Those who spend more time searching the internet for muck to rake up to think about and pass on to others are not doing research, they are believing what they want to based on the yellow news sources they like to use.
Ephesians 4:29
"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."
Our job in the body of Christ is to edify others with the Word of God, either in correction or in training in righteousness that their life might be full of Christ. Romans 14:19
"So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding."
What most people call "research" is nothing more than believing whatever they find on the internet that agrees with what they want to believe.
Most stories and articles on the internet are spun to cause us to believe things that are not entirely true, conservatives as well as liberals all do it.
I have watched the verbiage and they say things like; "it could be" and "we think" as well as "we have reason to believe", these are all big red flags. When I hear these phrases I immediately stop listening and guess what, they all do it regularly.
Far too many "articles" on the internet on both sides are too obscure to vet. They are written by people we don't know and by organizations we don't know. Sadly the prominent preachers of our day are using these news sources to gather their information for their videos.
I remember when the internet came out it had the reputation of spreading silliness and tabloid articles. This has not changed, in fact, it has gotten worse as the days become more evil. Even those who claim to be Christians are getting caught up in good-sounding things they cannot prove, that are very likely false. Wherever there is spin, there is false.
I am focused on the gospel and instruction to the born-again believer in these last days, that is instruction from the Bible not from the news.
All the news does is confuse and water down the gospel. Christ and the apostles never spoke in detail about the politics in their day. They answered things Biblically as they came up but they did not peruse the news to mention all the evil going on in the world.
I am convinced that those who follow the news faithfully every day spend far more time doing that than they do praying and studying God's Word.
I believe this because we speak about what we are interested in and we mention the things that are important to us. Of course, there are also good things on the internet however, we must seek the Holy Spirit for discernment and we must check our hearts as to why we look at the things we do.
Please let me be clear; IT IS NOT RESEARCH TO SEARCH ALL OVER THE INTERNET TO FIND PEOPLE WHO MOSTLY SPEAK ABOUT THE EVILS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE WORLD. I type in caps to emphasize what I am saying. It is vitally important that we stop paying attention to the world so much and spend our time speaking of the Lord and His principles. There is not much time left before Christ comes for His church, we ought to be about the Lord's business and I assure you it has nothing to do with the muck of the world, it is about hope in Him.
I shut down my listening as soon as I hear; "we need to be informed." I ask Why? I also shut down the listening when someone says; "you're sticking your head in the sand", My reply is "you're sticking your head in the sewer." Another phrase that shuts me down is; "we need to know what is going on in the world", my reply is again; "why", does anything going on in the world that is filthy and vile help my walk with Christ?" No, it's a distraction from Christ.
Nowhere in the Scriptures will you find any commands to make sure you know all the muck going on in the world. We know that the more we study the world the more we become like it. Also, I have to wonder where a person's mind is when they enjoy the muck so much that they would search every day to know it.
Ephesians 5:11-14 "Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason, it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.”"
When we seek out the decay of the world, to learn more about it we are participating in it, at least as entertainment. In other words, those who are seeking out the decay are decaying slowly and methodically themselves. It is not possible to walk in the sewer and not get the sewage on yourself.
When we spend our time in the sewer we are a companion to it. It is a sin to hang on to bad companions. How much more choosing ourselves to fill our minds with decay.
1 Corinthians 15:33-34 "33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 34 Sober up as you ought, and stop sinning; for some of you are ignorant of God. I say this to your shame.…"
Let's offer salvation through Christ and great hope for eternity, instead of arguing over muck (decay) that unbelievers don't even know is decay. We must have conversations with people as led by Christ so that they might see hope to come out of the sewer.
Extending a branch to the one in the quicksand is better than getting into the quicksand with them, believe me, eventually, you will both sink.
May the lost see us joyful and at peace in spite of what is around us in the world, bringing hope for eternity instead of long sad horse faces that bring no hope, joy, or peace to an ailing heart. This world is almost finished, unsaved people need hope for eternity.
1 John 2:16-18 "…16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever. 18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour.…"
