Too Much Bad Press

I rarely watch the news. About the only time I catch a news tidbit is when I’m waiting to see the weather. Recently I heard a story about a bank robbery in a town in California. Can someone explain why I need to know about that incident when I live in North Carolina?  I guess the newsworthy information was slow in coming that day,. Apparently, they need to search all over the country for news to fill up their three hour time slot. If you ask me, I know you didn’t, but there is entirely too much news presented today.

I didn’t even mention the twenty four hour news stations. Given a person's political leaning there is a news station for you. If you lean to the left you have your news station. If you lean to the right you also have a station. Both report misleading news stories, according to the opposition. Both are harsh, unforgiving, unrelenting in their attacks, and most of the time embellish the smut they report about something an opponent did or said. One thing in which they are very successful in doing is firing up the hate and animosity of those who vehemently disagree with them. They desire more than anything for the leaders of the opposing side to do anything that even hints of being scandalous.

Well, let me report some news reporting guidelines which were  written long ago. “Be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate, and humble. Do not repay evil with evil, or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing...Who is going to harm you if you do good? But even if you should suffer for for what is right, you are blessed...But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience…” I Peter 3:8-9, 14-16 I know, the media will not report things about Jesus. But what Peter wrote should be considered by every Christian who chooses to react to what they hear on the news.

These words of advice were given to followers of Jesus Christ. Peter was telling them the way they should live to be Christ-like. Today insult is repaid with insult. Love is not demonstrated, nor is compassion. Often it is Christians doing harm to Christians, Those claiming to follow Christ are not gentle toward those who disagree with them. They have no respect for those who oppose them. Being Christ-like means that we will behave like Jesus. Remember a few years ago when the popular question was, “What would Jesus do”? If Jesus had a social media account, what kinds of things would he post? Would his purpose be to post or repost items that would arouse anger and build hate in another? Would his goal be to fire up the rage within others and do everything he could to make the division in our nation wider? I see professing Christians and even Christian leaders posting things that they know will upset others. There is no excuse for this. As followers of Christ we are to promote peace and love. We must be like Christ if we truly follow him.