Lutheran Hour" (radio) and "This Is The Life" (television) have been airing for many years. The fact is that media preachers come in all theological shapes and sizes, from preachers who whole-heartedly subscribe to the basic Christian Creeds all the way to Creed-denying cult figures. Frankly, it becomes quite hard sometimes to tell the sincere from the charlatan behind all that television make-up.

Many radio and televangelists don't belong in the same category. For example, without their media reputations, Billy Graham would be a preacher in a Baptist Church while Oral Roberts and Pat Robertson would be leading a tent-meeting in a Pentecostal Church. In fact, one of the main problems with media preachers is that, in order to appeal to a mass market, they have to blur and ignore the specific denomination from which they have come. Would Graham, Wiersbe, Robertson, or Roberts have the wide appeal they enjoy now if their listeners knew they belong to denominations that deny infant Baptism, the Lord's Supper, or justification by grace alone through faith. When was the last time a televangelist talked about such fundamental and vital aspects of a Christian's life?

Another problem is that their ministry can become little more than a "personality cult." This happens when the preacher becomes bigger than the message. The preacher becomes the "star" and whatever he says is believed just because he said it.

It is not wise to be devoted to a ministry or a minister who is not completely faithful to Scripture. Certainly many radio and television evangelists include Biblical truths in their message, but that does not mean they have God's seal of approval. To entrust the care and feeding of your soul to a pretty face, a convincing voice, or even to a "mostly true" ministry is risky and wrong. And to financially support such a ministry is to profess that you believe all that the preacher says. If their message isn't "all right" then your support of them isn't "all right" either.

Jesus said, "Beware of false prophets" (Matt. 7:15). John said of those who don't preach the whole message of Christ, "Do not take him into your house" even if he's in a 19-inch box (2 Jn. 10-11). And in regard to those who preach that God will make you rich (and many preachers do emphasize a kind of "prosperity Gospel"), Paul wrote that we should withdraw from those who "teach false doctrine ... who think that godliness is a means to financial gain" (1 Tim. 6:3-5).

There have always been popular preachers who claimed Jesus as their authority, but were wrong (Matt. 6:22-23).  Christians often get worked up about the lack of morality on television, and rightly so. So much of what is found on television or radio today is anti-Christian, immoral garbage. Yes, we should be concerned about the moral content of what we and our children watch. But shouldn't the Christian also be equally concerned about the spiritual content of what he watches or listens to? I don't see much difference between a program that belittles God (your average sitcom or television drama) and one that completely misrepresents Him (the preacher that says that God's desire is to make you wealthy or that your salvation depends on your decision, not on Christ's atoning sacrifice alone). In one case God is denied. In the other, words are put into His mouth that are contrary to what He has spoken in Scripture. Neither are helpful in understanding the true God.

The final problem with devotion to media ministry is that it attempts to take the place of personal ministry. Oral Roberts can build you a hospital, but he won't visit you when you're in it. Here is what media ministry doesn't have...brothers and sisters to cry with you and rejoice with you...a pastor who meets with you, listens to you, and shares God's love with you one-on-one in his office, in your home, or in the hospital...the body and blood of Jesus Christ in the Sacrament...Baptism for your children ...interactive Christian education for children and adults. And don't expect much depth or continuity or painful (but necessary) honesty coming from a media ministry that knows they can lose your attention and support with a simple click of the remote control.

Your membership in our congregation is your commitment to participate in our ministry by sharing your love, your time, your talents, and your gifts here, in a congregation of your brothers and sisters.  God never intended worship and ministry to be a solo experience or a spectator sport.