Hook, Line and Sinking?

 

Hook, line, and sinking?

Mary Ann Wray

At the risk of being misunderstood, I’ve had something weighing heavily on my heart I feel needs to be shared with the body of Christ. Let me start out by saying that the Bible is very clear that we are to expose the hidden works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11) and mark those who cause offenses and division, contrary to sound doctrine (Romans 16: 17). However, there is a noticeable trend in Christian social media platforms that has become a burden in my spirit. Please allow me to explain before clicking off...

What started out as a necessary exposure of sins, spiritual abuse, abuse of authority, SA, pedophilia, financial exploitation and wrong doctrine in many Mega Ministries about two years ago, has developed into something I believe should make us take pause and do some honest reflection: sort of like a yearly spiritual “health” checkup. What are we focusing our attention and efforts on most? Spreading the Gospel, rightly dividing scripture or trailing the heinous sins of so-called ministries that will ultimately give an account to God on judgment day. Jesus said the wheat and tares grow up together. God is the one who will ultimately condemn and judge them. He executes judgment- lifts up one and brings down another (Psalm 75:7).

As a low-level podcaster, my goal is to produce content that is edifying, encouraging and comforting from a Biblical word view. I also speak truthfully about false teachers and prophets as I feel led and as Holy Spirit  gives me the grace. In the past, I’ve been tempted to look for content  that would grow my channel more rapidly but I have since repented. The Lord has called me to help grow the people of God. That work is much slower and deliberate.

It appears that social media platforms have become somewhat of a feeding frenzy for exposure and scandal. Anyone can start a channel or open a SM account for free, including myself. You can pretty much say whatever you want or think. After all, we have been afforded the First Amendment right of freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly and to petition the government. But as Christians, what should our speech primarily consist of?

The Apostle Paul called out many false prophets and teachers directly. However, compared to the rest of his writings and teachings, he emphasized the counterfeit prophets/ teachers far less than the teachings of Christ, holy living, godliness, and humility - just to name a few. Having said that, what should be the primary thrust of our gospel efforts as followers of Christ? Honestly, there’s a tendency in human nature to be drawn to sensationalism, drama, and negativity rather than light. By nature, we are more attracted to controversial and calamitous content than we are to sound biblical instruction.

As such, I believe The Body of Christ is facing a crisis of faith within social media as well as the modern church system. Don’t get me wrong. SM in and of itself is neither bad nor good. It can be an awesome tool for truth. At the same time, it can be tool of the flesh. We must ask ourselves what is more beneficial for our spiritual growth and development.

For most of human history, surviving threats and danger was the focus of attention. This is why humans are “hard-wired” to detect it.  All of that is the result of the fall and subsequent curse. But thank the Lord, through the New Birth, Jesus Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law and the penalty of sin. Fighting to survive is no longer an issue for the Child of God. We should be more concerned with pleasing our Father and living in accordance with His Will then doing it. Didn’t Jesus teach in Matthew 6 to seek His Kingdom first and everything else we need would be added to us?

Modern media exploits this survival instinct. Sensational and flagitious content automatically activates the brain’s stress and reward circuits. Biblical teaching requires reflection, repentance, discipline and submission to God. All this ultimately leads to dying to self but results in inner transformation. The other asks nothing of you except to “like and share.” It can transform nothing within our spirit man except incite outrage and possibly bitterness. We should be incensed about egregious sins against God’s children and the mishandling of scripture by so called pastors and leaders. But to remain there will infect and affect our thinking and faith.

As the Apostle Paul wrote, “The mind set on the flesh is death” (Romans 8:6). Social media and mainstream news are designed to hook our attention. Why? Because hot topics produce higher ratings, more clicks, a growing viewing audience, which in turn produces more revenue. Sound teaching does not create the same type of “high” and emotional gratification that the other type of content gives. People get used to headlines that grab their attention and feed their curiosity, but in so doing they lose the ability to sit under deep, reflective teaching.

There is also a real spiritual dimension at play, vying for our attention. Sound teaching confronts sin. Nefarious content entertains our minds and numbs the conscience. The enemy wants people distracted, discouraged, and deceived—not delivered. Human nature gravitates toward what is easy, not what is edifying. Many people today are emotionally and spiritually starving. But because controversial and scandalous content is everywhere, they can fill up on it easily. It’s like craving salt and sugar instead of healthy nutritious food. The Apostle Paul warned against getting into controversy and debates over things that only engender more questions but offer no solutions. He called it a useless waste of time (Titus 3: 9).

The “hook” to lure people into viewing a continual stream of scurrilous content is subtle yet very real. Spiritual warfare through the deception of the enemy and his devices lure people away from truth. Our soulish “default setting” pulls us away from God’s Word rather than towards it and His truth. People prefer to view drama because it doesn’t confront them personally or require repentance. It lets them avoid any accountability for their own sins. There is something in the human psyche that enjoys hearing about the faults and sins of others because it offers a sense of justifiable comparison-"After all, I don’t do those things.” Proverbs 18: 8 says, “The words of a tale bearer are like choice morsels.” Hearing dreadful reports and stories feel like tasty morsels in our minds, but listening to them repeatedly does nothing to improve our character or build our faith. I believe it can even grieve the Holy Spirit within us. Again, may I repeat, we should be aware of and mark wicked wolves that creep in to devour the flock of God. But once we mark them, let’s move on to more constructive Kingdom Business.

In Psalm 101: 3 King David said, “I will set no worthless thing before my eyes.” David recounted that worthless things pose a real spiritual problem. Worthless means unprofitable, graceless, flimsy, and destitute of any worth or dignity. Fast-forward several thousand years and how applicable this truth is today! Flesh loves what is worthless. Our flesh doesn’t care if something is good or bad for us. Our flesh just wants what it wants. However, one day all the sin, all of this drama, and all of our fleshly appetites will be dissolved. So, why would we want to spend so much time on worthless things now when there are souls to win, disciples to make and our own salvation to work out with fear and trembling?

May I propose the following biblical path to shifting our spiritual attention and soulish appetites towards worthwhile and eternal things?

1. Feed the inner spiritual man. You starve the flesh by not feeding it. Galatians 5:16 “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

2. Fill your mind with things that build up not tear down. This is a great filter for everything you listen to, hear, see and consume. Philippians 4:8 “Whatever is true… noble… pure… excellent… think on these things.”

3. Immerse yourself in Scripture daily. The more you hear and feed on the word of God, the less controversy, scandal, and spiritual junk food appeals to you. Jeremiah 15:16 “Your words were found, and I ate them… They became the joy and rejoicing of my heart.”

4. Limit your exposure to drama-filled media. This is a choice. It is a spiritual discipline and conscious decision we each have to make. Psalm 119:37 “Turn my eyes from worthless things.”

5. Seek to be around spiritually minded people. Bad company corrupts good character (1 Cor 15: 33) and a little leaven leavens the whole loaf. Add a little bad mixture into anything good and it infects it. People influence each other, so be careful who you associate with. Proverbs 13:20 “He who walks with the wise will become wise.”

6. Ask the Father to give you a hunger and thirst for righteousness. A healthy spiritual appetite is something God can give you if you ask (Matthew 5:6)

Finally, remember to guard your heart because out of your heart flows the issues of life. Proverbs 4: 20-27

Shalom and agape from a concerned sister in Christ