Back in 1899 the editor of the New London, Connecticut, Bee, advertised, "Here various news we tell, of love and strife, Of peace and war, health sickness, death and life...Of old mismanagements, taxations new, All neither wholly false, nor wholly true” (Mitchell Stephens, A History of News. p. 201).
Things have changed dramatically since 1899. Back then information came from the local newspaper and the talk you shared with neighbors and townspeople, limited sources of information. Today the sources of information are unlimited, indeed overwhelming, and a result is that you can choose the sources that suit your preferences. In fact, that’s what usually happens because it’s easier than dealing with conflicting information. Cocooned with like-minded people, we can criticize others and build ourselves up without honest engagement with people who think differently. We end up making our own realities. “All neither wholly false, nor wholly true.”
A friend of mine down at the gas station used to say, "Dale, when the Big Guy calls me, I'm going to tell Him I'm a friend of yours." To which I said, "You know, that won't be your normal audit. H&R Block won't go with you. You have to appear on your own." (see 2 Corinthians 5:10)
So here’s a thought to consider and perhaps to share. Discern from God’s Word what you let into your mind and what you ignore. They used to say, a newspaper in one hand and a Bible in the other. Today you can have both in your smart phone at your finger tip, the Bible and “various news we tell, of love and strife, Of peace and war, health sickness, death and life...Of old mismanagements, taxations new.” But is it all relative, “all neither wholly false, nor wholly true,” with you deciding your reality? Really, take a look at 2 Corinthians 5:10. “Pay attention to what you hear.” (Mark 4:24)
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