There’s been a few comments online this Summer subtly (or not so subtly) making fun of Christians all suddenly starting podcasts or writing books. Millennial Christian bashing is fun bandwagon to jump on after all, and it’s an easy group to snipe at.

And I kinda get it. There are often pride issues inherent in the idea of ‘everyone needs to hear what I’m saying!’ It’s also natural for us to kick out at the latest hipster trends, pushing against the consumeristic habits of seeking style over substance. Sure.

But.

I started blogging in Bible College. Not to tell everyone what I think, but to enter a broader conversation. Bible College felt like a very isolated echo chamber, and for a lot of reasons I struggled to fit in to that culture. Blogging gave me a chance to interact with a much wider student body and feel far less isolated. It was an absolute lifeline for me!

I carried on blogging as a personal archive of talks and ideas; something I could search later and use in my work. Finally blogging allowed me to occasionally give back to others. It’s online space, but its been a really important tool to help me connect with peers.

We’re made to talk

Humans were designed by God uniquely for a high degree of interaction, sharing, presence, exchanging, conferring, and conversing. We’re made, as the saying goes, for relationship. Talking is a massive part of that dance.

I know there is a vast landscape of diverse opinions, and conventional wisdom says ‘no more, we’re full’ but why? The Holy Spirit is always there to help us navigate, and our own growing sense of critical thinking was given to us to this end too. Then there’s friends, family, pastors – all given to help us grow and make good consumption and interaction choices. I think God wants us to make good choices as growing spiritual and relational beings, rather than limit those choices before we could make them.

Iron sharpens iron, and my blog has helped me connect with others, grow my ideas, refine my thinking, and feel much less isolated. I have always felt like I received more from my blog than it gave.

One of the reasons people discourage new podcasts and the like is that there are already plenty of good ones out there. And that’s true! You should tune in and interact with them too. But they all began somewhere, and none of them is the perfect, one-stop podcast. Maybe you have something to add to the conversation that no one else does, or a perspective to bring that is currently underrepresented.

The media ‘elite’

It bugs me a little more then, when some of the people vocally criticising or snidely ridiculing this wave of new podcasts and writing are in the ‘professional’ Christian media. What should separate the media ‘elite’ from amateur blogs and podcasts is a deeper sense of journalistic integrity, skills, and resources. It should never be that they are the de facto, or solo, voices of opinion.

Aaron Sorkin paraphrasing Pericles said, “all good things flow into the boulevard”. It’s not the job of the ‘elite’ or the ‘professional’ to police that flow, but to produce what they do at the highest possible quality. This helps the growing sea of voices naturally regulate against a set standard.

Christian media should welcome more voices and dialogue, not subtly try to oppress, discourage, or censor them. They don’t have to lend their platform, but they should encourage more participation within the boulevard.

In the meantime, start your blog, your podcast, your channel, or your first chapter. Have a go, join the conversation, be generous with your space, teachable in your opinions, discerning in your content, and loving in your tone.

Like in anything else, love people, love Jesus, and don’t be a jerk.

All the best!

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