DISTORTIONS

Yesterday, an editorial in The Oregonian by David Sarasohn, a local writer, slammed President Bush for falsely portraying events in Iraq. He mocked the President for ignoring the reality of life in Iraq as the media portrays it. Shame on the Commander-in-Chief for believing the direct eyewitness account of soldiers and statesmen instead of the six o’clock news! Because I am privy to inside information to a wide array of events in that land, I am increasingly dismayed by the biased and distorted view David and most of the media portray. It is bad journalism to daily report the number of casualties and castigate the Bush administration for every misstep while selectively ignoring every positive development that occurs in the rebuilding of Iraq’s broken infrastructure. If loss of life is truly the media’s concern, why don’t they tally and print the number of Americans killed each day in traffic accidents in the United States? If morality is so important as to fester for weeks over prisoner abuses, why is there no outrage over drunk drivers or the daily despotic practices of lawless terrorists? Could it be that deeper principles are at work? I’m convinced the media is not about reporting information it is about selling philosophy—truly bad news for everyone.

Meditation

Galatians 4:17,18—Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them. It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you.

Distortions are a part of daily life. Welcome to reality on planet Earth! There will always be people eager to win us over to their cause just as we are motivated to bring others to our way of thinking. If we want to protect ourselves from embracing or propagating distorted views there are three key things we must do.

Ø First, we must be people of the Word. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16,17). By devoting ourselves to studying and obeying the Word, we learn to discern God’s perspective towards life and holy living.

Ø Second, we must pray. “Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured” (Colossians 4:12). When we talk and listen to God we receive His guidance. Many times after praying my perspective towards things has changed.

Ø Third, we must guard our hearts. How we spend our time eventually defines who we are and what we become! Distortion is fed by a worldly diet. “The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life . . . Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Gal. 6:8; 5:24,25).

Are you feeling twisted? Keep your eyes on Jesus for balance and heaven’s perspective!

Inspiration

Distortions of belief come because principles are put in the place of Jesus Christ.—Oswald Chambers in Disciples Indeed