Keith Hawes: The power of media
When Moses wanted to share the revelation of the 10 commandments with the people of Israel, he had to gather them together to share what God had spoken. Today, technology enables us to communicate instantly with people throughout the world. Marshall McLuhan was one of the first to explore the power of media and technology in everyday life. He introduced the idea that “it is the medium that shapes and controls the scale and form of human association” and that “the medium is the message.”
I became more concerned about the power of communicative technology just recently. My wife and I gave our daughter a cell phone for her birthday. The Marshall McLuhan quote that I shared previously, ruminated in my mind the days before her birthday. Regardless of what media we use, it can shape our thoughts and even control our lives. As a father and minister, I was concerned about the negative impacts of media on young people.
My first introduction to the internet was with a 56k dial-up modem on our family’s Packard Bell computer. It was placed on a desk in the living room as if it were some sort of family heirloom. We were impressed by the new operating system, Windows 95. The giant, behemoth of a computer is nothing compared to the high-speed machine in a simple handheld device called an iPhone.
Times have changed, technology has evolved, but humanity really has not. The struggle with the sin nature remains pretty constant from the days of Moses to today. So, as I pondered the effects of media and how the medium is the message, I realized this was a teaching moment in our family.
This gift presented an opportunity in our house to discuss the power of media. Our discussion centered on the idea that we should read, watch, and listen to things that positively impact our emotional and spiritual well-being. It also included discussing safe practices regarding cell phone usage.
The medium still may be the “message.” But, with so much content now available, consumers are exposed to messages that can edify and build up, but others which destroy and tear down. The Apostle Paul admonishes us to think about “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Phillippians 4:8).
Now, ask God to help free you from any controlling influence the media might have over you. Ask Him to give you discernment about what you allow into your mind. Don’t let the media establish your standards. Fill your heart and mind with God’s Word, and spend time in fellowship with Him.
Keith Hawes is the pastor of Stewart Road Church in Monroe. He can be reached at contact@stewartroad.org.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Keith Hawes: The power of media
