Many would consider this, too, another big government idea - taxing one industry in order to pump-up the profits of another. However, the good news is that the House and Senate co-sponsors of the Supporting Local Radio Freedom Act (H.Con.Res.49 and S.Con.Res14) are growing. At present there are 253 co-sponsors in the House, and 26 in the Senate! Yet, Democrat leadership may yet attempt to schedule the Performance Rights Act for a vote.

Bottom line, time will tell which items come to the floor for a vote this year. NRB is ready on all fronts. We are in the right places around Capitol Hill to quickly hear what is going to take place, and we're ready for fast action. Just a reminder, one way you can continually help us is by contacting your members in Congress to let them know where you stand on the issues important to NRB members. You can do this simply by logging on to www.freedomtobroadcast.com. This site will walk you through the rest. Please feel free to share with your listeners and viewers, as well. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at bpowers@nrb.org.

At the same time, the rub comes when one tries to define civility. There’s a point at which the unvarnished truth is going to be offensive to someone, a challenge faced by ministers of the Gospel every single day. Scripture clearly states that there is only one way to Christ, eschewing the syncretistic tendencies that are so popular today in our tolerant-enamored culture.

Given those complex realities, the role of religious broadcasters can be particularly difficult. We must never sacrifice truth, yet we should refrain from being shrill. We must be willing to walk the unpopular road of calling out sin (both inside and outside of the Church), but we must never forget that we are all fallen men and women, and every person is in desperate need of love, compassion, and mercy. The dichotomies are fraught with opportunities to err on one extreme or the other, especially as the next national election cycle draws near.

Here at NRB, we are constantly evaluating these issues in light of our mission: to keep the doors of electronic media open for the spread of the Gospel of Christ. Our involvement in the nation’s capital is inherent in that purpose. We cannot shy away from, or ignore, the political and legislative side of Capitol Hill or the White House. Many laws that are considered by the House and Senate would have a direct bearing on the ability of religious broadcasters to speak truth, speak freely, or both. In the months ahead, we will most likely be dealing with the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), just as we had to address the issue of hate crimes legislation last year. On the Executive side of things, we’re keeping a careful eye on the FCC’s broadband plan, because the President and his advisors have enormous potential to influence legislation and the direction of our nation. Since time has proven that the price of liberty truly is eternal vigilance, we must stay engaged in every policy arena in Washington in a very tangible way.

At the same time, our association recognizes the responsibility that we have to work across all political lines. The NRB does not work “for” or “against” any political party; rather we evaluate legislation in light of our association’s mission. I recall that my first meeting on Capitol Hill, after being named President at NRB, was with a very prominent, liberal House Democrat. Not only did he receive me graciously, but this Member of Congress was also excited to tell me how fond he was of listening to a particular NRB member who had a daily radio show in the D.C. area. This man’s political reach and ability to influence legislation were (and still are) great. Clearly, it is important to reach out to Members of Congress and dialogue on legislative issues. At the same time, we can never lose sight of the fact that ultimately, the most important thing is the state of a person’s soul.

So regardless of whether or not I agree with President Obama’s comments at yesterday’s prayer breakfast, I appreciate the fact that he participated in the event. Many left-leaning groups had asked him to boycott the prayer breakfast; he did not. As religious broadcasters, we, too, have a responsibility to show up, so to speak, in the midst of the politically difficult days ahead. Some might suggest that we boycott politics because it detracts from the Word of God. I disagree wholeheartedly. As religious broadcasters, we must continue to speak the truth, but with Christ-likeness. Just as the Apostle Paul spoke the truth in a way that could be understood by the men and women who did not speak the proverbial language of orthodox Judaism, so we must speak in ways that will strike a chord with those who don’t speak our language – not with the goal of pleasing men, but with a firm conviction and heart motivation that will please God. 

Please pray for us as we continue to walk many fine lines here in Washington, D.C. NRB remains committed to standing firm in the midst of intense political wrangling, for the purpose of keeping the doors of all electronic media open for the spread of the Gospel of Christ. That is not an easy task. It is costly in terms of money, time, and talent, so we greatly appreciate your prayers for NRB’s leadership and staff as we forge into the months ahead.

The President's Column was prepared with the valuable research and writing assistance of Laurel A. MacLeod.

(D-CA) yesterday. But if there has been a stay in the process of socializing a significant portion of the U.S. economy, it may only be temporary. Regardless of their political persuasion, people have a tendency to claim “victory” far too quickly. Something happens, they are satisfied with a particular political outcome, and then they walk away from the issue entirely, only to become concerned at some point in the future when the same issue returns to a crisis point. And usually when that crisis point happens a second, third, or even fourth time, it is too late to affect any real change. Remember the old adage of the frog being slowly boiled in the pot? Occasionally he manages to jump out as the water heats up, but eventually the frog will be caught and cooked.

Well 60 years later, one can hardly open the morning newspaper, or watch the evening news, without having a “Maalox Moment” of our own.  We live today in a sin-sick culture that seems to be on moral life-support.  In one generation, long-standing notions of morality and ethics have been stood on their head.  Surely the “woe” pronounced on those that call good “evil” and evil “good” applies to our spiritually impoverished age.

There is, of course, only one antidote for a dying culture, and that is the Gospel.  What we proclaim through the various electronic media platforms we have available to us is the only hope of mankind.  Yet our responsibility, as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, goes beyond mere proclamation.  We have also been commanded to personally live out our faith before the world.

In one of the most extraordinary commands in all of Scripture, Jesus says: “Be holy, as I am holy.”  This is a truly extraordinary command, because in and of ourselves we are incapable of obeying it.  That is the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, who indwells the hearts of believers.  It is He who enables us to live holy lives, and apart from Him such holiness is impossible.

Leonard Ravenhill described it this way: “The greatest miracle that God can do today is to take an unholy man out of an unholy world, and make that man holy and put him back into that unholy world and keep him holy in it.”

Our sanctification is indeed the work of God.  Yet, our participation in it is required.  We are to strive for personal holiness.  We are to make choices that honor God.  We are to live lives that move men and women to ask: Why?

The story is told of four ministers discussing the pros and cons of various Bible translations and paraphrases. Eventually each stated which version, in his opinion, is the best.  The first minister said he used the King James because the Old English style is beautiful and produces the most reverent picture of the Holy Scriptures. The second said he preferred the New American Standard Bible because he felt it comes nearer to the original Greek and Hebrew texts.  The third minister said his favorite was the paraphrased Living Bible because his congregation was young, and it related to them in a practical way.

All three men waited while the fourth minister sat silently. Finally he said, "I guess when it comes to translations and paraphrased editions of the Bible, I like my Dad's translation best. He put the Word of God into practice every day. He was the most convincing translation I've ever seen."

All of this leads us to an important principle.  Even though we serve the Lord through media ministry, how we serve the Him is as important as that we serve Him.  Our personal holiness does matter.

With this in mind, let me suggest four critical attitudes that must shape our service to God. 
First, our work must be motivated by love. Jesus established His church on earth to both proclaim the love of God and to show the love of God in tangible, personal ways.  It is for us, individually, to show forth the reality of that love.

Second, our work must be done as unto the Lord.  Jesus made it clear that when we serve others we are in reality serving Him.  We should do everything with excellence, integrity and zeal, for we serve the Living God.

Third, our work should be for the benefit of others.  When William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, was near death he sent a communication to Salvationists around the world.  His message contained one word: “Others!”

Fourth, our work should be for the glory of God.  Jesus said, “If I am lifted up, I will draw all men unto myself.”  The direct reference is to the Cross, but the indirect reference is to our role of exalting Christ, of making His glory our end and aim.

Nathanael Emmons described that kind of personal holiness this way: “[It] has love for its essence, humility for its clothing, the good of others as its employment, and the honor of God as its end.”

And what will God do with such a holy people?  D.L. Moody said, “Give me ten men who love only God and hate only sin, and I will change the world.”

God is changing the world through the saving power of His Gospel.  But wonder of wonders, God also chooses to change the world through the witness of our lives, through men and women committed to being holy even as He is holy.  Let us together strive for personal holiness, so that our lives are not rendered mute before a listening and watching world.