WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY

Now that Barack Obama is re-elected as President of the United States, he has matchless executive power. In fact, being the leader of the world’s greatest superpower, he is the world leader with the greatest power.

Uncle Ben told Spider-Man: "With great power comes great responsibility." And the masked crusader hung on to it. It was to become his mantra and motto in life.

He was careful to use the extraordinary powers he possessed to help the weak and defenseless – not to intimidate or bully others.

                                                                     

How we handle great power reflects our character. "Nearly all men can stand the test of adversity, but if you really want to test a man's character, give him power."  -- Abraham Lincoln.

Like wealth, power is the one of the ultimate tests of a person’s character. When a person gains power over others – whether it is in a society or fraternity, government or politics or even the hallowed corridors of the church – the tendency is to force others to do his bidding even when it is against their will.

Lord Acton, the British historian, was right when he said: “All power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Such is the behaviour of kings and dictators who force all to bow down to them, exterminate all who go against them, pick whoever they want for their sensual pleasure and trample on the rights of the weak and poor.

Believers too have been endowed with great power. It’s the power to change lives for the better.

And we need to handle well the power entrusted to us – with maturity and a sense of responsibility.

Some are given special anointing to do miraculous works, heal and deliver others from sicknesses and bondages; others are gifted evangelists who can share the Good News to multitudes and reap a bountiful “harvest”.

While some have been given the capacity to transform lives through speech (preaching and teaching), others have been endowed with the power to change lives through the pen. The latter may not be so dramatic but, by mindset transformation, it brings about lasting change.

As Francis Bacon said: “Reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man.”

“My heart overflows with a good theme; I address my verses to the King; my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.” (Psalm 45:1).

So let us not underestimate the power of the pen. Under God’s anointing, it becomes a powerful instrument to change lives. It is the Holy Spirit who inspires the writer to put down his thoughts. And the reader becomes enlightened, and even gets convicted, by the same Holy Spirit. When that happens, great power is being unleashed as is evident from the following verse:

“We pull down every proud obstacle that is raised against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). Good News Translation.

Come to think of it, from another angle, the statement "With great power comes great responsibility" has other ramifications: When we substitute the word ‘power’ with one or more of the following words – gifts, talents, wealth, resources.

“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (Luke 12:48).

Sometimes we wish for more power, gifts, talents and resources.

But we might probably change our minds when we realise it’s an option that’s not so rosy after all.

It would mean we need greater and greater responsibility on our part as we handle the “power” and utilise the gifts, talents and resources entrusted to us.

"With great power comes great responsibility.”

CHALLENGING BUT WORTHWHILE

What are some of the issues and challenges facing Christian publications, such as Asian Beacon, in Malaysia?

ASIAN BEACON (AB) is the most well-established interdenominational Christian magazine in Malaysia with a history dating back to 1969.

It is one of the few Christian magazines with an official publication permit issued by the government of Malaysia and Singapore. This enables it to reach out to the masses in West Malaysia – its primary audience – as well as across the South China Sea (East Malaysia) and across the causeway (Singapore). Many of the magazines produced by large churches and Christian NGO’s do not have this official permit as they are meant for internal circulation; hence they reach fewer people. 

First, the issue of moving from print to digital platform as mobile technologies (laptops, smartphones, tablets, e-readers) impact more and more lives, especially the young. If so, is digital going to exist side-by-side with print or will it be standalone? In future, Asian Beacon has plans to go digital while retaining its traditional hard copy. It is currently available through subscription, distributors in church as well as secular and Christian bookstores throughout the nation.

Second, as our schools produce students who are more conversant in the national language, and we are demographically a relatively young population, will the language currently used (English) be suitable in future as the medium of communication? We have to ask ourselves, “Will youths be able to grasp the truths, values and testimonies shared in the magazine, given the deteriorating standard of English among the young in our nation?”

Third, the challenge of finding and developing human capital. How are we going to pass the baton to the emerging generation? How do we train and encourage budding talents so that there will always be competent people to write articles and run the magazine? How do we nurture in them passion and a sense of calling for a strategic media ministry such as AB?  How do we instill in them a love for writing, editing and communication?  

Fourth, the issue of target audience. From a recent survey, it was found that most AB readers belong to the above 40 age group. What will happen to its readership if these regular supporters grow old and pass away? Furthermore, some have objected that its target audience is far too inclusive – that AB is trying to be all things to so many different age groups; the young, aged and all those in between. Should AB focus on a particular age segment?

Fifth, the challenge of finding sufficient funds, which has always been the bugbear of a media ministry such as AB. At present, sales, subscription, advertisements and donor support barely cover the operating costs of running and distributing the magazine. 

Once the magazine goes digital, the costs will definitely increase as staff will be needed to look into the content and the technical aspects of the new medium. Staff will also be needed to engage with readers on social media. But hopefully, sales of advertising space on the digital platform will help to offset, to some extent, the increased overheads.

Sixth, the possibility of sharing of human capital and funding through networking with various Christian publications. This is just a moot point: If the leaders of a few major churches can come together, put aside their denominational leanings and see how they can play a role in promoting a national media ministry such as AB, then some of the challenges that AB faces might be resolved. The churches will also benefit a lot. This move will conserve resources and minimise duplication of work.

Printing a magazine is not cheap. Yet there are many in-house publications by major churches in the country. Each church which networks with AB will be given a prominent place in the magazine. Thus testimonies and teaching material can be shared not only within the church but far and wide throughout the nation. If the church has video clips or Podcasts, these can also be made widely available.

Major church events and seminars with international speakers will get wider exposure. At the editorial planning stage, articles with themes related to the seminar/event can be arranged. Churches purchase magazines in bulk for distribution to participants of the seminar/event. In return, the church gets greater publicity for its seminar/event. The cost of the magazines can be factored into the cost of the seminar materials. So there is synergy; a win-win situation.

For a start, major Klang Valley churches can experiment with this idea. If successful, it can be extended nationwide. Churches are free to retain their own print or digital magazine. But they can also go solely digital (to save printing costs) and join hands with AB on print and digital. By networking and sharing resources, a national youth magazine (digital version) promoting Christian values is a possibility (please refer to fourth point).

A national Christian magazine should rope in the talents and resources of all stakeholders, including Christians from the media industry. Their creative input is invaluable even if they cannot be directly involved in the magazine.

All the foregoing mentioned in the sixth point are mere suggestions. No doubt it is a major rethink. We have to ask ourselves, Which is our “branding”: Christ or our denomination?