Looking For What Divides Us

Current Events Are Meant to Divide Us

TED Talk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2RCT6Li4UQ

“We don’t want people to think, we want people to feel” - Eric Bischoff.

Professional Wrestler - doesn’t matter if you are hated or loved as long as the people are passionate about it.

WWF/E - Wrestle Mania. The most-watched form of entertainment.

25 million fans worldwide; $6 billion industry

How? they don’t make you think, they make you feel

Today’s news and professional wrestler use the same tactic - feel, don’t think. they don’t care if you hate or love one side or the other as long as you feel one way or the other - business is good.

It’s very bad today - media pretended to be objective, but there’s no pretending anymore. Integrity in journalism. Letting people decide how to feel and think.

TV/social media is not informing as much as making you feel. “Cheap heat” - easy to get people to react. Easier to react than to think. It’s cheaper to put 2-3 “talking heads” talking about the news and giving opinions instead of going out and reporting. this is the media.

Instead of giving information, media heads argue about it. If they have nothing to argue about they’ll pull out a poll (there’s a new one every day). It will tell you whatever you want it to tell you. It provides talking points.

Next time watching the news and you find yourself getting angry, that’s exactly what they want you to feel. the moment you get angry you quit thinking.

In essence, media has taken away our voice

If you want to find out about what’s going on in the world most people now get their news from Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, IG, YouTube). You see something you like online, you may post it, forward it, retweet it, repost…)

God wants you to have a voice for yourself

That’s tricky given that you are young still and parents tell what to think and what to say...

But what about when your parents are around?

What do you put on your profile? What pictures of yourself do you post online? What activities are you supporting?

That’s you using your voice...

The devil wants to steal your voice too and he wants you to use to promote yourself, your image, your accomplishments,

God wants you to use your voice…

Philippians 4:8 NIV

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

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Interesting talk in light of our current events. Today’s topic won’t necessarily be about marriage but it surely will go over some very gray areas in society that damage relationships. That is - politics. Or better yet, the reporting on politics.

There are many strong opinions about these very issues. If you’re in favor a presidential candidate or another, if you’re for guns or against them, if you’re for a wall or not, helping the poor or not, liberal or conservative, democrat or republican, traditional or progressive, tolerant, intolerant, racist, against or for law enforcement. as long as they get you mad, you stop thinking.

The incredible thing about this is that when you have a position about an issue, you are then categorized as a liberal or a conservative (politically and religiously) and you can’t possibly have anything good to contribute to the conversation because we’ve already decided that you are wrong. You are called, “difficult,” “stuck up,” “arrogant,” “hater,”

The not-so-funny thing is that it happens in the church too. Our current society is looking for ways to make us feel and not think and that has led us - even the Christian church - to look for things that divide us instead of the things we have in common. But there’s no money in that. Nothing interesting to report on if we got along with each other. our human nature seems to thrive on bad news, hoping for bad things to actually happen so that my political opponent looks bad. After the last elections, someone told me, “I hope the president does terrible...”

What is our role in such a climate as this one?

I. Peacemakers - Matthew 5:9

Matthew 5:9 NIV

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

We are to be peacemakers

Proverbs 12:20 NIV

20 Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy.

Romans 14:19 NIV

19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

Why is it important to seek peace?

?

Ecclesiastes 10:4 NKJV

4 If the spirit of the ruler rises against you, Do not leave your post; For conciliation pacifies great offenses.