Media Messing With Your Mind

Media presents us with a variety of information- most of which we take at face value.  We jump on the bandwagon and express popular opinion based on information that we unquestionable believe is true. However, no one considers the bigger question: is this true, or is there a slant to what is being presented to me?  What is the agenda by both the group and the station?  What do they stand for?  What are their beliefs and do they compliment or conflict with my biblical stance?

The danger in most secular media stations is political bias.  True journalism should report both sides of the story, but often you will hear a slant to it depending on the station you are listening to- especially on hot topics.  The listener becomes unaware that they are being persuaded into accepting someone’s beliefs and thoughts regarding an issue.  Many successful campaigns have been won through the usage of media- whether it is television or social media.

For example, gay marriage was legalized in Ireland despite religious belief.  When asked about the effectiveness of their campaign to legalize same sex marriage, those involved attributed their success to a strong social media campaign.  The campaign itself sounded soon, and put a seed of “maybe” into the listeners mind.  The campaign was based on equality for all, and being first country in history to do so.  The result was acceptance.

Yet no one thought about the aftermath and implementing the new changes.

It was the same in the U.S. Supreme Court ruling for same-sex marriage.  In passing this legislation, Christians who are standing up for their faith and beliefs are being persecuted.  Who is going to fight for those, who in effect, lost their rights in this decision?  Legislation should rob someone else’s rights in an attempt to protect another- that is not a sense of equality.  It should, however, protect the rights of both sides and provide boundaries governing acceptable behavior so that no one’s rights are violated.  That is what true justice should be.

Yet another example is the “Deflategate” scandal.  One report gave a detailed account behind what led up to the decision and what were the influencing factors.  Another station sided with the player, stated the entire thing was unfair, the penalty was excessive… and left out many key details such as the player not handing over his cell phone despite being requested four times to do so.  It was more of an editorial than an accurate portrayal.

Another newscast on the same subject called for harsher penalties to be imposed.  You can clearly see the diversity in journalism.

If you really want to, you can make anything sound good.  However, is it the truth, and is it the biblical truth?  That is what Christians need to ask themselves.  We need to diligently read our Bibles otherwise the “junk” of the world will fill it instead of God’s truth.  The world will always be evolving and changing.  God’s word is for all time.  It never changes, and it always applies throughout life’s circumstances.

I realize that it sounds like I am criticizing my own field- and I am to some extent.  However, I would expect our readers to question what I am saying as well, and measure it up to the standard set forth in the Bible.  No one is right all the time, and sometimes even the best of people can miss it.

As hard as our family of writers try to present both sides, our ultimate goal is for our readers to hear God’s word and be impacted by it.  It is our desire to uncover a different type of truth in our reporting- God’s truth in all circumstances for it is only to Him- not man- that we are held accountable.

Getting back to how Christians and media interact…

Christians NEED to question what they are hearing.  We need to hear God’s truth clearly in our ears- not man’s.


If you want to clearly view man from God, determine first the popularity of the message.  The world will cheer on causes that are of man and squash the voice of God.  Satan is the perfect manipulator because he speaks in a truth wrapped in a lie.  The lie isn’t outlandish, but sounds plausible.  The purpose is to get Christians to veer off track or to plant a seed of doubt.  Worse yet, his agenda is so prevalent in society that a new generation is being taught his lies through tolerance.

Tolerance itself began as good.  It started as a way to protect those being bullied and to generate acceptance for differences- not hate.  Things went horribly wrong when tolerance morphed from “do not hurt me because I am different” to “accept me for my beliefs” to “you have to accept what I believe, you can’t voice a contrary opinion, and you are a hater if you cannot accept me”.  This movement did not recognize the possibility that you can accept and love the person, yet still dislike the sin.  Jesus did, so this is entirely possible and something that all Christians should exemplify.

How it went horribly wrong on the end of Christianity were that too many people placed too great of an emphasis on the sin making certain sins larger than life, and others of lesser significance.  God does not have a sin scale.  Sin is sin, and lying is no less of a sin than murder.

Also, always compare what you hear to the Word of God.  If it doesn’t line up- even in part or whole- don’t jump on the cheering bandwagon.  Pray over the situation instead.  Pray clarity over the people involved, and pray for God to move over the situations.

We as Christians are required to pray over our leaders, our country, and the world.  It is our most powerful weapon.  However, often we just simply stop at ourselves and maybe our closest circle of influence.

We complain about all the darkness in the world, but are we praying over it diligently and passionately?  Are we praying forward for godly people to be put into power?

Make no mistake, change begins with you, and one person can indeed make an impact.  Never underestimate the power of your prayers.  Change may be gradual over a situation, but there is still improvement being made.  You are still moving forward.  Without prayer, you are guarenteed as to what you get which may be no change.  Christians need to be more active in their prayer life, but sometimes it is something that we are not taught.  We are also often not taught how to pray.

Faith Filled Family’s next issue will center on the lies that Satan would have us believe and what God’s word says over it.  If you would like us to also report on the effectiveness of prayer and how to pray, please email our publisher, Michelle Danko at or leave a comment below and let us know your thoughts.

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Media Messing With Your Mind

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