Katie’s Beer

From Esgetology, Christopher Esget writes this sadly funny satirical commentary on the cancellation of the popular Lutheran radio show, Issues, Etc.:

Today is March 19th, and right on time the March issue of the LCMS Reporter landed in my mailbox. As I read through the “President’s Leadership News” contained therein, I found myself glad that he raised this question: “How do we share the Gospel with youngsters who are plugged into their iPods most of their waking hours?”

It’s a question I think about from time to time. If I ever get some serious time back in my schedule, I want to look into podcasting our sermons, building a daily office podcast, and other such things that I think my parishioners could use, and could be useful for spreading the gospel. I saw that Pastor Weedon’s church was putting on DVD catechism services for those who had to miss. That’s a responsible use of new technology.

So, getting back to our President’s question, How do we share the Gospel with youngsters [and not-so-youngsters] who are plugged into their iPods? And that’s when it hit me. The kind of brilliant idea that flashes forth, but is often not capitalized upon for lack of means, opportunity, etc. Here’s my brilliant idea:

• The Synod owns a radio station. We could use their studio to start a radio program.
• You’d want to make it on the bleeding edge of what’s happening in culture, politics, and broader church life.
• This program could interview all kinds of people - writers, musicians, pastors, deaconnesses, missionaries, youth workers. Make sure to mix it up.
• On this program, you could also dialogue with people outside our tradition - both Christians and non-Christians alike.
• This program would provide lots of discernment for seekers, but also offer up some meat for those hungry to grow in the faith.
• The program would be solidly Lutheran, but appeal to non-Lutherans as well. The producer might throw in an eclectic mix of music for bumpers.
• You’d need a host who is intelligent and articulate.
• He should be orthodox, but not stuffy.
• He should be thoroughly grounded in the Word, but totally plugged in to the culture.
• He should be funny, but not silly.
• Perhaps we could use some of our Synod’s web presence as well. Promote it all over the place.
• Then, here’s the big payoff: You could take that radio show and podcast it. Even hook it up to iTunes. That way, anybody in the world could listen to it, anytime.
• Heck, if the people were really hard-working, you could probably get 2-3 hours a day of material, 6 days a week. Now that would be a serious presence that could lead to serious results.

We could call it, “Issues, Etc.” Maybe you could come up with a better name, but that would do for now.

Wouldn’t it be cool if our Synod had the foresight to get something like that going? You know, tap in to the whole “new media” thing and get the Gospel out to places and people our members can’t reach? Right now, we’re sort of stuck in the Eighties, singing praise choruses and starting up cell groups.

I think our president is onto something here; it would be great if we could make this happen. I can’t believe that I’m the first person to think of this.

Oh, I almost forgot. I know of this guy who’d be perfect for the job. Through a bizarre set of circumstances, he just happens to be available.

Tags: Lutheran, Issues //