One of the more insightful writers of the 1960s was Jacques Ellul, the French sociologist and lay theologian who wrote extensively about the technological society.  In his book Propaganda, Ellul argues that when joined with modern technology, propaganda can so control our lives that freedom and democracy are threatened.  And modern education, instead of helping us to resist propaganda, lends itself for various reasons to make us even more susceptible to its manipulations. Many of the highly educated absorb the largest amount of second-hand unverifiable information; they have a compelling need to have an opinion on every question of our time; they consider themselves capable of "judging for themselves." 

     Propaganda may be defined as the spreading of ideas, information or rumors to help further one's cause.  It usually has a negative connotation since it frequently is associated with misinformation, a distorted view of reality, and prejudiced presentations. 

     Preachers are not above using propaganda, though we usually don't think of it as that.  I have sometimes told persons I have used propaganda all my life, citing the many church newsletters I have written and edited as an example.  Church newsletters give information but with a perspective.  Church newsletters want to show the church in the best possible light.  They don't report problems and differences of opinion.  It is the same for annual conference newspapers and web pages.  I once wrote an eight-page critique of our area's newspaper to the editor whom I knew quite well.  In response he only reminded me that his office was next to the bishop's and he had to relate to him every day.  On a general church level United Methodist Communications is an agency with a conflict of interest.  It is the public relations arm of the church while at the same time claiming to be a forthright news source.  The institution does not want any negative news.  I have heard church officials complain even if our church publications print critical letters to the editor.

     But we have more serious problems.  Today's technology has proven Ellul a prophet.  The present political world seems to run on propaganda.  The evening news reports on rumors and charges and counter-charges and accusations of lies and fake news and alternative news and disinformation and conspiracy theories.  Social media--the internet, Facebook, twitter, Instagram, the television news--invades our lives without editing or disclaimers or apologies or verified narratives.  Tweets now are originating from the highest office in the land.  Since we don't know what to believe we tend to believe what supports our prejudices.  Or we believe the loudest voices. We divide into balkanized subcultures.  We gather into caucuses and advocacy groups and seek out causes that give us a sense of identity.  Advertisers spend hundreds of thousands of dollars because advertising (a form of propaganda) works.  When Jacque Ellul's book Propaganda was first published, Robert Kirsch of the Los Angeles Times in a review wrote it was "a more frightening book than any of the nightmare novels of George Orwell.... Propaganda, whether its ends are demonstrably good or bad, is not only destructive to democracy, (but) perhaps the most serious threat to humanity operating in the modern world."

     This relates to our denominational situation as United Methodists.  Even in the midst of unity talk we fracture.  Our serious differences are greater than just a few disagreements among friends and sisters and brothers.  While the presenting issue is our witness in regard to human sexuality, a number of other issues are related.  From the perspective of The Confessing Movement and other evangelical renewal groups the question is whether the historic faith or modern culture will set the direction of the church.  Progressives have already staked out their position.  They believe we can improve on Bible teachings.  They introduce modern standards of inclusiveness and diversity and political correctness as the measure of what makes actions "Christian."  They create new language by redefining words like "rights" and "justice" and even "love."  It is a new narrative and in this narrative evangelicals are the barrier that hinders progress.  Their weapons of choice are various forms of propaganda complete with slogans, pejorative language, demonstrations, and ecclesiastical disobedience.

     The following are words and phrases picked up from social media within the past few days, much of this from United Methodists, and all of it directed toward evangelicals:  homophobia, white supremacy, anti-blackness, cisheteropatriarchy, capitalism, imperialism, ableism, transmisogyny, fatphobia, enophobia, settler colonialism, racism, sexism, heterosexism, injustice, economic and corporate exploitationism, destruction of the environment, toxic masculinity, white nationalism, and bigotry. 

     Chris Kratzer's progressive blog addresses evangelicals as follows:  "The false gospel of Evangelical Christianity has long been eroding our society, creating spiritual junkies and asserting white male heterosexual imperialism and privilege into every segment of living.  Its prescription for sin management only serve to further increase it, leaving good people spiritually strung out, hypocritically, self-righteous and addicted to poison not the cure.

     In this climate, as evangelicals, how then shall we live? 

        1. We must be clear about who we are and from whence we come.  Evangelical Christians have a perspective by which we assess the nature of reality being foisted upon us every day.  We stand on the historic Christian faith which has been passed to us through our Wesleyan tradition.  With a realistic view of humanity, based on the doctrine of Original Sin, coupled with the optimist view of grace that is offered through Christ's atonement, we hold to a world view that should help us to sort out the pressures that call for our allegiance each day.  We stand on truth not contrived by our own cleverness, but revealed.  Thus, we ought not to be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine, nor by every advertising claim, nor by fanciful interpretations of current events presented on the evening news, nor by "discoveries" of new truth privy mostly to those of a progressive mind set. 

     2.  But it does our cause little good if that cause is not presented with integrity, fairness and grace.  Whatever our vision we sin and fall short of our high calling if we use unworthy means to pursue it.  The criticism often leveled at evangelicals is that we are unloving.  When this is so let us confess our sin before God.  Because of our fallen nature we confess we have not always treated others with respect; we have at times acted from motives less than pure and, worse, we have not always been aware of our sin.  This is very important in the coming months before the General Conference of 2019 when the future of The United Methodist Church will be decided.

     3. We must never resort to any kind of action that looks or acts like bullying or intimidation. This is the sort of activity that often accompanies propaganda.  We should forgo temptations to engage in activity that is disruptive.  This includes demonstrations, protests, name-calling, bullying, or any action that degrades or is judgmental.  We must avoid the use of labels.  Words like "hated" and "bigotry" judge motives and only God can do that.  Even boycotts are suspect because innocent people are often harmed. 

    4. We must stay the course.  This means as far as the present crisis in United Methodism is concerned we should let the Commission on the Way Forward and the Council of Bishops and the General Conference of 2019 have a chance.  Four churches in my area have left the denomination. A number of families have left churches because of denominational inconsistencies.  This is not a time for giving up.  It is rather a time to claim the words of Moses before the Red Sea: "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord."