I couldn't believe what I was hearing on Teri Gross' NPR "Fresh Air" radio show.
A woman was describing her very personal and very moving spiritual experience with Jesus. She came across as balanced and thoughtful.
"Well," I thought, "Either we're going to find out that it was a very bland, no-God-involved conversion, or Teri is going to suggest other reasons for the life-changing turnaround."
But no. This bright, articulate radio guest continued to name Jesus as the source of her strength and confirmed her realization that God of the Bible loved her unconditionally, through her relationship with Jesus and his redemptive role on the cross to forgive her sins. And no mocking retort from Teri G. In fact, the host respectfully listened and gave her guest plenty of room to explain.
What? On National Public Radio?
Was I dreaming? Then I listened more closely to the radio host's voice. That's not Teri Gross... A quick glance to the radio panel explained everything. I had just returned from a 3 day business trip and my radio was still set to a Christian station from the other city. What I had assumed was one of six radio presets in my car (yes, I do have a preset for NPR...I love Prairie Home Companion!) was simply the last station played during my travels. No wonder a this woman was treated with grace and respect on air.
But isn't it interesting how strong that public "brand" image is for controlled content on programs like Fresh Air and NPR in general. "Public" airwaves are just about the last place you could possibly hear anything like a public profession of faith. Anti-faith, yes. "Neutral" secular humanism (faith-less), yes. All faith-except-Christianity is valid...yes. My 'radio ear' has been trained to expect this form of NPR-bias. That's why the other radio program dialog seemed so out of place to me.
Some of my extended family members would challenge me...'well, are you willing to hear every other religion get air time about their experiences just to see inclusion of your own perspective about Christianity?'
If it helps to get Christianity on the table in a fair and balanced manner, yes, definitely! People make their own decisions, but give them a fair representation of honest dialog. Sadly, that (fair and balanced) is not available on NPR.
Those are my thoughts. Nothing against Teri Gross overall, she's done some very entertaining interviews across the spectrum of people and topics she selects and supports. But see if you can start to predict what you will not hear on public radio 'dialog' and compare it to what you do hear (in addition to Garrison's gospel singing).
In the meantime, at least I discovered a decent radio station in that last city I just visited.
It was like a breath of...fresh air.
What do you believe?
A woman was describing her very personal and very moving spiritual experience with Jesus. She came across as balanced and thoughtful.
"Well," I thought, "Either we're going to find out that it was a very bland, no-God-involved conversion, or Teri is going to suggest other reasons for the life-changing turnaround."
But no. This bright, articulate radio guest continued to name Jesus as the source of her strength and confirmed her realization that God of the Bible loved her unconditionally, through her relationship with Jesus and his redemptive role on the cross to forgive her sins. And no mocking retort from Teri G. In fact, the host respectfully listened and gave her guest plenty of room to explain.
What? On National Public Radio?
Was I dreaming? Then I listened more closely to the radio host's voice. That's not Teri Gross... A quick glance to the radio panel explained everything. I had just returned from a 3 day business trip and my radio was still set to a Christian station from the other city. What I had assumed was one of six radio presets in my car (yes, I do have a preset for NPR...I love Prairie Home Companion!) was simply the last station played during my travels. No wonder a this woman was treated with grace and respect on air.
But isn't it interesting how strong that public "brand" image is for controlled content on programs like Fresh Air and NPR in general. "Public" airwaves are just about the last place you could possibly hear anything like a public profession of faith. Anti-faith, yes. "Neutral" secular humanism (faith-less), yes. All faith-except-Christianity is valid...yes. My 'radio ear' has been trained to expect this form of NPR-bias. That's why the other radio program dialog seemed so out of place to me.
Some of my extended family members would challenge me...'well, are you willing to hear every other religion get air time about their experiences just to see inclusion of your own perspective about Christianity?'
If it helps to get Christianity on the table in a fair and balanced manner, yes, definitely! People make their own decisions, but give them a fair representation of honest dialog. Sadly, that (fair and balanced) is not available on NPR.
Those are my thoughts. Nothing against Teri Gross overall, she's done some very entertaining interviews across the spectrum of people and topics she selects and supports. But see if you can start to predict what you will not hear on public radio 'dialog' and compare it to what you do hear (in addition to Garrison's gospel singing).
In the meantime, at least I discovered a decent radio station in that last city I just visited.
It was like a breath of...fresh air.
What do you believe?
