“What in the world, Wimsey, are you doing in this morgue?”
Opening lines from books, such as the above one from the novel, The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club by Dorothy Sayer, are written to grab our attentions and hook us into reading more.
You see, crisis and conflict sell books. It is the difference between a page-turner and a yawner. The crisis-conflicts add tasty “us versus them” flavors which force us to choose sides and hold on until the end.
Yet, not only do crisis-conflicts work well in the fictional world of publishing, but both are now mainstays in the supposed real world of the news media and politics. It matters not if it is a news report on CNN, ABC, Fox News, or whatever network or if it is a clash between Republicans and Democrats, because the subjects are always cranked up into crisis-conflicts.
Sequester. Fiscal Cliff. Obamacare. Pro-Life. Pro-Choice. Assault Rifles. Tea Party. Gay Marriage. Proposition 8. Or whatever. All are crisis-conflict driven, forcing listeners to take sides because opposing views will result in calamities.
Crisis-conflicts settled today will be forgotten tomorrow. New ones will take their places as crisis-conflict hoppers are always filled to the brim, waiting to dispatch steady supplies to the media and politicians.
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. (Philippians 4:6-7)
Turn off TV news and TV commentary shows. Turn off talk radio. Don’t listen anymore. If you need news updates, read news articles on line or even a newspaper.
Jump off the crisis-conflict merry-go-round now.
You see, if you really want God-inspired discernment then you are going to have to rid yourselves of the world system’s voices which always produce fear and discord in its listeners.
Larry Who 
I am so with you there, Larry! The media is not about informing us anymore (if it ever was). I’ve pretty much stopped listening to the news because YES, it DOES instill fear & worry in me…and since I struggle with that anyway, it makes it much harder for me.
Chrystal,
Thanks.
“Faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17) Since this is how we receive faith, then the opposite has to also be true. Thus, hearing the voices of the world can destroy faith and cause fear.
I feel so much better now about not watching the news or documentaries on tv. 🙂 It was God watching out for me! Thank you and God bless you as you stay tuned into Him.
Debbie,
Yeah, my lessons came from the opposite side.
We have not had a tv, not even consistant internet (as in the 24/7 type that most of the world is used too) for the last 11 eleven years now. Neither of us has missed either the news or the huge variety of shows. We watch an occassional movie, the odd bit of sport, but once it is out of your life and out of your mind, you begin to realise that it added pretty much nothing to you at all. Information for informations sake, just seems to fill your mind with thoughts. concepts and ideas, and can often become an obstacle to receiving revelation. Information is mostly based in this world and comes from the world view of lifes events. Revelation based Christianity is aiming at taking us out of this world into another reality with God. Cutting out the media is like cutting off one of the many anchors that hold us to this world.
I don’t comment often on your posts, but always like what I read.
Bless ya – Mark.
Mark,
Thanks. I totally agree with you.