CHRIST CARES

"Only Christ, my Friend, could possibly care enough to draw me to Himself, to bring me back gently to my Father, to patiently lay dow His life for me that I might come to know Him."  W. Phillip Keller, Men's Devotional Bible

INFORMED, NOT ANGRY

" . . . a publication that shares your biases does not mean that it deserves your trust. As conservatives have begun to see 'mainstream' news outlets as less reliable, a cottage industry of news charlatans & snake-oil salesmen has sprung up to monetize that distrust. Any outlet that tries to convince you it is the sole voice of truth should be approached with extreme caution.

"In all of this, strive to achieve two things. First, supply yourself with a media diet that will help you stay generally abreast of current events. That helps you to exercise your vocation as an American citizen. Second, bear in mind that this is only a secondary vocation. Our first loyalty belongs not to any political or media team but to Christ & His church . . . 

"The biggest problem with the news media is not political bias, unreliable facts or overly sensationalized news. The biggest problem is its view of the world:  A ceaseless, all-encompassing, life-or-death struggle between radically opposed political forces. From The New York Times to Fox News to the internet's fringiest blogs, they tempt the reader o dive into that struggle a though is the most important fight there is.

"As children of God, we know the ultimate struggle is not between flesh & blood (Eph. 6:12). The ultimate struggle does not occur between the weather report & the next sitcom but against the 'spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.' While the fights among political parties & media outlets continue interminably, Christ has already won the final struggle against the devil. And regardless of the news cycle, Christ gives this victory to you.

"In light of this victory your task is straightforward:  Stay abreast of the political struggle while rejecting its self-proclaimed status as the ultimate struggle. To exist in this tension is not easy. But it is part of the tension Christ calls us to endure in our daily lives:  to forsake the world while living in it, to be as wise as serpents without ceasing to be innocent as doves."  Andrew Egger, The Lutheran Witness, Aug. 2020