Are Your News Sources Helping You Become More Christlike?
In a previous post, I wrote, "The Bible's perspective is the best perspective. It's a humble perspective, but it's the only true and timeless perspective that we all could use a little more of right now. Don't you agree?"
Today, I'd like to expand a little more on this idea in light of how events in our country are continuing to unfold.
Differing Opinions
Concern about a second civil war is all over the Internet. Some think it's already begun and others think it’s inevitable, maybe even necessary. Among Trump voters, 71% think our country is headed to a civil war, but only 40% of Biden voters do.
Why the difference in opinions? It comes down to who do we trust and listen to.
If you watch liberal news (CNN, etc.), you’ll hear again and again that Republicans are Racist. They're all climate change deniers. They only care about power.
If you watch conservative news (Fox, etc.), you'll hear things like... Democrats in charge means a reign of terror. None of the mainstream news sites can be trusted. The left hates you and wants you dead.
Everyone’s Entrenched
Even though there are extreme differences in what you’ll hear depending upon who you listen to, all sides agree that if only the other side would just tell the truth, then our country's problems would be much less and we would all be better off—maybe even prevent a catastrophe.
Is that likely to happen? Will everyone agree what the truth is about current events? Probably not, since the very survival of news outlets seems to be more dependent upon making the competition look bad than on accuracy. News corporations are more financially successful when they give their audience what they want to hear, as opposed to just reporting the facts. Conspiracy theories (especially those that make the opposition look bad) are what sell on both sides of the aisle.
People tend to only tune into the news sources that confirm what they already believe. If you believe Republicans are better than Democrats, it’s unlikely you’ll tolerate news sources that say otherwise, and vice versa.
As a result, all sides are entrenched and there doesn't seem to be much hope in changing anyone's mind. So logically, but sadly, we start to entertain ideas that maybe civil war and armed protests are inevitable and maybe even necessary to save our country.
Christians are Entrenched
And Christians are entrenched too. If we identify as a liberal Christian, then we don't trust what the conservative Christians are saying. If we are a conservative-thinking Christian, then we probably wouldn't even give the time of day to a fellow brother-in-Christ who writes for CNN.
My goal isn't to try and convince you that your political leanings are wrong. If I've learned anything over time, it's that it usually does no good to try to change a political opinion because everyone is so entrenched.
Let me try to just jump right through all this mess for a moment and ask you a question:
Are your news sources (and accompanying political views) helping you become more or less like Christ? In other words, are you becoming more humble because of watching FOX or CNN? Are you becoming more, or less entrenched in thinking "your side" is right and everyone else is wrong?
While you think about that, let's remember what God says in His word.
God’s Word
Matthew 5:44 "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
1 Peter 2:13-14 "Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right."
Galatians 6:10 "So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith."
You can read the Bible from cover to cover and you'll never get the sense that God's will is for us to defeat those who oppose us with physical or even verbal violence.
Taking a Stand
Last Sunday from the pulpit, I said I agreed with David French, who wrote, "If and when any of my political opponents seek to undermine our fundamental freedoms, I’ll be there to pick a legal, political, and cultural fight with them..." And in quoting him, I meant I’ll gladly take a stand against those things the Bible clearly says are wrong: abortion, discrimination, racism, oppression of the poor, slander, and all kinds of other injustices. My promise is to oppose these things no matter who does them, Democrat or Republican.
I also said I agreed with David French when he said, "But I also won’t turn my back on the truths of scripture. I won’t stop seeking justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly. There’s no political 'emergency' that justifies abandoning our civil liberties, and there will never be an earthly emergency that justifies rejecting the eternal truth."
The Main Point
This brings us to the main point once again. Are your sources of information creating an "earthly emergency" in your mind that justifies rejecting eternal truth? We don't have to commit murder to have a murderous heart. We don't have to scream at the opposition that our view is the only right view to be filled with pride.
To be filled with pride, all we have to do is turn on our TV, or radio, or our social media feeds, etc, and sit back listening to others confirm that our view of the political world is right and everyone who disagrees with us is wrong. Meanwhile, we become less likely, or able to do what Christ says: to love our enemies, submit to the government, and do good to all people.
Micah 6:8 says, "He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
If whatever is feeding your soul is helping you obey Micah 6:8 then fine, I have no disagreement with you. But if you're starting to think that it may become necessary to ignore what God says for the sake of saving our country, then I plead with you to recheck your priorities.
A Cross, Not a Whip
Throughout history, God has always used the selfish, misinformed actions of men for good. That's the whole point of the book of Genesis. Genesis 50:20 sums up the entire book with "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive."
But just because God uses evil intentions and actions for good doesn't make those same intentions and actions right. Is a Civil War around the corner? I hope not, but if it is, I believe it’ll occur largely because so many Christians (liberal and conservative) have chosen to listen to their news sources more than to the word of God.
Some might object, saying, But didn't Jesus drive out the money changers in the temple with a whip? Yes, he did and as the Creator of all things and the discerner of thoughts, he has the right to use his authority in that way and to delegate it to governments (Romans 13:4) as he sees fit. But he never tells Christians to take up their whips and follow him; instead he tells us to take up our cross.
In Matthew 16:24-25, "Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.'"
Others might say, But America is God's country and we must be willing to do whatever it takes, even take up arms to save our nation. Even if it's true that America is God's special chosen nation, I don't think that gives Christians the right to act in ways that Jesus would clearly disapprove of.
The Heart of Christ
The verses I've referenced are God's word to us. They describe the heart God's people are to have toward others, including our enemies. It's a heart of humility, denying self and sacrifice.
So even if the news you are reading is factually true, free of bias and political agenda, if it’s encouraging you to have a mindset contrary to the heart of Christ towards fellow believers and even towards our enemies, then those sources of information must be rejected as contrary to the word of God.
What we need, more than anything right now, is God's heart and perspective. As it says in the well-known hymn Be Thou My Vision:
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that thou art
Thou my best thought, by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light
Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father, and I thy true son
Thou in me dwelling and I with thee one
Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise
Thou mine inheritance, now and always
Thou and thou only first in my heart
High King of heaven, my treasure thou art
High King of heaven, my victory won
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's sun
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O ruler of all
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O ruler of all