The Power of the Media

In Bible times, when people like Ezra wanted to deliver a message, they had to gather people together in one location. Now, powerful media enable us to communicate instantly to people throughout the world.

Marshall McLuhan was one of the first to understand the power of media. Born on this day in 1911, his conviction was that “it is the medium that shapes and controls the scale and form of human association” and that “the medium is the message.”

Today, we see the impact of the medium everywhere. Even though, for many, television represents “old” technology, the latest data reveals that the average American adult still spends almost 150 hours each month watching traditional television.

Yet, increasingly, people are turning to mobile technology, which enables interaction anywhere. In a car. In the city or country. At the beach or on a mountain. In fact, 142 million Americans now use social media on an app or smartphone.

As these trends make clear, more than ever the media is everywhere. For many, it has become an addiction. Regardless of what media we use, it can shape our thoughts, and even control our lives.

The medium still may be the “message.” But, with so much content now available, consumers are exposed to messages that can edify and build up, but others which destroy and tear down.

Right now, ask God to help free you from any controlling influence the media might have over you. Ask Him to give you discernment about what you allow into your mind. Don’t let the media establish your standards. Fill your heart and mind with God’s Word, and spend time in fellowship with Him.