You Can't Ride the Fence if you want to Cross the Bridge

There are many approaches that professionals in journalism can take when it comes to integrating or separating their faith with their career. There are those that follow a “fence” approach, where they separate their profession and faith. Others follow a “bridge” approach, where their faith and profession coincide. Both sides carry valid arguments and come with both perks and down falls.


Professionals who follow a “fence” approach to journalism down play or separate the influence of religion in the work place. Some feel that religion should be separate and saved for at home, family and church rather than expressed and displayed in a person’s journalistic career. Some focus on privatizing their religious identities, while others refuse to talk about the connections between faith and work.

Writers such as Steinfels, religion correspondent for the New York Times, feel that there are boundaries that separate the professional and religious worlds. He was quoted saying, “there is a difference between what they are doing and what the first responsibility of a reporter is.” Steinfels defines a reporter’s main responsibility to be and focuses on informing people about what is happening without making any kind of strong evaluation of whether the situation is good or bad.

The “bridge” approach focuses on being able to combine professional and religious worlds. Followers of this approach try to translate religious convictions into the language of their secular colleagues. Schmalzbauer defines bridging as relying on new openness to religion and on the critique of journalistic objectivity to justify the influence of religious perspectives on their work.

Evangelical Wesley Pippert believes and tries to bridge his faith and his writing. He criticizes “mere objectivity” and “mere accuracy. Pippert quoted and agreed with Jacques Ellul when he said, “modern practice of using facts as the criterion of truth.” Pippert feels that it is ridiculous that people want value-free reporters. He feels that a person can’t be value-free since people’s religious and professional identity has truth and moral dimensions to them. This causes the two to have an “organic relationship.”

My education at Biola University not only helped me to integrate my faith into my career in radio more but also help gained credibility and respect in academic circles as well. While Steinfels reminded me to think and focus on my first priority, after much thinking and prioritizing I realized that ministering to people and encouraging them in their faith is my first priority. I personally feel that I lean more toward the “bridge” approach. I realize my call to work in the Christian industry and to minister makes it easier for me to accept the bridge approach. I agree with Pippert in his belief that a person’s morals and faith should be inseparable to other parts of their life. I feel that it is because of my life that I have a strong sense of integrity, morals, and work ethic. Whether I worked in a secular or Christian environment, my faith would still call and hold me to those standards.

An Interview with a Professional

Mark Capitain has worked in multiple areas of radio such as advertising, board technician, production, editing, engineering, program directing, and as on-air personality. He has worked for stations such as KNLB, KWFH (Alive FM), KAZUAL, KRCY, KHITS, KFAT, and KRRK.

Katie Trent: What drew you into radio?
Mark Capitain: At first, it was more of recruitment than a drawing. What first got me hooked though was the technical aspect of it and the enjoyment I got out of it. From there I fell in love with the industry as a whole. As I learned more I was drawn in more.

KT: Why do you choose to work in Christian radio over secular?

MC: I have worked in both and the work environments are very different in each. I prefer the more positive work environment and message. I also enjoy the aspect of ministry in Christian radio and music.

KT: How does radio fulfill your calling?

MC: I would have to say that this is where the Lord has me right now, and as such, this IS my calling. God has called me to many things and places throughout the years. I follow where He wants me and it is there that I find my calling.


KT: How do you deal with negative criticism or legalism from Christians?

MC: Not very well, actually. I try to take the constructive part out of every criticism. I try to not let the legalism side of it build up on me and effect how I do my job. I guess you could say that that is one of my pet-peeves. I have never really been able to understand why Christians are such a judgmental lot. We are saved by grace, and yet that grace seems to get lost in the shuffle and there seems to be difficulty in extending that grace to our brethren and sisteren.


KT: How do you know what you do matters?

MC: Because I see God using everything I do. I know by the phone calls that come in to the station. I have chatted with people, on more than one occasion, that have tuned in to the station, and then called in and said what a difference we are making in their lives. I know because God is not only involved but in control of everything I do. One example that comes to mind is when Amy was gone for the morning show and I was preparing to do the show without a co-host a few months back. Initially, I was apprehensive but warmed up to the idea that I was going to be on the air alone the following morning. As I did my morning prep, God showed up. In a very short amount of time, I had the material and had a great presentation prepared. I did the show Friday Morning, and got a very good response both on air and off air. I see God in what I do and in the effect my work has.