Ep. 576: Military Chaplains, Christian Radio, Charity Ratings, and a Family-Friendly Movie

Christina

Hello, everyone, I’m Christina Darnell, the managing editor of MinistryWatch. Welcome to the MinistryWatch podcast. 

In today’s extra episode, I talk with Warren Smith about some news items that are slightly (even significantly) outside of our normal charity and philanthropy “beat.” 

So, Warren, what’s up first?

Warren

Military chaplains will no longer indicate their rank on their uniforms, according to a new order from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegspeth. People I’ve talked with tell me they generally think that’s a good thing. Enlisted personnel might be intimidated to talk with chaplains about deeply personal issues if they know that chaplain is a senior officer. Progressive groups opposing the move include Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.

Christina

Up next, a new study by Pew found that nearly 98 percent of U.S. adults live within range of at least one religious radio station.

Warren

And that about 25 percent of all AM/FM stations are dedicated to religious programming. 

The U.S. has about 4,000 religious stations and about half of American adults spend at least some time each week listening to religious audio content, including radio, podcasts, and streaming, and – this is one of the most interesting findings – about 39 percent of listeners are non-Christians.

Christina

I guess it’s a good thing that non-Christians are listening to Christian programming.

Warren

It is good, but there is also another side to that coin. A lot of Christian radio stations have started programing for that non-Christian audience. You’ll hear branding like “Safe for the Entire Family” rather than distinctly Christian branding and programming. Some people think this trend has watered down Christian radio. Christian writer David Murrow says “Safe for the Entire Family” has made Christian radio boring and risk-free. He advocates for edgier music on music stations, and more teaching and talk. 

Christina

While we’re on the subject of media, a new movie out now is getting a lot of buzz from Christian commentators – and it’s not a Christian movie.

Warren

I haven’t seen the new Ryan Gosling movie Project Hail Mary, but people I respect are giving it great reviews. 

Aaron Renn says, “In an era of male loneliness and confusing messages about manhood, Project Hail Mary models problem-solving, purpose, and fatherly strength without apology.” Brett McCracken, writing for The Gospel Coalition, says it offers the “good, clean fun moviegoers have missed.” McCracken concludes, “Project Hail Mary doesn’t preach the gospel. But it makes virtue look good. It makes selflessness, sacrifice, and duty attractive. If the movie is a huge hit—and I expect it will be—perhaps Hollywood will take the hint. We’re not in postmodernism anymore. Goodness, truth, and beauty are attributes we want in art again. Really, they’re what we’ve always wanted.”

Christina

Is the movie a hit?

Warren

It is. The movie opened at number 1 in the U.S. and held that position through its second week. So far, worldwide box office is around $300 million. That’s a huge hit by any reasonable standard.

Christina

Warren, you read an article this week that caught your attention.

Warren

I commend to you an article by my friends John Stonestreet and Tim Padgett of The Colson Center. I’ll link to it in the show notes. They share the hard truth that neither political party has a right to the pro-life label these days. Of the Democrats they say, abortion is not merely a plank in the progressive party’s platform. It is the chief commitment of the worldview that dominates America. It is, for many, a sacrament to recognize, enshrine, and honor autonomy. Abortion is not merely a legal right of a decadent society. It is a rite of worship, specifically a way to worship the idols of self, state, and sex.” 

Christina

But they don’t let the Republicans off the hook, either. 

Warren

They write, “The GOP was once a prolife party, but now openly endorses chemical abortion and unregulated IVF, the two most common ways to kill preborn children in America.” They conclude, “There is no such thing as a Christian not called, to some degree, to oppose abortion and defend preborn lives. We need not attend every march or express every outrage. We must, however, protect every vulnerable life, support every vulnerable mother and father, and advance the Christian understanding of human dignity every chance we are given.”

Christina

Our final story today is about the ministry rating systems. An organization called Charity Watch wrote an article that found fault with Charity Navigator’s rating system.

Warren

Charity Watch found fault with the 4-Star rating that Charity Navigator gave to OUR Rescue, formerly Operation Underground Railroad. I won’t get into the weeds of their analysis here except to say that Charity Watch is right. OUR Rescue should not have a 4-Star rating. 

Christina

That’s why MinistryWatch gives OUR Rescue a 1-Star rating, our lowest score for financial efficiency. 

Warren

That’s right. I’ve written about the pros and cons of rating systems, and explained why – despite the cons – we think rating ministries is important. But how you do it matters. I’ll have a link to an article explaining our rating system in today’s show notes.

Christina

Any final notes before we go?

Warren

I have some travel coming up in the next couple of months, and I would love to see you. I will be in Los Angeles in April. I’ll be speaking at the annual convention of the Evangelical Press Association in Nashville in June. I’ll also be in Dallas and Knoxville in May. I will be speaking at Summit Ministries in Manitou Springs in June, so I’ll be doing reader lunches in Denver and Colorado Springs during that trip. Let me know if you would like to join us. My email is wsmith@ministrywatch.com.

Christina

The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. I’m Christina Darnell, along with Warren Smith. You’ve been listening to the MinistryWatch podcast. 

Until next time, may God bless you.