Our culture is gradually shifting from apathy towards the Christian faith into hostility.
In various ways we can see evidence of Christians being deliberately excluded from the public square. Take for example, our nation’s publicly funded broadcaster, the BBC. The BBC broadcasts plenty of material on religious themes, but very little of it has been positive about the Christian perspective.
In 2006 the Muslim journalist, Rageh Omaar, was chosen to present a three part BBC series on the miracles of Jesus. In 2011 the BBC broadcast a prime time series on the archaeology of the Bible, fronted by an atheist-feminist scholar from Exeter University. In 2013 on Good Friday at noon the BBC chose to broadcast a documentary by Melvyn Bragg in which the claim was presented that Jesus had married Mary Magdalene.
Twisted evidence
In 2014 the BBC aired The Bible Hunters, which sought to demonstrate that recent manuscript discoveries had undermined confidence in the reliability of the Bible. Larry Hurtado, despite being one of the scholars interviewed for the series, observed ‘the programme missed the boat entirely.’ Fascinating evidence that had confirmed the reliability of the Bible was presented as if the Church was in crisis as a result of the discoveries.
When the BBC screened the deeply offensive Jerry Springer: the Opera it received a deluge of complaints. The corporation was unrepentant. Former director of the BBC, Mark Thompson, publicly admitted that if the target of the offensive material had been Mohammed, rather than Jesus, the programme would not have been aired. As for positive examples of Christianity on the BBC, you might as well be in search of the Holy Grail. Marcus Stead, on his blog commented, ‘In Eastenders, the only regular Christian character is a chain-smoking, loopy old bat, intended for ridicule.’ No wonder BBC news journalist Jeremy Vine, admitted in an interview that in broadcasting ‘it's almost socially unacceptable to say you believe in God.’
Inscription at Broadcasting House
This growing hostility towards Christianity is ironic when we consider the inscription unveiled at the opening of BBC’s Broadcasting House; ‘This temple of the arts and muses is dedicated to Almighty God by the first Governors in the year of our Lord 1931, John Reith being Director-General. And they pray that the good seed sown may bring forth good harvest, and that all things foul or hostile to peace may be banished thence, and that the people inclining their ear to whatsoever things are lovely and honest, whatsoever things are of good report, may tread the path of virtue and wisdom.’
Assume little, pray hard
What should we do about this shift? The cultural shift from apathy to hostility should remind us as Christians that we can assume very little in sharing our faith. Our friends are likely to have been profoundly misinformed by what they learn about the Bible from general culture. Pray for Christians in broadcasting and encourage believers who wish to make a difference in this field. But recognize that culture is not neutral. There are friends and allies in the cause of the gospel, but there are many enemies and obstacles in positions of influence.
