One of the most common criticisms leveled at the Christian church is that it’s “too heavenly minded to be of any earthly good.” Dispelling this myth—showing the profound role faith can play in everyday life—is one of the central aims of a new television program that began airing on the Hope Channel earlier this year.
Intersection: Your Faith, Your World is a half-hour weekly program that explores issues as current as today’s headlines, but from the unique perspective of Seventh-day Adventist faith and values. The concept for Intersection came from world church president, Pastor Jan Paulsen, who wanted a program that focused on the real-life impact of faith, and which reminded people that religion is not something that should be locked away behind church doors.
“My hope is that this program will allow us say more clearly: ‘Look, the values we hold to—the values of God’s kingdom—are alive!’” says Pastor Paulsen. “’They are not just dusty theological statements; the principles of Scripture find their best expression in everyday life, in the mundane and the routine.’”
“Look around you and see what concerns your neighbor: things such as family, community, relationships, personal growth, finances, worries about the future. Does our faith have something significant to say about all these things? Of course. And this is the intersection—between faith and life—that this program explores.”
This theme of a faith that speaks to current issues in society is one that Pastor Paulsen has often highlighted. “I want the world to know,” he said in a Christmas message broadcast in December last year, “that our faith has something profound to say about issues in today’s headlines: the environment; public health; freedom; religious tolerance. I want the world to know we will do more than simply talk about the Scriptures; we will live its principles. And because of this we will inevitably be drawn into positive, constructive engagement with our communities.”
This is the message that Intersection aims to deliver, through stories, interviews and panel discussions with lay people, administrators and experts. Bettina Krause, senior producer and host of the program, says that the discussions are lively and often surprising. “We’re hearing from viewers that these programs make a great starting point for discussions at home, or for small groups, Sabbath School classes or youth groups,” she says.
Recent episodes have focused on topics as diverse as “Standing for what is Right, “The Problem with Guilt” and “Secrets of a Happy Marriage”. Rajmund Dabrowski, communication director for the world church and executive producer of the program, says the goal is to help people step away from preconceived ideas and to look at an issue from someone else’s point of view. “For instance, in one program— ‘Understanding other Religions’—we interviewed the communication director from an Islamic organization here in Washington, D.C.,” he says. “Her personal perspective on the impact of religious discrimination was truly eye-opening.”
You can find out more information about Intersection and download programs at http://intersection. adventist.org/ Broadcast times and information is available at www.hopetv.org.
