Christian Talk Radio

[Josh]

So, am I alone in the experience that about 75% of what i hear when I happen to turn on Christian Talk Radio (anything non-music, that's another subject : makes me somewhat to seriously nauseous?

Discuss.

[Michael]

I haven't listened to much Christian talk radio in recent years, though I used to listen a lot more during the day, when I was in a different work environment. But what I do hear seems to be a lot more marketing of products today than ten to twenty years ago. It seems to me that many of the larger "ministries" are a half-hour marketing campaign with a little smattering of teaching in between.

And the emails we get from one particular gigantic, very well-known ministry, have turned us off to the organization, because it seems that all it consists of is selling products.

I'm sure there are still some good ones out there, but that's my main observation. Aside from programs that teach questionable theology. There's a lot of that too, but that's always been the case. This whole marketing thing is a newer phenomenon, it seems.

I'm curious what your main beef is, Josh. Can you elaborate?

[Josh]

Cheesiness. Mr. Rodgers-like niceties*. Over-simplification. Bible teachers who put on that fake "radio bible teacher" voice.

But there are exceptions I respect, for instance, Charles Stanley, even though I don't share all of his theological perspectives. He comes across as pretty authentic to me.

I'm fully willing to admit that a lot of this is personal taste. But I often find myself listening to Christian radio from an "outsiders" perspective.

*not to defame Mr. Rogers, in his own context.

[Michael]

Yeah, no dissin' the Fredster. He's been a staple at times around our house.

I agree with you that there's not a lot of depth on Christian radio as a whole (that goes for talk & music!). I wonder what that says about the people who listen and ultimately give (or purchase the products they're pushing) to those kinds of programs. You're right about looking at it from an outsider's perspective. Pretty sickening.

Hey, at least you still have Steve Gregg from 2-3 (or on the podcast). He's anything but cheesy, over-simplified, and stereotypically preacheresque.

[Josh]

Hey, at least you still have Steve Gregg from 2-3 (or on the podcast). He's anything but cheesy, over-simplified, and stereotypically preacheresque

True that. He's a breath of fresh air. I just wish he was on at 3-4 when I'm driving home.