Three Profound Viruses
"They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood."
1 John 4:5-6 (NIV)
virus
- An infective agent that is microscopic and is able to multiply itself within the living cells of a host.
- A piece of code which is capable of copying itself with the detrimental effect of corrupting systems of destroying data, (ie. computer virus).
propaganda
Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to
promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.
T
he coronavirus has caused a lot of stress, confusion, sickness, pain, and death in recent months. It continues to puzzle health experts and politicians, and to cripple our society to some extent. There has been uncertainty about it all year. Certainly, Covid-19 is a profound virus.
R
acism is another profound virus that plagues the United States. The death of George Floyd has brought about a renewed awareness of the racism that remains in our country. But an incident that everyone condemns, involving a rogue policeman, Derek Chauvin, has led to other problems, such as violent rioting. Yes, black lives matter, but there is a big difference between that truth and the organizations that disrupt the social order. We try to respect every person because they are created in the image of God. However, cultural, and economic factors remain in America that segregate races and prolong disparities. There are no easy answers to the profound social ailment of racism.
When we need answers for any problem, I recommend using the Bible in its proper context. I will trust the bias and “propaganda” of scripture over what gets peddled as news by the mainstream media. The days of someone like Walter Cronkite simply reporting the news are past. Very little true journalism takes place anymore on the national level. It is often replaced by commentary, bias, and dare I say, propaganda. We used to worry about communist propaganda and “the red scare” during the cold war. Now we should worry that our own media has become part of the problem, fueling the fears over the coronavirus and even exacerbating tensions over race. Sadly, media corruption also constitutes a profound virus.
As Christians, it’s crucial for us to evaluate what we hear, with godly discernment.
“Faith comes by hearing the word of Christ.”
(Romans 10:17a) We must protect our eyes, ears, and fingers (when we write or type), especially in an election year. It’s important to hear and share truth. The truth will set people free. (John 8:32)
Sometimes we need to turn off the television and listen for the direction of God through prayer or Bible Study. We have to evaluate our sources of information with spiritual wisdom, remembering that the world already thinks we are foolish. Hopefully, we are smart enough to recognize viruses and propaganda, no matter what form they present themselves.
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Mo
