I’ve noticed something about the way I consume news. When I take time to physically sit with good journalism, to read from a newspaper or news magazine, I understand the news differently than when I scroll through it online or when I passively watch news on television. When I read, I have to actually think and I am more likely to develop my own conclusions. When I choose to pick up an actual newspaper, I am actively choosing my sources. Is print media expensive? I’d argue that the cost of not having print media is higher. Even if subscribing to a variety of printed news sources is not in your budget, libraries give us access to multiple local, national, and international print news sources.
When choosing to read news online, choose to access that news outside of social media feeds. Go directly to multiple news sites. Some sites give users a number of free articles each month. It takes personal effort and time to stay informed, but the alternative is allowing one’s emotions to be assaulted by randomly and mindlessly consumed information. There are many important voices who are literally writing history on a daily or weekly basis. Subscribe to a few newsletters. If watching or listening to the news on television or the radio is still your primary point of access, choose multiple networks, or watch or listen to a variety of well-vetted vlogs or podcasts. Don’t rely on one single network as your source for news.
Why does this matter? More importantly, why does this matter to people who claim to be people of faith? It matters because the way we choose to receive information impacts the quality of the information we receive. If we do not actively choose how we receive news, we potentially allow ourselves to be swayed by the outrage of the day and can easily become caught up in “news” that is not news at all. One of the biggest downsides of mindless news consumption is the potential to be manipulated by anger and fear. Those who claim to follow Christ are called to actively love others, not to live with undisciplined anger. We are called to be people of faith, not people of fear. If your life is weighted more heavily with anger and fear than with love and faith, take inventory. You owe it to yourself to discover why (and one possibility is the quality of the news content you regularly consume).
So whatever your life’s calling – whatever your current task – thank you for living it; for doing it. And remember, you are not alone. At least, you don’t have to be alone. There are plenty of places where you can connect with others and share in the work of encouraging one another. People of faith need to remember that there is good news and there is Good News. If you’d like to know more about that, feel free to reach out. Even if you don’t do church right now, you might want to rethink that. This community of faith welcomes you.
Rev. MB