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Who Has More Clout With Your Congregation? Radio Preachers, or You?!

Orginally published on Thursday, August 30, 2007 at 6:03 AM
by Todd Rhoades

Out of Ur writes, "I’ve had my share of confrontations with Christians that adhere to radio-orthodoxy. I recognize they measure every sermon I preach against what is beamed through the airwaves. But I have yet to discover a pastoral way of handling their unquestioning faith in the disembodied voices they hear on the commute to work everyday..."

Sola gratia, sola fide, sola scriptura,…sola radio? The following conversation is based on true events.

Church member: “Pastor, I’m very disturbed by something you said in your sermon yesterday.”

Pastor: “I’m glad you came to talk with me about it. What’s bothering you?”

Church member: “In the sermon you mentioned Erwin McManus.”

Pastor: “That’s right. I quoted something he said about church membership.”

Church member: “Well, I’m very disturbed that you would reference someone like him in a sermon! McManus is part of the emerging church, and I have serious problems with their theology based on what I’ve heard on the radio.”

Pastor: “You do know Erwin McManus is a Southern Baptist, and I’m pretty sure his theology is quite orthodox. In fact, our denomination invited him to speak at our convention two years ago.”

Church member: “Yes, I know they did, and I’m very bothered by that as well. McManus is part of the emerging church, and the emerging church is involved in all kinds of heresy.”

Pastor: “The label ‘emerging church’ is used to describe a lot of different things, and I know some emerging church leaders are pushing the envelope with their theology, but I don’t think Erwin McManus is one of them. To tell you the truth, I’ve never really considered McManus part of that movement. I think his books are just packaged and marketed to that crowd. I don’t think you have to worry about his theology. Have you ever read one of his books?”

Church member: “No, but I don’t have to. I listen to Chuck Colson on the radio and he says the emerging church is dangerous. It’s not something we should be messing around with, and the fact that you’d quote an emerging church pastor in your sermon is very alarming.”

Pastor: Well, I’d encourage you to read up on what McManus teaches and believes, and if you find something problematic, let me know. I’d be happy to talk with you about it.

Church member: “I don’t think you heard me. Colson said on the radio that the emerging church is full of heresy. It’s dangerous. Why would I read one of those books?”

Pastor: “I haven’t listened to Chuck Colson’s program, but I can assure you in my study I’ve found nothing wrong with Erwin McManus, and neither have the leaders of our denomination.”

Church member: “Yes, but Chuck Colson is on the radio. I’m just letting you know it really bothered me yesterday. I hope this isn’t the start of a trend. I don’t know what I would do if this church started becoming emerging.”

I’ve recapped this conversation for you because it jives with something Brian McLaren wrote a few years ago. He said:

Sometimes I think that the most powerful and popular denomination in America is a stealth one. It’s not the Baptists or the Catholics or the Methodists or the Assemblies of God. It’s “radio-orthodoxy"—the set of beliefs promoted by religious broadcasting. Do you doubt the power of radio-orthodoxy? Just try contradicting it.

I’ve had my share of confrontations with Christians that adhere to radio-orthodoxy. I recognize they measure every sermon I preach against what is beamed through the airwaves. But I have yet to discover a pastoral way of handling their unquestioning faith in the disembodied voices they hear on the commute to work everyday.

I’m not calling for a revolt against Christian radio stations (although I don’t listen to them personally). I recognize that many people are blessed and encouraged by the programming offered through the radio. However, the voices coming through the speakers seem to be monotone. Without multiple perspectives and thoughtful dialogue around important issues facing the church (social, political, missional, or familial) listeners are left to believe the Christian position is cut and dry, black and white. And those who dare to question this perspective, as I did with my disturbed church member, are given a verbal lashing that ends with “thus saith the radio!”

What is a radio-heretic to do? Read more here…

SOURCE: Out of Ur

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There are 7 Comments:

Posted by

Thursday, August 30, 2007 at 1:16 PM

I have dealt with this on occasion. I just listen as the critic(s) attempt to make their case based upon “radio-theology.” Some will say, “I wish you would preach like Dr. So and so on the radio or TV.” My defense, “Well if I preached like them, I would probably be pastoring somewhere else.” Those that get disgusted with me and threaten to leave and spend Sundays with their radio or TV pastors, I just remind them, “Next time you are in the hospital or in need, try calling Dr. So and So. Let me know if he comes visiting.” That makes them think and if they are willing to listen, I will tell them the difference between a pastor and a preacher.
Posted by

Thursday, August 30, 2007 at 2:42 PM

Well… It was Erwin McManus after all… What a dangerous heretic. It’s amazing to me that some of those who are most ardently opposed as being part of the emerging church are some of the ones with the most orthodox theology, as far as I can tell. Erwin and Dan Kimball come to mind.

What people REALLY oppose is “emergent” practice, not theology, they just can’t see that.

I think in our town people actually listen to our SP more than the radio guys, but I’m not sure…
Posted by Camey

Thursday, August 30, 2007 at 4:02 PM

Oh… it’s that emerging.... and it’s sister emergent… They cause all kinds of trouble ya know… Talking about the labels and words themselves..

Okay.. okay.. I’ll confess. I once asked a pastor of mine why he didn’t preach like so-n-so on the radio. His response was.. “Have you ever heard him preach in person? He’s not THAT loud even if you were to turn up the volume in your ears. That’s his radio voice for his radio sermons.” Ahhhhh…

I made mention before that I listen to radio preachers when traveling. Pastor Dan? You remember that conversation? You cautioned me about it. I am, still to this day, thankful for that. And you get prayed for every time I listen with care. Thanks again.
Posted by Rev Scottie

Friday, August 31, 2007 at 6:37 AM

The trend I’m seeing is that anything outside traditional style worship is being labeled as “emergent” or “emerging” and thus it bad and should be avoided at all cost. When you starting lumping Brian McLaren, Rob Bell, Erwin Mc Manus, and Rick Warren all into one category you know someone is painting with a brush that is way too wide.

As far as the radio goes maybe Todd needs to start an MMI broadcast in order togain more credibility.
Posted by

Friday, August 31, 2007 at 7:10 AM

Peter said: “What people REALLY oppose is “emergent” practice, not theology, they just can’t see that.”Actually Peter the truth is that your Theology DETERMINES your Practice. How you view God, the magnificence and reverence you have towards Him will govern your “practices”. And when it comes to the “pastor” saying to the person “You do know Erwin McManus is a Southern Baptist, and I’m pretty sure his theology is quite orthodox. In fact, our denomination invited him to speak at our convention two years ago.”All this really shows is that the pastor hasn’t done his research or all he did was check out what the Mosaic website has to say about his beliefs which often do not represent the theology espoused from the pulpit or in his books. Truth be told there are many “denominations” that left unaided would send millions to Hell without batting an eye so long as the denomination wasn’t shaken, so both sides of his statement show an un-Pastoring nature, unlike Paul who wrote in Col. 1:28: Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
Posted by Leonard

Friday, August 31, 2007 at 7:27 AM

Your theology does in many places determine your practice but too often people are assuming bad theology over stylistic approaches. Other times, as was stated, people are painting with such a broad and IMO uniformed brush that everyone who is not singing hymns, who uses video, who does not preach expository sermons, who addresses issues like sex and sexuality is considered “emergent” or compromised.

Use the word relevant with the fundamentalist crowd and they thing you are changing scripture or have become irreverent. Take 2 minutes and read slice, Ken Silva and a few others and you will find some of this crowd gets a large amount of exercise jumping to conclusions.
Posted by

Friday, August 31, 2007 at 8:22 AM

MG,

Yes, my theology does at least inform and maybe determine my practice. But for somebody to take some of my words or portions of my practice out of context and label me apostate would be more than unfair, it would be inappropriate and, imho, very unbiblical. This is what I’m seeing many do, although not as many in our own congregation as, thankfully, in others…

And I wonder how many of Erwin’s books the “imaginary” person in the above discussion has actually looked at. I’ve read them all. I have heard him speak on three different occasions. He is certainly above-board and not heretical.

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Hi... I'm Todd Rhoades. I'm a Christ-follower, husband, father and I love to connect leaders with other leaders. Hopefully you'll find something here at MMI you like and will return often. If you want, you can find out more about me or follow my every step on Twitter.