Why you should NOT turn off the news

With all the war, destruction, violence, and negativity flashing across our TV news, it is easy to say we are turning the news off because it is “depressing”. It is, perhaps, very depressing if we view the news through the lens of the world. We are called, as Christians, to see things differently. We are called to be different.

St. Paul writes in Galatians that we are to be aware of the circumstances of others because we are called to a unique and powerful life. We are called to be intercessors and people of prayer. We are called to bear one another’s burdens and to be one body.

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so you will fulfill the law of Christ” – Galatians 6:2

It would be difficult to “bear one another’s burden” if we are unaware of the burdens that others carry. Watching the nightly news gives us a unique ability to understand how we are to pray for those we have never met. It gives us the opportunity to understand the specific needs of others so that we can pray for those who do not know Christ to come to know Him. It allows us the ability to pray for those who are fleeing from bombs, sleeping in tunnels and subways, and those who need food and medical supplies. It is easier to stick our head in the sand and say God will take care of everything, but that is not the life we are called to as followers of Jesus. We would never tell a loved one we do not want to know their burdens or pray for their needs because it is “too depressing”. Why do we treat others we have never met in such a negligent and careless manner? We are not instructed to only bear the burdens of those we love. We are simply instructed to bear the burdens of others.

“Persevere in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving, at the same time, pray for us, too, that God may open a door to us for the word, to speak of the mystery of Christ, for which I am in prison.” – (Colossians 4:2-3)

Imagine if the Christians in Colossae chose to stick their head in the sand and ignore the situation going on with St. Paul. Imagine if they had chosen to say, “God will take care of it” and “God’s will shall be done”. Imagine if they had said it was not their problem and it was too depressing to know Paul was in prison and suffering.

“Now the body is not a single part, but many. If a foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand I do not belong to the body,’ it does not for this reason belong any less to the body.” (I Corinthians 12:14-15)

St. Paul was explaining to the Corinthians that we all are united under Christ. If we are one family, one body then we should all be concerned with how the other parts of the body are functioning. When we turn the news off and choose to ignore what is going on in other parts of the world, our country, or even our own state, then it is the same as the church at Colossae ignoring St. Paul’s letter about his imprisonment and his request for prayer.

“So that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same concern for one another. If [one] part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy.” (I Corinthias 12:25-26)

Of course, there is the need for all things in moderation when it comes to the news. There is no need to watch the news 24 hours a day. There is, however, a need for all Christians to stay up to date and aware of what is going on so that we can intercede for our brothers and sisters, as well as those who are not following Christ.

Jesus had a heart for all people. He died for all sins, including those who are Christians and those who are not Christians. He prayed for those who were murdering him on the cross. He sought their forgiveness and wanted them to have eternal life. After all, that was the whole purpose of his death and resurrection. We should have his heart to see all people, regardless of who they are or what they have done, receive eternal life and serve the Lord Jesus.

The news can be more than a source of “depression” or a reason to stick our head in the sand. It can serve as the perfect prayer guide to allow our prayers to be connected to the needs of others. Next time the news is on your television, make a prayer list based on what you see as opposed to flipping the power button off or changing the channel.