The Sentinel tries to cover some of the inspirational church stories — remarkable donations, singing Christmas trees and local trends. But even when we do, those stories are often greeted by readers … with deafening silence.
People tell me all the time they want more good news. Yet when I write feel-good columns profiling acts of altruism, reader response is a trickle compared to the flood of mail I get from hard-hitting pieces.
Some of that is instinctual. A story about a noble nonprofit doesn't make you want to launch your Facebook page and spread the news the way a scintillating scandal does.
So news outlets, with depleted resources in a hyper-competitive era, pander to the titillating more than the substantial — and to the consumers who seek it out … even if they don't like to admit it.
The church and its screamers
Then there is the responsibility organized religion itself bears.
For starters, the church has a long, sordid history of not cleaning up its own messes or coming clean when problems are discovered, like pedophile priests.
Organized religion has also been too willing to let the kooks, bigots and zealots hog the spotlight.
Sane and sensible Christians aren't obsessed with homosexuality. Or Muslims. Or fictional "wars" on Christmas.
The people I see on Sunday put their energies into helping others and bettering the world — trying to live their lives in a way that would actually attract people to their religion. And there's nothing attractive about a rabid finger-wagger.
Yet too many leaders in the church sit silently, allowing the finger-waggers to define their faith.
Image problems aren't unique to Christianity. Muslims are demonized. Jews are stereotyped. Buddhists are misunderstood. Yet the media are often quicker to jump on a Christian scandal. After all, it's the big one. It can take it.
So, in the wake of yet another scandal, what am I suggesting?
Well, if you're a believer, what kind of a disciple are you? Do you scream louder about Macy's refusing to use the word "Christmas" than you do about the need to care for the least among us? When the Christian kooks speak up, do you let the world know they don't speak for you?
If you're not a believer, do you pay attention to the stories of altruistic acts? The ones about families spending vacation helping storm victims rebuild their houses? The ones about churches housing the homeless and taking in former inmates when no one else would?
And if you're a member of the media, were you around before the scandal broke? Heaven knows, Summit Church has disturbing problems that deserved to be reported. But had you even told your viewers and readers that the church existed … before rushing to tell everyone it was in turmoil?
smaxwell@tribune.com or 407-420-6141
