Let's Pick Your Brain, Shall We???

[DXDXDX]

What about Christian teaching and preaching radio "turns you off"? What about Christian teaching and preaching radio "turns you on"?

If you can place yourself as an average listener, how would you answer those questions?

Some stations supplement their line-ups with long form fund raising efforts for various Christian ministries. Do you view this as a turn off? Some stations continue to accept advertising from places serving liquor, how about that? What about advertising from clients of dubious character or who have had legal problems? What about production which repeats the phone number incessantly?

What are your views. I'm curious.

 

[Talk_Dude]

In my case, I don't agree with "decision theology". I believe it is inaccurate. Therefore, I do not like hearing preaching or teaching on themes related to decision theology. I feel the same about "works righteousness", so I tend to avoid that kind of preaching and teaching as well.

I haven't encountered many radio preachers who embrace the evangelical catholic doctrines of "Grace alone, through Faith alone, as revealed through Scripture alone."

However, I like Christian music, even if the lyrics aren't always filled with sound theology.

 

[DXDXDX]

I understand and respect your position, Talk. What do you think of how the formats are executed as well as the other format elements?

 

[Talk_Dude]

I understand and respect your position, Talk. What do you think of how the formats are executed as well as the other format elements?

I seldom listen to Christian radio aside from CCM music stations. The main CCM station in Atlanta, Salem's "The Fish 104.7" is pretty bad. I have stopped listening to them because too many of the songs they play are third-rate pop with Christian lyrics. As for "format elements", as far as I'm concerned, the three most important things about any music station are the music, the music, and the music.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

We have worked very hard for two-hundred plus years in this country to try and establish, mature and perfect this thing we call "freedom of religion". One of the things we have done is to ignore or erase expression of thought attached to religion in many facets of our life hoping that this will allow us to mix and mingle in our social life and work life with minimum turbulence in the area of religion. For a number of years that worked as we could quietly "sneak" into whatever area of life (usually worship attendance) we used to enjoy, exercise and express any vestiges of faith in our lives.

Welcome to today. Church congregations are growing larger and larger so you are more likely to bump into people while "doing" your faith that you would not bump into years ago. A significant amount of worship is on TV now and even if you are just a face in the crowd, your face may be telecast for all to see.

The teach and preach crowd used to have something of a captive audience. Not many competing outlets. Though there have always been firebrands, there was that period 40 to 70 years ago when a modest, well-behaved, dignified presentation of the faith message worked on radio. Then with the excess number of stations licensed by the FCC, plus the arrival of religious TV stations and now cable channels, a dignity-based religious broadcast is lost in the noise level unless it is a "heritage brand" surviving on its past.

We have come to the point where there is a lot of religious broadcasting, particularly the teach and preach kind, that just has to get rowdy and provocative to gain any traction. (Provocative in a human sense, not a prophetic sense.)

It is hard to offer general observations in response to your question about "what turns you off". People who are not strongly attached to any theological bent will be turned off by the same kinds of thing that turn off people who listen to music radio or talk radio or sports radio. It's a personal turn-off.

People who are STRONGLY attached to a theological position are going to be turned off by shoddy academic handling of topics. (To paraphrase an old cliche: Shoddy is in the ear of the listener.)

 

[anotherguyTN]

The only Christian talk program I listen to regularly is The Bible Answerman with Hank Hanegraaf, and occasionally R.C Sproul or Steve Brown. I don't think I could listen to Christian talk regularly even if I had the chance.

The thing that turns me off the most in Christian talk/teaching radio are the dollar a holler stations where it's obvious that the station management doesn't care about being a ministry, but they just want to make a buck off anyone who will pay for airtime, no matter how bad their theology is. You nay have a Biblically sound program at one time, but the next block ends up being Brother Blowforth claiming that anyone that doesn't go to his church is going to Hell. But as long as he flashed enough money in the station management's face, they allow him to stay.

Concerning liquor ads, I know that views on drinking vary between different churches and even individual Christians, but it's a devisive enough issue that I'd think that most Christian stations that are truly trying to be a ministry would stay away from carrying them. But then a lot of the dollar a holler stations could probably care less as long as they're making a buck off of it.

Ads for other questionable products are another sore spot with me. Some Christian stations that may be Biblically sound in most of their programs and wouldn't dream of running ads for liquor, gambling, etc., will run ads for questionable health products and financial services with no reservation. and nothing irritates me more than ads that keep repeating the same toll free number, keep repeating the same toll free number, KEEP REPEATING THE SAME TOLL FREE NUMBER!!! :

 

[anotherguyTN]

I had a thought on the liquor issue. How does this sound:

"Don't forget to buy your lottery tickets at Ernie's Liquor. Christian owned and operated since 1980. We're right next door to the First Church of the Frigidaire!" :

 

[Talk_Dude]

I had a thought on the liquor issue. How does this sound:

"Don't forget to buy your lottery tickets at Ernie's Liquor. Christian owned and operated since 1980. We're right next door to the First Church of the Frigidaire!" :

It sounds like a cheap shot that mocks Christians who aren't part of a particular sect of Christianity.

 

[anotherguyTN]

Sorry if it came across that way. What I meant for it to be was a poke at the dollar a holler stations that would run anything for a buck.

 

[johnbasalla]

The most ridiculous so-called "religious" broadcast I ever heard was on a "dollar-a-Holler" Gospel station. This guy bought a short five-minute block between 4:45 and 5:00 pm during a weekday. He kept talking about how his "ministry" was for the ladies, and how all the ladies should be showing up at his place. I don't remember him mentioning Jesus once, but I heard him say, lady and ladies a lot.

 

[travisl5678]

To answer the oringnal question
Two things I really like: Whenever Focus on The Family has someone who is a comedian/precher, and advice shows. What would be interesting would be radio dramas with bible stories, that's NOT targeted at kids

 

[ChiefEngineer]

Fire and Brimstone Gospel. You are going to die a horrible hellish eternal death, so come see Jesus. With an AnaBaptist background even the most devout Baptists are sermoned that they may face the fires of Hell.

Prosperity Gospel. Jesus will make you rich (money) on earth. What happens when we all aren't rich? this a fialing of Christ or Robert Tilton for example? (Joel Osteen preaches the propserity gospel) Or would someone say your faith wasn't enough? I am commenting based on personal questions. I am sure both reach people for Christ.

These two negative rants are in opposition to the relational gospel. The relational gospel is also controversial however as it presents Christ as the second Adam. Christ is setting strait what Adam messed up.

Some believe Christ was not God or fully God. This presents the theory of Christ as a man and his powers at Baptism came from the Holy Spirit. (The Superman Theory - I can't expect to be Superman because he had powers I will never have. How can we even try to be God if we have no hope of acheiving His Grace, mercy, and power?) Some opposingly believe in the Christ only theory. Christ made the world, Christ came as Jesus, Christ as the Holy Spirit. Baptism in the name of Jesus and ignoring the Trinity as it was not a biblical word.

Lots of fluff talk about non salvational issues. Do we have to have "all" the fruits/gifts of the Spirit to be saved? Why are we even promoting Mary's nature or arguing about the theory she was sinless and ever virgin? Did Jesus invite the robber on the cross to Paradise (Some say out of Heaven) or Heaven? What does it matter when the world will end except that we are vigilant to convict those in need as much as we can?

We did a remote for the March of Dimes from a local restaurant. The owner decided to let us know that beer was on the menu in every break. Some say this was provocation. I am very much against any alcohol use. As one who made the decisions and at the site I didn't attack him or tell him to be quiet. We simply participated in a secular event for a good cause. That said we have been encouraged like other charities to hold events at the local casinos. We have avoided this setting. We allow businesses that serve alcohol to underwrite PSA campaigns. All food service places sell beer now, except McDonalds who won' do anything with Christian radio.

We are directed to be in the world not of it. When I hear some programs on EWTN or any radio program they seem slanted against another Christian point of view. Not simply slanted at reaching people for Christ.

When I look at ratings Christian stations are in the smaller percentage. We started an offshoot of our Christian network using an Oldies format. The True Oldies Channel. We use the breaks to talk about Jesus. Time will tell if this has the desired impact. Ofcourse the lsiteners who really like it scratch their heads and say : "They sure do talk about Jesus a lot but that's okay with me..."


The bottom line is not that we are all trying to achieve grace through many paths. We are trying to acheive grace through one path. This is the cross.

 

[Silkie]

If you are going to listen to "Christian" radio and watch "Christian" television, just a suggestion: Eat the meat and throw away the bones...assuming you know which is which.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

Aha! There lies the problem. People turn to Christian broadcasting in hopes of receiving inspiration on how to discern the difference between meat and bones, and often they are served haggis or worse.

Several years ago, while managing a "Christian" radio station, I had lunch with my pastor. He turned on his native Western Kentucky speech pattern (which was a sign that something profound was about to emerge) and he said to me: "You know.... ye'r station broadcasts enough ignerce on any one day to ignerce the whole entire world."

 

[quadraphonic]

There's relatively few people who are looking to be challenged. Otherwise, atheists would show up at church more often, and religious people would spend more time in the bars and backwater holes in their community. There would be a lot more thinking if that's what most people were interested in.

So the reason people listen to Christian radio is the same reason they listen to any other format:
to hear something that they agree with and that agrees with them.
Their choices reinforce that they have a firm grasp on "truth," whether that "truth" is the Bible, a political viewpoint, the latest sports talk, or "oldies music is good."

As for Christian radio, if they like hellfire and brimstone, that's what they'll tune into.
If they like dry teaching with a lot of Greek words and hermeneutics, that's what they'll tune into.
If they like news and information shows, that's what they'll tune into.
If they like advice shows, that's what they'll tune into.
Sometimes, if someone else they admire likes one of those things, they might tune in to check it out, but if they don't like it, they won't listen much.
If they don't like those things, they won't tune in just because "Christian" is the theme, unless they're riding around in a car with someone else they're trying to impress with their presets.

The hard part is finding what the listeners in your community like to listen to, and programming that. That's why so many stations just give up and go time-brokering, because it's hard for them to go to the trouble of finding what listeners like. It's easier to find out what some local pastors and religious leaders like, and mix in some national programs, or just

 

[Talk_Dude]

There's relatively few people who are looking to be challenged. Otherwise, atheists would show up at church more often, and religious people would spend more time in the bars and backwater holes in their community. There would be a lot more thinking if that's what most people were interested in.

So the reason people listen to Christian radio is the same reason they listen to any other format:
to hear something that they agree with and that agrees with them.
Their choices reinforce that they have a firm grasp on "truth," whether that "truth" is the Bible, a political viewpoint, the latest sports talk, or "oldies music is good."

As for Christian radio, if they like hellfire and brimstone, that's what they'll tune into.
If they like dry teaching with a lot of Greek words and hermeneutics, that's what they'll tune into.
If they like news and information shows, that's what they'll tune into.
If they like advice shows, that's what they'll tune into.
Sometimes, if someone else they admire likes one of those things, they might tune in to check it out, but if they don't like it, they won't listen much.
If they don't like those things, they won't tune in just because "Christian" is the theme, unless they're riding around in a car with someone else they're trying to impress with their presets.

The hard part is finding what the listeners in your community like to listen to, and programming that. That's why so many stations just give up and go time-brokering, because it's hard for them to go to the trouble of finding what listeners like. It's easier to find out what some local pastors and religious leaders like, and mix in some national programs, or just

All that is correct, except for your final conclusion. It's not only an issue of it being to hard to go to the trouble of finding what listeners like, it's the realization that the audience is so fragmented that it is impossible to find one simple format that will appeal to everyone. If there is a total potential market of Christians who want to hear Christian radio programming (and that's a generous estimate), it's still probably broken down among the four different examples you mentioned, and maybe a few more. Fragmenting the day based on brokered time programming is one very effective way to get all of the niche slices covered. What's more, the folks paying for the brokered time programs are also bearing the burden of advertising and promoting their own shows! Higher revenues combined with lower expenses seems to me to be a sure fire winning combination.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

I wonder if we have fallen in circular logic.

We are saying that people seek out only the opinions they already agree with and have no curiosity.

And we are on the verge of all agreeing to the opinion we already have: people only will tune in to hear what they already agree with and like.

That is a part of the audience. Is it 15%... 30% 50% 80% of the audience who will listen to "faith issues discussed on the radio"?

And people only attend churches that teach what they already agree with?

And people only attend classes (a.k.a. Sunday School) that teaches what they already agree with?

Again... 15% 30% 50%........

I don't think you guys have been sitting in he teacher chair.... trying to keep peace among the students as they roll out their disagreements.

 

[quadraphonic]

There's relatively few people who are looking to be challenged. Otherwise, atheists would show up at church more often, and religious people would spend more time in the bars and backwater holes in their community. There would be a lot more thinking if that's what most people were interested in.

So the reason people listen to Christian radio is the same reason they listen to any other format:
to hear something that they agree with and that agrees with them.
Their choices reinforce that they have a firm grasp on "truth," whether that "truth" is the Bible, a political viewpoint, the latest sports talk, or "oldies music is good."

As for Christian radio, if they like hellfire and brimstone, that's what they'll tune into.
If they like dry teaching with a lot of Greek words and hermeneutics, that's what they'll tune into.
If they like news and information shows, that's what they'll tune into.
If they like advice shows, that's what they'll tune into.
Sometimes, if someone else they admire likes one of those things, they might tune in to check it out, but if they don't like it, they won't listen much.
If they don't like those things, they won't tune in just because "Christian" is the theme, unless they're riding around in a car with someone else they're trying to impress with their presets.

The hard part is finding what the listeners in your community like to listen to, and programming that. That's why so many stations just give up and go time-brokering, because it's hard for them to go to the trouble of finding what listeners like. It's easier to find out what some local pastors and religious leaders like, and mix in some national programs, or just

All that is correct, except for your final conclusion. It's not only an issue of it being to hard to go to the trouble of finding what listeners like, it's the realization that the audience is so fragmented that it is impossible to find one simple format that will appeal to everyone. If there is a total potential market of Christians who want to hear Christian radio programming (and that's a generous estimate), it's still probably broken down among the four different examples you mentioned, and maybe a few more. Fragmenting the day based on brokered time programming is one very effective way to get all of the niche slices covered. What's more, the folks paying for the brokered time programs are also bearing the burden of advertising and promoting their own shows! Higher revenues combined with lower expenses seems to me to be a sure fire winning combination.

Yeah, there's a lot of fragmentation in the Christian radio audience. Definitely more than 4 factions, for sure.
I agree about the time-brokering being a good way to make money and keep cash flowing.
But I think it's one that a lot of smaller stations seem to fall into rather than pursue from the outset (unless they have modeled their business after Salem or Davidson Media, following someone else).
And when they do it, the way they do it makes it hard for someone to listen more than 15-30 minutes at a time, because of technical issues or content issues, or the way they split up the programs, different reasons (beyond "does the check clear?" "how far ahead have they paid?") the programmers don't seem to take into account. I know it can't be done perfectly, but a lot of programmers don't seem to try. ;D

 

[quadraphonic]

I don't think you guys have been sitting in he teacher chair.... trying to keep peace among the students as they roll out their disagreements.

Why would you think that?

 

[Talk_Dude]

I wonder if we have fallen in circular logic.

We are saying that people seek out only the opinions they already agree with and have no curiosity.

And we are on the verge of all agreeing to the opinion we already have: people only will tune in to hear what they already agree with and like.

That is a part of the audience. Is it 15%... 30% 50% 80% of the audience who will listen to "faith issues discussed on the radio"?

And people only attend churches that teach what they already agree with?

And people only attend classes (a.k.a. Sunday School) that teaches what they already agree with?

Again... 15% 30% 50%........

There is a world of difference between what radio station one listens to and why, and what church congregation one belongs to and why.

I will not speak for faith traditions other than my own, but in the faith tradition I am a member of we go to church Sunday morning to hear the Gospel rightly preached and to receive the sacraments properly administered. Of course we agree with the doctrines and theology presented from the pulpit. That's why we chose to be members of that particular faith tradition and national church body.

There is a time for every purpose under heaven. There's a time in one's life to discern one's own beliefs, and there's a time to practice one's faith. The time for discerning one's own beliefs doesn't need to take an entire lifetime. Once one has decided what one believes, then the balance of one's life in faith is spent in practicing it and reinforcing it. That's why one seeks out programming on the radio that reinforces one's faith, not teaching one regards as false that challenges one's faith.

That's why so many programmers of religion based radio don't attempt to be all things to all people, or even all things to all Christians. They look for the largest single chunk of Christians and cater to that group and ignore the others. If the largest group of Christians in the range of one station are the Pentecostals, then that station will carry mostly Pentecostal Christian programming. If the majority of Christians in the range of a station are Protestant Christians, then the station will carry mostly Protestant programming. If the majority of Christians in the range of a station are Catholic Christians (including Roman Catholic, Evangelical Catholics, and English Catholics), then they'll carry Catholic Christian programming. If no one particular segment is large enough to sustain a station (and in many parts of the country, that is the case), then they'll partition their broadcast days and pursue different segments during different dayparts.

I don't think you guys have been sitting in he teacher chair.... trying to keep peace among the students as they roll out their disagreements.

Huh?

And when they do it, the way they do it makes it hard for someone to listen more than 15-30 minutes at a time, because of technical issues or content issues, or the way they split up the programs, different reasons (beyond "does the check clear?" "how far ahead have they paid?") the programmers don't seem to take into account. I know it can't be done perfectly, but a lot of programmers don't seem to try. ;D

You've got that part right. But then, when it comes to running a small business, look at how many people don't seem to try. Why should running a small radio station attract better managers than running a small restaurant or store or used car dealership? If someone wants to run a small restaurant, they tend to take the easy way and buy a national franchise chain outlet, right? If someone wants to operate an independent used car lot, they follow the same business model as every other independent used car lot. If someone wants to operate a small retail store, they either get a franchise or operate their independent store exactly like the national franchises. So, why would anyone be surprised that the operator of a small radio station takes the path of least resistance and simply copies what all of the other small radio stations do?

Think about it. If someone with skill and imagination was considering starting a new business, why would they even think about buying a small AM radio station? The very act of buying a small AM station is evidence of a lack of imagination or foresight. Why should anyone be surprised that those who invest in a dying industry have trouble thinking forward?