Media Literacy? By Phillip Telfer
What is media literacy? Literacy in general is being able to read and comprehend what you are reading. Media literacy is a term that has been coined to describe the ability to recognize and understand that all media has a message and those messages have an impact in our lives.
Unlike reading, we don't have to go to school to learn how to watch TV, listen to the radio or play a video game. In the case of entertainment we do need to be trained to recognize what is being taught and the impact of those messages.
Too often we buy into the deception that it's just entertainment. It's not just entertainment; every song is a sermon, every movie a message, every TV a teacher, every word a weapon, and a picture's worth a thousand words. Consider the impact of a single movie containing thousands of pictures all worth a thousand words.
Unfortunately, the Christian community appears to be way behind in media literacy. There are more individuals and organizations outside the Christian community who understand the impact that these messages are having on our generation and they are working hard to bring awareness, training and change.
Recently, the National Institute on Media and the Family, released their 12th annual video game report card and the Christian community was embarrassingly indicted for "disappointing complacency" and "sabotage" because of the "disturbing trend" of churches across the country who resort to using video game tournaments with popular M-rated games to recruit youth. In disgust they reported that "allowing 13- and 14- year old teenagers to play games that are rated for players over the age of 17 is irresponsible…"
Why should the Church be more diligent and proactive than the world? Because many of those messages that are infiltrating the hearts and minds of this generation are deliberate attacks against God, against Christianity, against morality, and against purity.
We listen to the pastor on Sunday preach about "loving your enemy" but then spend more time during the week listening the TV preach the opposite. We read a bible verse during a short devotion that says, "be content with what you have" while much of the entertainment we consume is intentionally stirring up discontentment. We want our youth groups to emphasize sexual purity while that same audience can often be found munching popcorn in the theater on Friday night being taught about sexual impurity.
It's time to assess our lives and consider if we have been ignorant about media literacy and begin to ask God to open the eyes of our understanding. The bible gives us an appropriate reminder to take media literacy seriously… "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" 2 Corinthians 10:4-5.
What is media literacy? Literacy in general is being able to read and comprehend what you are reading. Media literacy is a term that has been coined to describe the ability to recognize and understand that all media has a message and those messages have an impact in our lives.
Unlike reading, we don't have to go to school to learn how to watch TV, listen to the radio or play a video game. In the case of entertainment we do need to be trained to recognize what is being taught and the impact of those messages.
Too often we buy into the deception that it's just entertainment. It's not just entertainment; every song is a sermon, every movie a message, every TV a teacher, every word a weapon, and a picture's worth a thousand words. Consider the impact of a single movie containing thousands of pictures all worth a thousand words.
Unfortunately, the Christian community appears to be way behind in media literacy. There are more individuals and organizations outside the Christian community who understand the impact that these messages are having on our generation and they are working hard to bring awareness, training and change.
Recently, the National Institute on Media and the Family, released their 12th annual video game report card and the Christian community was embarrassingly indicted for "disappointing complacency" and "sabotage" because of the "disturbing trend" of churches across the country who resort to using video game tournaments with popular M-rated games to recruit youth. In disgust they reported that "allowing 13- and 14- year old teenagers to play games that are rated for players over the age of 17 is irresponsible…"
Why should the Church be more diligent and proactive than the world? Because many of those messages that are infiltrating the hearts and minds of this generation are deliberate attacks against God, against Christianity, against morality, and against purity.
We listen to the pastor on Sunday preach about "loving your enemy" but then spend more time during the week listening the TV preach the opposite. We read a bible verse during a short devotion that says, "be content with what you have" while much of the entertainment we consume is intentionally stirring up discontentment. We want our youth groups to emphasize sexual purity while that same audience can often be found munching popcorn in the theater on Friday night being taught about sexual impurity.
It's time to assess our lives and consider if we have been ignorant about media literacy and begin to ask God to open the eyes of our understanding. The bible gives us an appropriate reminder to take media literacy seriously… "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" 2 Corinthians 10:4-5.
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