It spits out lies that could deceive a nation, yet it fills millions with truth they might otherwise never find.  It can be the first to break bad news or the first to reveal great triumph.  It infiltrates almost every aspect of our lives and is nearly unable to be escaped.  It has brought families together and torn others apart.

Oh yeah, and you're also staring at it right now.

All these descriptions fit that ironic, terrible, wonderful, beautiful thing we call the mass media.  Advertising, movies, books, newspapers, television, radio, and even the controversial Internet that you using at this very moment.  What power these different media carry, especially for youth!  Just look at popular clothing and fashion styles and you'll see some of media's most blatant influence.  More subtly, though, media influence our thoughts, views, and actions with their subjective views of the world.  Now don't get me wrong, you can discover plenty of good facts within television shows, on the Internet, or even in some movies, but even the most "objective" news shows put their own spin on the facts they present to highlight their views.  Now, it would be a bit hypocritical of me to suggest which news to watch and which to ignore, but I can certainly encourage you to take care in what you watch or listen to and especially in what your kids are absorbing from the media.
 

THE UGLY

With minimal effort today, we can find media at its worst.  Excessive profanity, drug use, and most prominently sex are abused constantly in current movies, television, and the Internet.  Entertainment critic Michael Medved said, "If a Martian were to look at TV or movies and that was his or her only guide to what was going on in America, that Martian would conclude that in this country, marriage hardly existed, sex was only involved outside marriage, absolutely everyone was involved in every type of irresponsible sexuality constantly..."(1).  Wow, this is kind of a humbling and scary thought, but is it really that far off?  Sadly, fornication and homosexuality do seem to be prevalent topics in today's movies and television shows.  And what kind of example does this set for our children and teenagers?  Meded continues, "Why is that significant? Because our kids are like little Martians. Not that they come from a different planet but that their main source of information about the adult world comes from the mass media" (1).  If we expect children and especially teenagers to value each other and value sex in marriage, then we cannot allow them to grow up with the mass media as their only influence, telling them that premarital sex is okay (if not encouraged).

Not only do television and movies present a problem, but pornography on the Internet seems to present temptation to the young and old alike.  Freedom of speech is a wonderful thing, but unfortunately wonderful things tend to be abused all too often.  The film industry doesn't appear to be helping things either, as the R-rating seems to be getting more and more lenient.  And all that it seems to be accomplishing is feeding desires and lusts of the flesh (which are already there and don't need to be fed!).

The music scene doesn't provide any relief from the pitfalls of the other media forms.  Some of the lyrics in the latest "hits" are enough to make one's spine tingle.  Putting a catchy beat behind trashy lyrics does not take away from a horrible message.  I once doubted that music presented that big of a problem.  Spending time in a college dorm, however, has caused me to hear some very depressing tunes (at a very loud volume too). 
 

THE BAD

Maybe you've long since decided that you won't see rated R movies.  Maybe you've filtered your Internet and given up on TV sitcoms years ago.  Well, that's good for you, but it certainly doesn't mean you've escaped the influence (both good and bad) of the media.  See that newspaper on the coffee table?  The magazine that just came in the mail?  The six o'clock news?  These may actually even influence you more than others.  Movies and television you may recognize as being purely fiction, but the news might not strike you as trying to persuade your attitudes.  The important thing is to be able to distinguish between fact and opinion.  If something is definitely a fact, then we can probably accept it as such.  But we must check opinions carefully to make sure that they don't compromise our own beliefs and values.

You can't blame reporters and others for pushing their opinions.  But that doesn't mean that you have to share the same views.  Much of the liberal media, however, undoubtedly share some of the same worldviews that have infected movies and television shows.  We tend to let our guards down when something is presented as "news," but let me encouarage you to continue to be critical and skeptical of views that differ from your own, and especially those that conflict with God's Word. 

We must also be sure to realize that media are aware of their influencing power.  That is obviously the whole premise behind advertising.  Ads are generally based upon fact, but they use facts to produce the idea that somehow one product is better than another.  But, ultimately, it is up to the consumers to decide if a product really is superior to its competitors.  Likewise, we must take the facts and information presented in the news and elsewhere to determine whether their opinions and claims are valid.
 

THE GOOD

To this point, it may seem that the media is a dark and evil presence in our lives.  However, you may have noticed that the motto of Filling up Space is "Media with the Message."  This title was chosen specifically to highlight the fact that this magazine is part of the mass media - and proud of it!  While the privileges and rights offered the media are often abused in terrible, ungodly ways, what an incredible witness tool it can be!  One might even argue that God was the first to use mass media, offering His Word and sending evangelists.  And the Bible was the first book to be mass produced on Gutenberg's printing press in the Seventeenth Century.  With all its pitfalls, the media is also an amazing instrument for telling of God's truth, and for proclaiming the promise offered through His Son.  That's "the Message" that we at FuS are trying to get out with our little corner of the media.  We don't claim to have all the answers, and we expect you to use as much discretion when reading this magazine as you should when you watch the news or anything else.

No, contrary to some thinking, I don't believe that all media is bad. I thoroughly enjoy a good movie.  I watch the news every now and then to keep up on world events.  And obviously I am on the Internet more than my share.  Actually, I think mass media are wonderful devices for spreading news...and for spreading the Gospel.  Unfortunately, the devil is masterful at using good things for bad purposes.

Praise God that we can approach Him and His never-changing Word.  His standards haven't changed, and neither have His truths.  The devil may try to deceive and tempt through the media, but as Christians we can stand on the solid rock of Christ and seek the truth!

(1) http://www.christianity.com/partner/Article_Display_Page/1,,PTID2546|CHID|CIID231177,00.html