I was once asked to wrote something critical about TBN.
I chose not to do so, because enough people do it. Surely, adding one more voice to the chorus would not help. I am not a pastor or a theologian and so am not in a position where my judgment is required.
My other thought was simpler: I don’t judge networks, but individual shows on them.
Some good shows appear on TBN and many bad ones, but that does not seem different from other networks. Isn’t it a double standard to become heated over one network (because it is “Christian”) and not over another? NBC often seems hostile to my values and raises money in ways I find distasteful, but that does not require my rebuke.
I have become persuaded, however, that TBN is different. It is assumed to represent the Faith and NBC is only assumed to represent the shareholders. If I was a shareholder of NBC, I might have a duty to rebuke Keith Olbermann, but thankfully he and his foibles mostly can be left to other men.
As brothers and sisters in Christ should I make my concerns public without expressing them privately?
This does not seem necessary since my concerns are with public and not with private behavior.
What are my concerns?
I am open to my worries being wrong, but investigation has only made me more worried.
Let me list five concerns:
First, while a network need not endorse every idea on every show on the network TBN has a large number of shows that promote ideas that are bad. Why?
Second, network fundraisers use bad arguments and overly emotional appeals to raise money.
Third, TBN does not appear to comply with reasonable fund raising standards. Why not join ECFA?
Fourth, TBN seems overly centered on one family. Some members of this family seem like great people, but should “calling” really be so family centered?
Fifth, serious allegations have been made in the LA media about problems in the ministry and these have not been effectively answered. To quote Ignatius, “Who is the bishop?” (Translate that to your own favored ecclesiastical vocabulary.) Who could come in and straighten things out if they were to go bad?
(Ritual disclaimer: I have appeared on shows that choose to broadcast on TBN.)
March 5th, 2010 | 4:14 pm | #1
What to do with TBN
Pray?
March 5th, 2010 | 4:25 pm | #2
For the record, I would sign an ecumenical document calling for the anathemazition of TBN effective immediately. One thing Catholics, EO and Protestants should be able to agree with without any quibbling: those people do not represent my faith. Period.
March 5th, 2010 | 4:34 pm | #3
For the record, I would sign an ecumenical document calling for the anathemazition of TBN effective immediately.
Heh.
An ecumenicist blurring and obscuring the Gospel by affiliating with RC and EO co-signers.
Tsk, tsk.
;-)
March 5th, 2010 | 5:42 pm | #4
John Mark, it might be wise to include a link to TBN. I assume from what you write that it is a television broadcaster, but this is the first I had heard of it. What do the initials stand for? Thanks.
March 5th, 2010 | 8:58 pm | #5
Well, there are a lot of programs that fit the christianity of Paul and Jan Crouch n tbn. I think that Paul and Jan are dated but a lot of people watch their shows. Paul and Jan may live into their 80′s and their sons are in their 50′s. So, Tbn will still have life. Once and while as John Mark mentions they will have some one interesting. Years ago, they John Warwick Montgremy on their show. Also, Hugh Ross, use to have a program on creation. And he is a old age creatonist. Paul and Jan in the 1970′ s couldn’t afford a studio in La. So, they started one in Santa Ana near Irvine. And in those days the Jesus Movement was attracting a lot of non-church types to Evangelicism and charistmatic movements which helped to bring their ratings up before they went national and internatil.
March 5th, 2010 | 11:48 pm | #6
TBN? I’m convinced that Jan Crouch is a zombie.
March 6th, 2010 | 9:56 am | #7
Trinity Broadcasting Network. Google answered my question for me.
March 6th, 2010 | 12:42 pm | #8
Well, I just don’t get how they survive. TBN seems obviously bad to me, but they go on and on.
March 6th, 2010 | 2:16 pm | #9
The original post mentioned good programs that appear on TBN. I already know which ones would be listed as “worst,” but I am curious: What programs regularly broadcast on TBN would folks here recommend?
March 6th, 2010 | 5:17 pm | #10
[...] Another TBN article. It seems like beating a dead horse, but really? TBN is more like a zombie horse that claims it’s mentioned somewhere in Revelation, and it will bless you for a love gift of $250. [...]
March 7th, 2010 | 12:49 am | #11
And because of your first comment, Dr. Koyzis, there can be no further doubt: to be Canadian is to be favored of the Lord…
March 8th, 2010 | 5:21 pm | #12
What programs regularly broadcast on TBN would folks here recommend?
“Drive through History” is a really entertaining and informative show aimed at tweens and teens. The first run of episodes dealt with European and Christian history up through the discovery of America. The second run dealt with the American Revolution. Unfortunately, there don’t seem to be anymore shows coming down the pike, and TBN has cycled through the whole thing several times now, so might not last much longer. Catch it while you can.
“Travel the Road.” A “video journal” of two guys who literally set off around the world witnessing for Jesus. In addition to recording their interactions with individuals they show some really eye-opening scenes of what life is like for the people they meet. Their time in the Sudan had me weeping.
The Billy Graham Ev. Assn. plays old Billy Graham crusades on TBN once a week. You’ve probably heard it before, but you can’t argue with Billy!
That’s all the good I can think of. I have to watch way too much of TBN because of … well, I just do. The rest of it is Word of Faith Gospel, Prosperity Gospel, See Planting (i.e. “Send us your money”) Gospel, Health Food Gospel (yep.), Has-Been Celebrity Gospel, and all manner of other sorts of weirdness.
March 8th, 2010 | 5:22 pm | #13
errr, Seed Planting, not See Planting
March 8th, 2010 | 11:15 pm | #14
Well, I have not watch Tbn in years but Hugh Ross’s show was my favorite. And like I menton back in the early 1980′s John Warwick Montgremey- the lutheran apoligists was on TBN. I met Mr Mongtremey once years ago when he lived in Orange County in the 1980′s. And John Mark would be happy to here that he representive the Romanian Orthodox Church in a case against the Russian Orthodox Church that tried to prevent the Romanians from planting a church in Moldiva.
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