On July 25th, I ended the day reading the news. The headlines read “Thousands Feared Dead After Twin Earthquakes Rock Venezuela,” “Trump Clashes with GOP Senators over Iran and Blocks Housing Bill to Force SAVE Act Vote,” “Appeals Court Allows Trump Administration to Resume Mass Deportations Without Trial,” “Pentagon Restores Flu Vaccine Mandate After Outbreak Sickens Hundreds on Air Force Base,” and “Five Eyes” Intelligence Alliance Warns AI Models Pose Huge Cybersecurity Risks.” Then came the weather headlines. “A record-breaking day in the U.S., with extreme heat, severe storms.” The record-breaking heat in multiple states and severe weather that caused significant damage across the central and southern U.S. made it one of the most notable weather days of the year to date.
I logged off my computer and thought to myself, “I am so tired of the news.” Immediately, I was reminded of Lot and his situation in Sodom. “He was…vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For the that righteous man dwelling among them, in SEEING and HEARING, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds.) 2 Peter 2:7,8.
As I sat in my chair, I thought about growing up with the news. Of course, I was limited given the fact that there was never a TV in our house growing up. The local newspaper was delivered every morning, and I remember going to retrieve it from the newspaper box; later that afternoon, my dad sat at the kitchen table reading. Periodically, he would share relevant news items with Mom and my siblings, especially the local news.
Today, I live between two small cities, and the news is broadcast on several radio stations. Both cities have a newspaper, one published daily and the other weekly. One focuses mainly on local news and community events; the other covers both local and national events. For local TV coverage, the nearest station is 50 miles away.
The simple times of news on a need-to-know basis no longer exist. That is, unless we choose to distance ourselves from the thing that we hold in our hands, our smartphone, or the screens on our walls, desks, or laps.
A prompting by the Holy Spirit to remove myself from all news for 40 days, except for the weather, has been life-changing. There were two reasons for watching the weather and the news related to it: to plan for the building of the new addition to my house, and because of four dreams this year related to weather disasters. Other than that, I have not watched or listened to any news. One may ask, is that possible if you have a TV, are on the computer, or have a smartphone? Yes, it is. I choose not to turn the TV on and check only e-mails and the weather on both my phone and computer.
Since I live in a rural community and am a good distance from neighbors, I was unaware of any local, national, or world events. The only news came during a call with my brother, who informed me of Lindsay Graham’s passing. Then last week, while visiting my mother, my sister told me about the recall of iceberg lettuce that had made thousands of people sick and advised me not to buy any lettuce in stores. That’s it—no other news.
I shared with several that I was on this 40-day fast from all news, and it was amazing that they honored it. They chose not to share any news, which confirmed that this fast was truly from the Holy Spirit.
What has it been like to go without the news for 40 days? First, it has brought about changes. Instead of the morning ritual of coffee, 15-20 minutes scrolling through headlines from national, world, and local news, followed by my quiet time with God, study of the Word, and prayer, it became only time with HIM. Breaks during the day began to be filled with thoughts of Jesus, replacing the scroll of the news cycle. Prayer intensified. Resting and admiring nature as His handiwork took on new meaning. So refreshing, life-changing.
So today, 40 days later, I begin scrolling through the news, starting with the news cycles I have followed for years and checked numerous times throughout the day. Fox (supposedly conservative yet has more soft porn than the liberal news channels), CNN (liberal, but I know it), The Times of Israel, The Christian Post.
My scrolling today brought home the reality that there is no good news. It was more of the same, as it had been for the 40 days before. Earthquakes in Japan, the war with Iran continues, and Donald Trump continues to spew offensive comments; approval ratings are at an all-time low, with over 33,000 fires across America, the most in 2 decades, mass shootings continue, Christian leaders continue to fall, Israel is hated even more, and AI is moving at breakneck speed. The list would continue as I look back over the weeks and days.
So what’s next? Do I continue my daily routine of scrolling throughout the day, revert to a “need-to-know” basis for the news, or accept the fact that all that is happening has been predicted some two thousand years ago by Jesus and the Apostles?
Some attribute the following words of Jesus in Matthew 24 to the time of the Great Tribulation. I am confident there are many signs that we are headed into it. The disciples asked Jesus, “... what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” He answered them, “Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” Pay close attention to the following: “And ye shall hear (read and watch continually... my addition for our time) wars and rumors of wars: SEE THAT YE BE NOT TROUBLED: for all these things MUST come to pass, but the end is not yet. For NATIONS shall rise against NATIONS, kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences (Greek - literally diseases and figurative pests - Strong's), and earthquakes in divers’ places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” Matthew 24:3-8 (KJV)
Paul, in his second letter to Timothy, stresses the fact that in the last days there would be perilous and difficult times. Those who have a form of godliness shall be corrupt and wicked and bring considerable reproach to the church. Christian leaders who have fallen (which are many) bear many of the traits mentioned in the first five verses of chapter 3. Lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection(devoid of natural human affection, calloused and inhumane AMP), traitors, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. . . avoid such people and keep far away from them. AMP)
So, taking these words together, maybe the best approach to watching or reading about the news is less is best, a need-to-know basis, or become like the great preacher Smith Wigglesworth, who banned any newspapers from his home. “If I read the newspaper, I come out dirtier than I went in. If I read my Bible, I come out cleaner than I went in, and I like being clean”
Add comment
Comments