ChristianWeek a valuable tool
Can you believe it? This issue marks 23 full years of publishing ChristianWeek. Our business plan has changed several times during that span and will certainly continue to evolve. Making good use of new technologies and indulging the changing habits of readers present a constant challenge. Keeping the business afloat is a never-ending struggle. So why bother? What makes the effort and expense worthwhile?
There are many reasons why the proprietors of ChristianWeek persist in cranking out newspapers that aim "to provide readers across Canada with news and comments about events, issues and ideas affecting the ongoing practice of Christian faith and life in Canada." Here are three.
Christians have a mandate for visibility. The Sermon on the Mount is a good place to begin with this thought. In Matthew 5, Jesus likens His followers to a city on a hill that can be seen from far and wide; to candles that are not hidden away but placed in a prominent spot to share their light.
Key point: Christians are called to engage our culture, and that won't happen if we prefer to remain tucked securely into our own cozy fellowships and insulated from the surrounding world. ChristianWeek encourages those who work for reconciliation at all levels of society, who traffic the crossroads between personal faith and the mainstream of life. A newspaper puts our words and deeds on public record.
Communities benefit from a forum for Christian voices. Notice the plural form of "voices." I hear countless biblically compatible perspectives on various issues that cross our desks, but "the" singular Christian voice is an animal I've yet to discover. Although I frequently encounter Christians with singular views, I just as often hear from other believers who see things quite differently.
I've come to believe that we do well to hear from this plurality of voices. The Christian family is like a large choir—sometimes harmonious, sometimes dissonant. A newspaper provides a forum where we gather and learn from listening to each other. It's a place to hear other voices and adjust the tenor of our own.
We need a vehicle for vital information. If Christians want to be visible and are raising their voices, it's important that the things they say be based on accurate knowledge. A newspaper is a good place to provide data and details that reflect the truth of any given situation. It's a good place to offer perspectives from knowledgeable individuals.
Christian witness is strengthened when we work with a common set of trustworthy facts.
ChristianWeek has proven itself to be a roadworthy vehicle, steering Christians in a godly direction. It's a place where we can be visible and vocal, telling stories that demonstrate the vitality of the people of God in Canada.
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