What Does the 2020 Election Mean for Christian Radio?

Most of us got into Christian radio because we want to share hope with others and change the culture to be more Christlike. How can we possibly do that in such a polarized era? Weeks before Election Day, Sherri Lynn, co-host and producer of the “Brant Hansen Show,” suggested we must tap into the real good news following the election:

“It is a golden opportunity for the CCM format, and it’s an opportunity that I dare say no other format holds. YOUR FORMAT HAS THE GOOD NEWS! Your format literally centers around a Good King.”

How have so much cynicism and #meantweets from Christians, and some Christian Music broadcasters crept into the airwaves and on social media? We have to ask ourselves – “do I want to be right, or do I actually want to share hope?”

Brian Sanders, Executive Vice President at Positive Alternative Radio, suggests we make more of Jesus and less of our political preferences: “American Christians, those people you're blasting and criticizing on Facebook and Twitter due to their political beliefs are probably the same people you need to win to Jesus. What does it profit if we gain a nation but lose our souls? Make the King more important than a President.”

But how do we help make more of Jesus on our radio stations and social media when disagreements arise so naturally and frequently? Tommy Kramer, talent coach, is never without a word of advice:

“In a previous tip, I wrote about the liabilities of trying to project being ‘bigger,’ like things that say something like ‘When you hear a song that touches you, that’s because God used us to play it,’ etc.”

Instead of trying to make it seem as though we’re closer to God than the listener is, consider the movie “The Wizard of Oz.” Specifically, the scene when Dorothy and her pals the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion meet the Wizard.

He’s projected as a giant, green, floating head in a cloud of smoke. And when they’re taken to see him, he barks in a huge, resonant voice, “I am Oz, the Great and Powerful.”

Dorothy then curtsies and says, “I am Dorothy, the small and meek.”

I believe Dorothy’s posture of humility is how we should behave, too. Conversely, the voice of the Wizard turns people away. We are people too, just like the listeners. When we count ourselves and thoughts higher than others, we alienate, and come off as pompous. We don’t have to be “meek” , but we should at least be modest.”

“When we tell people how awful, wrong, deplorable they are, that's usually what we will continue to get from them. It's also a lousy way to motivate people to change their ways,” says Eric Allen, music director and afternoon personality at WYXB (B105.7)/Indianapolis and nationally syndicated weekend host on Christian FM.

Allen continued, “We either do this because we want people to act, think like us, or we just want to be “right,” rather than see people change.” Either way, we accomplish nothing, except exemplifying the very behavior we detest in the other person (we don't see it this way, generally, because “I'm right,” so my behavior is justified).

Listening, compassion, empathy, focusing on shared experiences, and agreeing to disagree respectfully are probably better ways to create positive, healthy, and peaceful conversations and connections.”

What does the 2020 election mean for Christian radio?

Absolutely nothing. Our mission remains unchanged - to share the love of Christ with anyone who will listen.

Let’s throw everything off that hinders (even political arguments?) and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer, and perfecter of faith (Hebrews 12:1-2).