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New Federal Communications Commission rules in the 1970s invited a rush of evangelicals to the airwaves. It was during this era of the Moral Majority and developing Religious Right that Christian radio personalities became better known for political commentary than for on-air evangelism. Randall Balmer's new Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism(more on this handy reference in a future newsletter) notes that Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George Bush all addressed NRB conventions. Reagan gave his famous "Evil Empire" speech, on the Soviet Union, at the group's 1983 meeting.

Today, the NRB still sometimes tussles with the FCC, and a serious split within the organization could leave both sides too small to mount a lobby. NRB members do not, however, face much competition from theological liberals on the dial. An overwhelming number of the more than 1,940 Christian radio stations in America fall on the conservative side of the spectrum. Even if Pederson were reinstated, about all he could do to budge broadcasters from this niche would be to mix a little chiding into his official speeches. A resolution that would force broadcasters to tone down their political speech, the threat some commentators seemed to see in Pederson's interview, isn't a possibility.

Still, the extent to which prevailing conservative theology should be connected to vocal conservative politics is a valid question for Christian broadcasters. It's a valid question for the rest of us, too, especially in light of the proposed Houses of Worship Political Speech Protection Act, which would allow pastors to endorse candidates from the pulpit. But the real tempests over the issue are unlikely to originate in the back rooms and conference calls of the NRB. Radio is simply not the evangelical center of gravity it used to be.

Elesha Coffman is managing editor of Christian History magazine.

Copyright © 2002 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

More Christian History, including a list of events that occurred this week in the church's past, is available at ChristianHistory.net. Subscriptions to the quarterly print magazine are also available.

Related Christianity Today coverage includes:

Weblog: Battle for NRB Heats Up as Dobson, Moody Square Off | Robert Neff calls Focus on the Family head's actions "ungodly," Dobson says he's victim of "smear campaign." (March 5, 2002)

New NRB President Resigns | Christian broadcasters divided over politics-religion controversy. (Feb. 18, 2002)

Politics May Splinter NRB | Christian broadcasters may sack incoming president or bolt the organization. (Feb. 15, 2002)

Weblog: Saying Christian Radio is Too Political May Get Head of Religious Broadcasters Fired | The battle for Christian radio. (Feb. 22, 2002)

Daring to Discipline America | James Dobson's influence, already huge, is growing. Can he keep his focus? (March 1, 1999)

The NRB controversy began following Pederson's comments in a January 5 article in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

Statistics on how many people listened to Christian radio in 1997 are available at Duncan's Radio Comments.

Christianity Today sister publication Christian History's issue 55: "The Monkey Trial and the Rise of Fundamentalism" is available online.

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March (Web-only) 2002, Vol. 46