Now, to the issue of where our lousy reputation in the U. S. comes from, I have two candidates for a big part of the problem:

1. Have you looked at television lately? Millions and millions of people see us portrayed as idiots on TV every day! You might say, well we have Christian stations. Have you watched the Christian stations? No, you have not. Why? Because they are mostly lousy TV. Buried in that lousy TV might be a wonderful message, in fact, many fine pastors have a caring, thoughtful, Biblical message. Those pastors are featured usually on Sunday morning when non-believers are playing golf, sleeping, fixing breakfast, or at the lake. Where is the Christian portrayed in the many thousands of helpful ways that we contribute to the welfare of others? How about the work of Christians at times of disaster? Or the work of Christians in the armed services defending our country? No place. We are portrayed as idiots or zealots or political animals or people fighting over property – not very smart, behind the times, not relevant, lowbrows.

We are portrayed as people who cannot have an intelligent conversation with a nonbeliever who has a serious, sincere question that demands a serious, sincere answer. Our reputation is lousy on TV, because we absolutely do NOT have a broadcast or cable competitive TV network that is the intellectual, and music, and thoughtful worldview analysis showcase that Christ deserves. Shame on us for letting this happen. I challenge the Christian business community to redeem the Christian reputation by floating a Christian business “bond issue” to fund, and operate, a Christ-worthy competitor to cable programming. Soon the commercial value of the station would be proven. We could start by buying the Hallmark Channel and build on the base of family–oriented movies by creating prime-time and daytime programming that uplifts people and creates competitors to news, documentary, education, sports, commentary, and intelligent debate. Let’s give people something significant to really talk about in the break room.

2. Have you learned a clear and simple method to share the gospel when God gives you and opportunity? Do you know how to share the gospel in a simple conversational way that reflects the fact that you believe it and try to live it every day even if you fail? Can you say in 3 minutes or less what your life was like before you trusted Christ for your salvation and what God has done for you? Do you know what to say if someone says that “all religious are equally good to get you to heaven”? Do you have the answers to the 2 or 3 most common questions that non-believers ask? Can you find the key elements of our faith in the Bible? Do you read the Bible yourself?

Watch for the posts on this site. We are going to give you those questions and answers. We are going to decode Christian talk. We are going to show you how to share the gospel.

Yes, we need relationships. But, Andy, we already have the right and the duty to share the gospel – we can’t earn it. And we have ample examples of relationships we already have with dear people with whom we have not shared the gospel because we don’t know how or we’re scared to do so. So we need to learn how to do the one most important thing for everyone we know – make sure our friends on earth are our friends in heaven!