Who has the corner on the block in communicating with society as we speak? I think we would get a wide variety of responses including all the opinions of those who think that any form of “media” is evil, or those who think that this or that group is selling something specific (Hollywood selling “sex”). The point is not the argument of what is evil or good, but rather to notice that other groups, companies, industries, and individuals are effectively communicating with the masses. Whether we like it or not, there is a stream of communication that is present, that we as individuals take in, pass judgment on, and in the marketing world, getting someone to pass a judgment on your advertising campaign or company profile, is usually applauded as good work. Why? Why would someone be excited when an individual makes it public about their huge problems with “Big Tobacco?” To some extent, they are excited because they have developed a recognizable brand. People know them and they have effectively communicated who they are to the world. Yes, sometimes the image is not what the company wants portrayed, but just the fact that people know who they are and know some of their platform is an excitable thought.
There is lots of communication going on in the world today. I know that I’m young, but even in my short life the way generations communicate have shifted. We cannot deny the fact that there are more ways for a person to communicate with another individual or the world instantaneously then there has ever been known to man before. It’s exciting, but it is also scary for many. It’s scary because the communications outline is not really set out for them and people don’t really talk about communicating anymore, they just tweet, facebook, chat, txt and communicate right at that moment. There is no time to talk about it, we need instantaneous feedback so they just chart their own path. If you can’t swim, you sink and for many, they are sinking.
Our churches are sinking. Ok, maybe not that bad, but in many ways the Christian community needs to start addressing our communication, our influences with society (how we are influenced and how we influence), and what we are learning. Like it or not, I would argue that our communication has not done a very good job of staying connected with the business world’s communication structure (and sometimes for good reasons). We are behind the times. That’s not meant to be a jab, but rather hoping that as we can understand where we fall in this world of changing communication we can hopefully learn and grow and learn to communicate more effectively.
That’s what I’m hoping to accomplish with this blog. It’s a big task, it’s a HUGE task. I’m aiming high, knowing that I have found information available to me to be helpful, and if there would be any way that I could help start the discussion, I would be so excited. It’s not strictly a church discussion, not specifically a “Christian” discussion, but rather the discussion is one that comes from the understanding that all communication has the ability to move and influence people. I want to influence people for good in this world and want to figure out what the best way for me to do that is. Let’s start the discussion.
Anybody Listening? 