It’s truly amazing how much things can change in such a short amount of time. The concept of “time” has been something I tend to think about quite frequently these days. Later this year I will be 27 years old. In my 27 years I have watched the world, specifically the country I live in, change in dramatic ways. I’m sure those of you reading this article who may be two or three times my age may laugh at my meditations on this issue. Many of those who will read this article will be able to reflect on even greater change that has occurred over the decades. But nothing in my experience has changed the entire world in such a short amount of time as the COVID-19 pandemic this year. So much global change has occurred that has impacted every person that lives in a first-world country. But I think something that has become of true concern is the way in which many Christians have reacted to this crisis. There is a usual sense of fear and panic that has spread throughout the world, and the church has not been left unaffected.

 

Now don’t get me wrong, I applaud much of what I have seen from churches over the past few weeks. Many churches have made great efforts in changing their worship times, limiting the amount of times they come together, and many have worked hard to live stream their services. Churches have not been rebellious against the requests of our government officials and many have tried to find some kind of balance that allows them to worship weekly yet still do their part in limiting the potential spread of COVID-19. Nevertheless, there is something that Christians need to pay careful attention to. It has to do with how our culture’s worldview is being shaped.

 

A person’s worldview is their system of beliefs that interprets reality and provides a framework for how one lives his or her life. This worldview is grounded in certain beliefs (i.e., the existence or non-existence of a personal God, moral absolutes, the definition of truth, etc.). Every human being, whether they are conscious of it or not, have beliefs about these things. Over time these beliefs can change, depending on what influences are at work telling the person what is “true” and what is “false.” For example, a disciple of Christ believes that the Bible is the inerrant and infallible Word of God. Consequently, that disciple lives a Christ-like lifestyle. Why? Because their belief about what is true leads to certain decisions and actions that reflect that belief. The Bible, being the Word of God, is the source of truth that a believer should build his or her life upon. Non-believers trust in other sources of “truth” that consequently lead them to other forms of lifestyle choices.

 

Let me provide a very specific example that illustrates the previous paragraph. A person who is truly saved and believes the Bible to be the Word of God will have a different opinion on sexual ethics than a person who is not saved and does not believe the Bible to be the Word of God (truth). A true Bible-believing Christian cannot hold to the view that pre-marital sex is morally acceptable. This is because a person who believes the Bible to be true, must consequently believe what the Bible says about sex (being only for the marriage covenant), to be true (true, meaning that it is true in all circumstances within the bounds of God’s creation). However, a person who rejects the Bible as being the source of God’s truth may have a different opinion about pre-marital sex since their moral beliefs are molded by a different source (i.e., pop culture, self, another religion, etc.). I say all of this to demonstrate that what a person believes is the source of truth determines what they believe is true (their worldview); what a person believes is true influences the choices they make and the life they live.

 

Now back to the main point of this article. I am growing increasingly wary of how the people in our culture (i.e., Western Europe and America) are being shaped by the media. People are allowing different media outlets to literally shape what they believe is true. Unfortunately, journalism in our country has become so politicized in the last decade that the various news media outlets could care less about the real truth, they only show a twisted version of truth. The result is that these different news media outlets show entirely different pictures of the world. For example, MSNBC will condemn and demonize everything the President of the United States says or does. He’s just an evil racist and bigot who has no moral center. Fox News will herald Trump as humanity’s latest and greatest savior who can do no wrong! Well, both of these cannot be true at the same time. Either one is right while the other is wrong, or, they both are wrong. But the people of our culture are no longer asking the questions necessary to discover the truth. We have allowed the media to control our information and mold what we believe and how we feel about particular events and particular people. This leads to sharply contrasting worldviews that are controlled by the media. The faithful viewers of MSNBC will begin to see the world the way MSNBC wants them to see it. The faithful viewers of Fox will see the world the way Fox wants them to see it.

 

This reveals to us the power of media. As a culture, we have allowed media to integrate itself into our lives and feed us particular views about morality, truth, religion, sex, marriage, ethics, philosophy, education, etc. Now, before I go further, I want to say something positive about media. Media is not evil. Media is a tool that has been created to transmit information. The problem is (1) how media is being used to transmit twisted versions of what is true; and (2) the fact that we have come to a place where people allow media to be their primary source truth. Whether its news media outlets, modern television sitcoms or the latest blockbuster movies, we Americans have allowed these cultural mediums to mold our basic beliefs about the world and influence what we believe is true.

 

There is no better illustration for what I am saying than the reaction of people to COVID-19. The media is intentionally instilling panic into people. Now, let me say this, I believe COVID-19 should be taken seriously. I believe people should limit their contact with others, I believe people who are elderly or have compromised immune systems should stay home as much as possible. However, this is only a small part of what the media is saying. The media wants you to panic about food shortages and toilet paper shortages. The media wants to you to worry and fear about the collapse of the global economy and the American markets. All of these issues are cause for minor concern, but the media is so powerful that it can get a person to live in fear and anxiety. Once anything or anyone can get a person to that point, they become the master of that person. The media has become the master of so many people’s minds, emotions, fears, daily routines, etc.

 

The intense fear and panic that has overtaken the American cultural scene reveals how powerful media has become. It can get people to believe whatever it wants. The worldview of our culture is being molded in an unhealthy way. But what I find most concerning is the power that media has had in the lives of many Christians. Christian people who are supposed to be trusting God are living in fear about something they cannot control. Now I may get ousted by modern American Baptists for saying this, but here it goes: Fox news should not be your daily dose of knowledge and truth. In fact, if you’re one of those Christians who find themselves staring into that television for multiple hours a day watching Fox, it’s probably time to turn it off for at least a week. You are a disciple of Jesus Christ and you need to guard what you allow into your mind and what mediums you allow to influence you. The apostle Paul stated in Philippians 4:8-9 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” These things that Paul said to fill our minds with come from the Word of God. In fact, each of those words/phrases represents an aspect of God’s character that he has revealed about himself through the pages of Scripture. Paul says to “think on these things.” These things must be what influence and shape our view of the world and reality. There are many Christian people out there that need to take a sabbatical from media —by media I mean Fox News, social media, Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, okay you get the point. But you don’t just need to take a break from these things, you need to replace all that time with prayer and Bible study. If you can take every minute of the day that you spend engaging media and replace it with time in the Word or in private prayer time and meditation with God, how much stronger would your focus upon the Lord be? How much would your faith and devotion to God grow? I dare say you would even notice a difference within a week.

 

If you take that passage in Philippians I just quoted and look at the verses that also precede it you will read the following: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:4-9). Are you rejoicing in your current situation? Or, have you been robbed of that joy from the fear and control that media has asserted over you? Paul is saying that the path to peace and joy is found in the presence of God. Will you run to him continually in prayer, not to pray about selfish needs or desires, but just to praise Him? Will you take your eyes off the circumstances that are wreaking havoc upon our world and simply turn your eyes to the revelation of God in the Scriptures? Will you commit to filling your mind with God’s truth and meditating on how you can serve him more?

 

There are many other passages of Scripture that speak to this. Colossians 3:2 asserts, “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” 2 Timothy 1:7 states, “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” Proverbs 9:10 avers, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” 1 Timothy 3:14-17 reminds us to “continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” Scripture should be our source of truth which molds how we view the world, including our current circumstances. Prayer is a gift that God has given which enables us to intimately open our minds and hearts to him. I exhort you, brothers and sisters in Christ, to guard what you allow to influence you mind and heart. As King Solomon declared, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him [God], and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5, 6).

 

Let the promise which God the Father gave to his servant Joshua ring true for you today: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:8, 9). The Spirit of the Lord will never forsake his people. Let us move on from this present day of trouble and be reminded that we are the servants of the Most High. He has called us to a mission to proclaim the coming of his Kingdom; and, he has promised to be with us “to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

 

God Bless!