Tim Wildmon

AFA president

March 2002 – Recently there has been a debate and discussion among Christian leaders, in particular Christian broadcasters, about the role of Christian radio with respect to national social, moral and political issues. 

I am very interested in this because I co-host a call-in issues-oriented talk program on the American Family Radio (AFR) network. (If there is no AFR station in your area, you can hear us on the Internet at www.afr.net.) The broader issue here is how Christians should respond to an increasingly secular culture. 

Some argue Christian broadcasting is influenced to its detriment by groups like AFA and others who dedicate a significant percentage of our time to bring controversial social issues to the attention of our listening audience. I would make an educated guess that in a 24-hour AFR day, 10% of our programming would fall into that category.

However, some of our critics have said that Christian radio should stick with proclaiming the salvation message and stressing individual spiritual growth, rather than talking about issues that are divisive in mainstream culture. I understand this philosophy, but I don’t agree with it. 

As a Christian broadcaster for 10 years, and vice president of AFA for 15 years, I can tell you clearly that I am on the side of the unborn baby. I am on the side of traditional marriage. I am on the side of religious freedom. I am on the side of the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount. And I’m for taking these matters to my listening audience and strongly encouraging them to take a public stand. And I don’t apologize for it. In fact, from my perspective, to do any less is to be irresponsible with the voice God has given me to reach Christians and others who share these traditional values. 

Can Christians argue and disagree over tactics? Surely. In fact, I think it’s healthy. But if promoting biblical morality involves politics or politicians, naming names, imploring people to make a telephone call, write a letter, send an e-mail, etc. – then so be it. 

This emphasis on evangelism to the near exclusion of taking a stand on the great moral issues of our day is not where I come down. The values Christianity represents, for the most part, run counter to mainstream popular culture which is agitated or angered by the idea of moral absolutes, especially if they come from the Bible. 

It is the classic both/and, not either/or argument. In my opinion, Christians should do both – tell people about the life-changing message of Jesus Christ and, help them apply that message to their life and society.

Some say we – the Christian church – are marginalized in society when we take public stands on moral issues that are divisive, especially when they become political. My question is – marginalized by whom? The liberal secular media? Now there’s a newsflash. Bernard Goldberg, a liberal and former CBS reporter, has a national best-seller out now titled Bias, which confirms the media’s left bent from an insider’s perspective. 

And as for politics, it is precisely our theology that impacts our morality that impacts our politics. 

Being salt and light in an often dark and bitter culture means pointing the unbeliever to the God who can bring new life and renew our culture. Amazing isn’t it. He can do both.