OPINION:
A new survey from Barna and National Religious Broadcasters finds more and more Americans are turning to Christian media as a source of news — and moreover, it’s mostly younger consumers, the Gen Z types, who are leading the charge.
Fake news has met its match.
“Christian media is [no longer] on the margins but a powerful force in the mainstream, bringing clarity to confusion, hope in despair and truth amidst compromise,” said Troy Miller, CEO of NRB, in a written statement. “If you’re a Christian communicator, know this: your voice matters. The people are listening. The culture is watching. And the Gospel remains as powerful and necessary as ever.”
By the numbers, the pollsters found: More than 60 percent of American adults tune in to Christian media. Two-thirds of Americans regard Christian media as valuable and trustworthy. And 64 percent of those who engage with Christian media on social platforms are Gen Z-ers — the very youthful Americans previous polling have shown to be the generation that is turning from the church and faith.
These are all hopeful signs for a nation that began on a concept of religious freedom — that began with a group of people fleeing a country to find a place where God could be worshipped without government intrusion. From this founding sprung American Exceptionalism, which is to say, the concept of God-given rights and liberties.
Without a citizenry both versed in biblical truths and determined to put into practice those biblical truths in the culture and in the political realm, then the “God-given” falls, to be replaced by “government granted.” It’s impossible to have God-given rights and freedoms if people don’t know God, don’t follow godly principles, don’t demand their elected leaders abide by godly standards, and don’t teach these same godly manners and behaviors to the next generations.
Part of America’s downfall in recent years has been due to a media made up of members who don’t know God, don’t care for God, don’t concern themselves over reporting from a godly perspective, and don’t worry the least about accountability from God when their false reporting and deceptive journalism and lying stories are outed as false and deceptive and lies.
Hunter Biden’s laptop, anyone?
Russia collusion, anyone?
Pee tapes and prostitutes?
“Will New York Times, Washington Post Return Pulitzer for Misleading Russia Collusion Stories?” The Heritage Foundation asked in a headline in December of 2021.
No. Nope.
And the Pulitzer board members didn’t want to do the right thing, either.
“Pulitzer Board Refuses Donald Trump’s Request To Rescind Prizes To Washington Post, New York Times For Russian Interference Coverage,” Deadline reported in a headline in July of 2022.
This is why Americans don’t trust the media.
This is why Gallup wrote in October of 2024, “For the third consecutive year, more U.S. adults have no trust at all in the media (36 percent) than trust it a great deal or fair amount. Another 33 percent of Americans express ‘not very much’ confidence.”
So into the gap comes Christian media. And the influence is real.
“Christian media, leaders had notable role in shaping 2024 presidential election,” NRB reported. “Two in five Americans recall hearing Christian leaders speak about the election, and those messages had tangible influence. Christian media inspired half of users to pray for the election and over half of heavy users said it shaped their voting decisions.”
Democrats — despair.
For a party that once tried to vote God off the Democratic National Committee island, a reality of more and more Americans tuning in to Christian news — instead of liberal-run, leftist-led mainstream media — is a nightmare.
But for the rest of America — for America at-large — a thriving, growing Christian media is all good. It means those reporting will deliver the news from a Christian, biblical perspective and with a goal of explaining how events that take place on earth actually fit into the narrative of God’s will. And after all, isn’t that the root of truth, anyway? It’s supposed to be the pursuit of journalism, too.
• Cheryl Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com or on Twitter, @ckchumley. Listen to her podcast “Bold and Blunt” by clicking HERE. And never miss her column; subscribe to her newsletter and podcast by clicking HERE. Her latest book, “God-Given Or Bust: Defeating Marxism and Saving America With Biblical Truths,” is available by clicking HERE.
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