hostile satanic takover

[Jane-Ayne]

You know what would make all Christian radio better? People like the posters on this board could lighten up A LOT. I personally thought the "hostile satanic takeover" headline was funny. It's called hyperbole, people.

This scene reminds me of the EXCELLENT column on HisAir by the dude from WAY-FM about how we must think our listeners are idiots, because that is how we treat them.

http://christianradiofeedbackroom.blogspot.com/2006_04_01_christianradiofeedbackroom_archive.html
(Scroll all the way down to the bottom--it is totally worth the read...)

Rather than pooh-pooh the fact that smashedcd used a common tool in creative writing to get his frustration across to the readers, the people on this board, what, actually thought that he meant the radio station was taken over by Satan? Come on. Get real, please.

This quote kills me--RadioElizabeth wrote:

"smashed, with all due respect...that heading is bit out of bounds.

another concern I have comes from the article:
"they argue (and it's hard to disagree) that the way they were treated when the station changed hands wasn't very "Christian" at all.""

You know what is not very Christian, in my humble opinion? The fact that when someone posts an item, that obviously they are passionate about, perhaps hurt by, that Christians circle the wagons, leaving that person out.

Elizabeth, I have a question: If there are rules about how much exaggeration we can use, or whether we are allowed to laugh at the idea of Satan being behind a rash of firings...can I a copy? The reason that I am responding, which I never have, to now, is because this whole attitude of "I know best what you and your walk should be like, and I will not hesitate to point out your shortcomings..." is the reason a lot of people do not attend church.

Just my opinion...Satan had nothing to do with it. Or did he?

For clarification, that is another example of humor--a concept that seems to be absent here.

 

[radioelizabeth]

You know what would make all Christian radio better? People like the posters on this board could lighten up A LOT. I personally thought the "hostile satanic takeover" headline was funny. It's called hyperbole, people.

This scene reminds me of the EXCELLENT column on HisAir by the dude from WAY-FM about how we must think our listeners are idiots, because that is how we treat them.

http://christianradiofeedbackroom.blogspot.com/2006_04_01_christianradiofeedbackroom_archive.html
(Scroll all the way down to the bottom--it is totally worth the read...)

Rather than pooh-pooh the fact that smashedcd used a common tool in creative writing to get his frustration across to the readers, the people on this board, what, actually thought that he meant the radio station was taken over by Satan? Come on. Get real, please.

This quote kills me--RadioElizabeth wrote:

"smashed, with all due respect...that heading is bit out of bounds.

another concern I have comes from the article:
"they argue (and it's hard to disagree) that the way they were treated when the station changed hands wasn't very "Christian" at all.""

You know what is not very Christian, in my humble opinion? The fact that when someone posts an item, that obviously they are passionate about, perhaps hurt by, that Christians circle the wagons, leaving that person out.

Elizabeth, I have a question: If there are rules about how much exaggeration we can use, or whether we are allowed to laugh at the idea of Satan being behind a rash of firings...can I a copy? The reason that I am responding, which I never have, to now, is because this whole attitude of "I know best what you and your walk should be like, and I will not hesitate to point out your shortcomings..." is the reason a lot of people do not attend church.

Just my opinion...Satan had nothing to do with it. Or did he?

For clarification, that is another example of humor--a concept that seems to be absent here.

What an interesting post.

If you have followed all the threads (and on other boards as Neutral pointed out) you would see that slams of the church and fellow Christians happen frequently.

I stand by the post that the heading is out of bounds. And the original poster agreed. So, feel free to have a different opinion...but I won't share it.

I'm all about lightening up, but not when it comes to posting negative comments about the church in a public forum.

I can't really answer your "question", or shall I say assumption. And no one can claim to "know best", but some can claim to know more. Which I imagine, you would agree.

Because this is a radio board, and not a theology board, I'm not too interested in debating the reasons why people don't attend church or individual walks, etc. But I'd guess when they see Christians slamming each other or using words like "satanic" when talking business issues it doesn't help much either.

The concern regarding the article is genuine. When we start to define how "Christians" ought to behave and create "us/them" assumptions and apply them across the board in business, that's a problem.

The thread presumes "Christians" shouldn't let happen what happened here. It's an opinion, but in no way ought to be a representation of how all "Christians" feel about the decisions that were made.

Elizabeth

 

[smashedcd]

Look, note that the attorneys pretty much made this happen.

That suggests to me that the church likely had a very strong recommendation from the attorneys to do it. I would have to assume it was a way to avoid potential liability for stupid stuff such as claims of falls or shocks or....geez, make something up, yourself. Any of these "programmers" gets a little gleam in his eye about owning the station as a lawsuit settlement, and you're in court in MA for months!

I have no problem with the action.


By the way, Smashed, after reading about this subject the Providence board, I found myself extremely disappointed by your comments. If you're going to claim to be a Christian but attack the bodies representing Christ to the world, bring it in here or to a Christian forum where it can be dealt with in a way that is both much more mature and much more helpful and beneficial to you.

i realize some people here dont like me but i will stick to one basic belief i have. preachers are just people. christians in a pew are just people. just because someone owns or runs a church doesnt mean we cant have opinions on them. they are not always right. a lot of thimes they are wrong. but the church being as it is will never ever critize even if it needs to be. i aint perfect. i am a christian. but i will never ever be run over by a church body again! and i still believe this church ran over the people they ran out.

 

[radioelizabeth]

Re:

i realize some people here dont like me but i will stick to one basic belief i have. preachers are just people. christians in a pew are just people. just because someone owns or runs a church doesnt mean we cant have opinions on them. they are not always right. a lot of thimes they are wrong. but the church being as it is will never ever critize even if it needs to be. i aint perfect. i am a christian. but i will never ever be run over by a church body again! and i still believe this church ran over the people they ran out.

Hey Smashed... I don't think honestly that it's "personal" and people not "liking you". You bring lots to the discussion.

But I will say... you are right, people are people. It was your post that singled them out as different because they were "the church". Your post made that relevant in this thread and the Providence one. It might be a suggestion that if you really feel "preachers are just people", than how about not applying a different standard to them. If you do apply a different standard, than the position that they are "just people" can't stand. Make sense?

And it is PEOPLE behind these posts. Having opinions about people is one thing, posting them publically is quite another.

Posts about a decision or format or song is not the same as what happens here a lot of times.

And that is where, for me at least, it gets frustrating. Because name calling (especially from a spiritual perspective) is never productive or professional.


e

 

[rbrucecarter5]

I can truthfully say - the absolute worst treatment I have personally received has been at the hands of Christians. If Christ's followers were the ONLY revelation I had of the gospel, I would have to conclude that the faith was not real. The way Christian ministries take over radio stations is more reminiscent of hostile secular takeovers than it is of being Christlike. This story sounds pretty typical of sectarian bickering - a year or two ago a KJV only, anti-CCM church took over a CCM station in TN - ten years ago Moody took over WCIE in Lakeland without refunding donations to those who donated thinking the station would be CCM - and WCIE's owners conducted a notorious raid on their own station when the announcers got too creative. The stories go on and on - always un-Christlike and completely unsympathetic to the listeners of the former format.

 

[radioelizabeth]

Re:

The way Christian ministries take over radio stations is more reminiscent of hostile secular takeovers than it is of being Christlike. This story sounds pretty typical of sectarian bickering - a year or two ago a KJV only, anti-CCM church took over a CCM station in TN - ten years ago Moody took over WCIE in Lakeland without refunding donations to those who donated thinking the station would be CCM - and WCIE's owners conducted a notorious raid on their own station when the announcers got too creative. The stories go on and on - always un-Christlike and completely unsympathetic to the listeners of the former format.

Exactly what is the "Christlike" way to buy and sell a radio station?

 

[smashedcd]

possibly give at least 24 hours notice they are taking over. and dont just throw everyone out. at least the big church that bout the station i was at gave warning. saying..we dont know if you will have a job in april..that was in january.about 3 days before i didnt have a job..but at least they warned me ahead of time.
BUT after re reading the story and on futher research the station was sold in september. that would be 10 months later. come to think of it they shold have seen it coming.

 

[Josephus]

smashed has the right idea - giving notice and treating people fairly is a more ethical way to conduct business.

Of course, since the common perception in our society is that Christians are supposed to behave ethically, I think that's what people mean when they write of a "Christlike" way to buy or sell a business.

Not that most Christians today live by His teachings, with all their judging of gays, exclusion of those they deem unworthy (those who don't "follow the rules" of their particular church), desire for politcal dominance, and the best of all: avaricious ministries and megachurches that serve not to help people, but rather to build a nicer building and buy a multimedia show instead of really concerning themselves with the salvation of their "flock".

Of course, I know that evangelists are more concerned with numbers and getting butts in the seats, which is especially funny with the rapture-believing sort, since only a small number of Christians get the "golden ticket".

But those folks are funny, anyway - kind of like the legalist and literalist Christians.

But now I've strayed off-topic. My apologies.

Reeling it in - something perceived as evil can accurately be described as "Satanic" since that's his doing, right? So it's just a matter of perception, and if the topic starter thinks his words are too harsh, well, I feel sorry for him, because even if they are a little hyperbolic, they definitely capture the emotions felt by the people affected by the takeover.

But we're not allowed to use words all willy-nilly, now are we...the self-appointed thought police doesn't think it's appropriate.

Josephus

 

[smashedcd]

the satanic part partly came from my church bringing..if it aint christian its satanic. thats how i was taught. either for or against. no in between. i just deidnt realize most of the people on here werent taught that like i was.

 

[neutralobserver]

possibly give at least 24 hours notice they are taking over. and dont just throw everyone out.

...but your broadcast attorney calls you up and says the transfer to you has just completed. It's now yours. The station and all the responsibilities that go with it...all yours. The broadcast attorney asks what protections you have in place to prevent the airing of obscene or objectionable material or an illegal contest that could cost you a large fine or even the license. You say you have none. The attorney asks how you're prepared to deal with potential liability in silly tort lawsuits. You say you've never been a broadcaster and had no idea that would even be a possibility. The attorney tells you you're at HUGE risk every moment you're not in control of what's going on in that building and what's going out over the air and that, now, all those people are going to lose their outlet and are likely to be hostile.

This is a complete change in the operation. It is not a going concern that you need to be concerned about. What do you do?

Answer: you get them out NOW and shut it down until you're ready to have your own people and only your own people in that building and modulating the airwaves.

 

[kirkiefan]

That depends on how you look at it....is a church that worships the devil? If so I agree with you..however if it is a Christian church or other Christian organization,then I disagree. In a world where CC,Radio One,CBS/Infinity is buying up hometown stations,then moving them to a major market area with lip service given at the top of(or near) the hour to the original city of license..THEN I consider them satanic on account of their self-justified lust for power and a larger marketshare.

On the other hand where you have smaller outfits as Urban Light Ministries in Springfield,Ohio purchasing a seclular AM station for the reason of keeping it in town (at a time when WIZE(CC) and Hot 102.9(Radio One) moved over to larger market Dayton) and using a pop oldies format with a strict playlist to keep it family-freindly and to use that station's income to reach out to help the less fortunate and the unsaved I believe is commendable! The same can be said for Salem and Christian Broadcasting Systems who run both gospel and family-freindly secular stations for surely similar..if not the same purpose.

 

[gr8oldies]

Larger market share is what capatalism is all about, and, though some of these moves are a stretch, I'm not of the belief that just because West Podunk had a 50,000 watt station licensed to it in 1962, it has to stay there until the end of time pumping out obits over a 120 mile radius. One thing I haven't seen in several move-ins and proposed move-ins which resulted in a station leaving a town is "the public" actually caring. Where were/are those packed city council meetings and pages of letters to the editor from disgrunted Connersville, IN and Marion, OH residents, demanding that their local station stay in town? Nowhere.