HEELCATCHER

We live in a world of ubiquitous news.

It is everywhere.

24/7.

On the TV. On the radio. On the computer. On our phones.

I remember reading a statement in the book, Margin, which has always stuck with me:

A single edition of the New York Times contains more information than a 17th century Britisher would encounter in a lifetime. 

Let that sink in for a moment.

In one day, we are exposed to more news than most people in history would have heard over the course of their whole lives.

We are inundated with information…overloaded with news…deluged with stories around the globe that are beyond our human capabilities to fully digest, understand, or do anything about.

But isn’t the “information age” a good thing?

Doesn’t knowing all this stuff make us smarter…wiser…better able to impact the world?

Isn’t “knowledge power”?

I’m not so sure.

One thing I am sure of is that all this news makes us more anxious, stressed, angry, and depressed. Here is what many mental health experts are saying:

Consuming the news can activate the sympathetic nervous system, which causes your body to release stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. Then, when a crisis is happening, and we are experiencing this stress response more frequently… physical symptoms may arise. Some of the most common symptoms are fatigue, anxiety, depression, and trouble sleeping.

This emotional toll and negative effect on the psyche was demonstrated in a study that found people who watched negative material, as compared to those who watched positive or neutral material, showed an increase in both anxious and sad moods only after 14-minutes of viewing television news bulletins and programs. (verywellmind.com)

The Bible actually describes the “last days” as a time when many people will be running to and fro and knowledge shall increase (Daniel 12:4).

One older Bible commentator described it as a vain traveling about in order to discover knowledge (E. J. Young, 1949).

A vain flipping of channels…surfing of the internet…scrolling through social media…in order to “be informed.”

In a similar vein, the apostle Paul talked about people always learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 3:7).

We are running around…almost frantically…trying to know as much as we can know about all there is to know.

And the news media feeds our addiction.

It is a multi-billion dollar industry…and competition is stiff. So what do they need to do to stay in business? Keep you hooked. Not just to the news but to their “inside scoop” on the stories…to their own unique political angle to what is happening.

It is almost like a soap opera. Regardless of when you start watching, you are instantly sucked into the narrative…and you have to “stay tuned” for more.

Two years ago, I took what I called a “monk retreat.” I spent three weeks in a small cabin in the woods of North Louisiana. No smartphone. No internet. No TV. No radio. No news.

It was an information-overload-detox.

And a significant spiritual time in my life.

Ironically when I returned to “civilization,” I found that the news hadn’t changed. It didn’t miss me. The same crises were still being talked about…with a few new ones thrown into the mix for fun.

The same angles. The same anger. The same angst.

The same addiction.

And to further feed our habit, many people are running headlong into conspiracy theories. The “real” story behind the stories. What is really happening.

It feels powerful. Like you are the only one who is truly “in the know.”

But it is simply modern-day Gnosticism…the belief that “secret knowledge” is the key to life…even the key to salvation.

Are there conspiracies out there? Certainly. People with power and influence will almost invariably try to use their power and influence for their own purposes. And sometimes they may hide their true intentions behind false pretenses.

Back in 700 BC, when powerful world empires were just beginning to form, people started talking about conspiracy theories all the time. Finally, the prophet Isaiah had to address it:

“You are not to say, ‘It is a conspiracy!’
Regarding everything that this people call a conspiracy,
And you are not to fear what they fear or be in dread of it.
It is the Lord of armies whom you are to regard as holy.
And He shall be your fear,
And He shall be your dread.
Then He will become a sanctuary…” (Isaiah 8:12-14a)

In other words, you either believe that the “power players” in the world call all the shots or you believe God does. Either you fear them…or you fear God.

When you fear God alone…and recognize His sovereignty…then you find yourself enshrouded in a sanctuary of His peace. Underneath His wing.

Let the powerful conspire.

They will all expire.

Let the nations rage.

God will still reign.

We are called to be a people of faith…who follow the directives of Scripture not the invectives of man.

Is knowledge important?

Absolutely. But the right kind of knowledge. The knowledge of truth. The knowledge that leads to wisdom. The knowledge that leads to love.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8)

Watching and reading news at the start of your day…and throughout the day…and before you go to bed…does not lead to truth…nor to wisdom…nor to peace.

It usually leads you to the doctor’s office…or to the increasingly isolated world of the constant complainer or the angry cynic.

So does that mean we put our heads in the sand and let the world go on its merry way?

Nope. That’s not what I am talking about at all.

We need to be aware of our world. Students of our culture. Discerners of the times.

But here’s the counter question: How much “news” do I really need to know to be effective for Christ in the sphere of influence and ministry which God has given me?

Am I watching the news to make myself a better witness for Christ…a better spouse…a better parent…a better friend…a better neighbor? Or am I really watching it because it has sucked me in…because it feeds my incessant curiosity…because it makes me feel like knowing things is somehow changing things?

Am I nothing more than an ancient Athenian spending all my time seeking out something new to talk about…but missing out on what life is really all about (Acts 17:21)?

So here’s the bottom line.

Let Scripture frame your mindset not the narrative of the news.

When you start the day saturated in the news and end it there, you will inevitably let the media-framed crises of the world dictate your thinking, your emotions, and even your view of how God’s people are to live.

Instead begin the day in God’s Word and end it there. Let Scripture give you the lenses for seeing the daily news in the right perspective…through an eternal perspective.

Let the eternal frame the temporal…not the other way around.

Only watch and read as much news as you can actually digest, pray over, or act upon in some way for the kingdom of Christ and the benefit of others.

It is the biblical command to “watch and pray.”

Watch. Be alert. Know what is going on around you.

And pray. Take all that you are alerted to and pray for God’s wisdom, strength, and grace to know how to respond.

What if we kept a small notepad with us while we watched the news and wrote down the needs of the world that we are exposed to, the people who are in power that need God’s salvation, and we stopped and prayed before going to the next news show?

It would probably curb our news consumption.

And change our perspective.

Take a week off from watching the news, surfing the net, or scrolling through social media. 

Do a media detox…and see how addicted you really are.

Invest the time you would have spent on the incessant media world and meditate on God’s Word, listen to praise music, go on long walks with the Lord, read a good book, exercise, volunteer, write the letter, note, or poem that you have been thinking of writing.

Then, after the week is over, take an honest inventory of your mental, emotional, and spiritual state and see if anything has changed.

The world will be the same.

But maybe your heart won’t be.

Perhaps your focus will be different.

Your perspective larger.

Your hope greater.

Your life simpler.

And your knowledge truer.

After all, the only knowledge that really matters is knowing the Lord.

And knowledge of Him is not only power.

It is life itself.

Now this is eternal life: that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. (John 17:3)

I am noticing that the word “courage” is being used a lot in Christian circles today.

“More than anything we need courage in this present age!”

“We are to stand courageous!”

“It takes courage to be a true Christian!”

And of course, on the flip side, more and more people are being called cowards if they do not engage in political or cultural wars quite the way that we may want them to.

It all got me thinking.

If courage is such a vital virtue of the Christian faith, then why is the word rarely used in the New Testament?

Now, don’t get me wrong. I totally agree, in principle, that courage is a vital Christian virtue. The principles of being bold, having no fear, and being strong in the Lord all have aspects of courage within them.

But the word itself just doesn’t get much press in the New Testament.

The Old Testament, of course, has the repeated refrain: Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid; do not be dismayed; for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9; cf. Deut. 31:6; 2 Sam. 10:12; 1 Chron. 28:20).

These verses find themselves on Christian calendars, coffee mugs, and t-shirts everywhere.

But all of these Old Testament verses come in the context of the conquest of the land or in physical, national war. Obviously when you are going into battle, courage…or at least the ability to overcome fear enough to move forward…is an absolute necessity.

So courage definitely has its place.

But in the New Testament, we are called to a different type of warfare. Our battle is not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Eph. 6:11).

So, at the very least, if courage is to be shown in any area of life, it is to be displayed in our daily walk of faith, standing strong in the Lord, putting on the armor of God. Truth. Righteousness. The gospel of peace. Salvation. Faith. The Word of God. Prayer.

As I was pondering all of this…and wondering if I was crazy to be somewhat skeptical of the word “courage”…I came across this quote by one of my old spiritual mentors, D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones.

[The Gospel’s] message to us is not just to tell us to set our teeth and to be courageous. There are many who confuse faith with courage, and who would depict the Christian as the one who, in spite of everything, just decides and determines to hold his head erect, and to go forward come what may. Courage as a virtue has been highly extolled during the past years. And let us agree that there is something very noble in the picture that is drawn. It is manly…to maintain one’s poise and equanimity in spite of everything, to go on to the end unbroken and unbent–there is something truly noble and heroic in it all. But yet it is, essentially a pagan virtue that has nothing whatever to do with Christianity.

St. Paul does not call upon these people merely to be courageous. His appeal is not merely that they should hold on, and hold out, in spite of everything. As we shall see, his whole emphasis is not upon what they are to do, but upon what God has done, is doing, and is going to do for them. They are to continue, not by setting their teeth in a spirit of courageous determination, but rather by “setting their affections on things above.” Courage in its real essence, and if it is the only thing that sustains us, is really a confession of hopelessness. It is the attitude of the man who refuses to give in though all is hopeless. But the Christian is saved by hope, and lives by his hope.

A long quote…but worth considering.

Here are some of the problems that Lloyd-Jones points out with the notion of courage:

1. It is generally defined by a cultural view of “manliness.” It is the tough guy. The John Wayne-Rambo type with a cross around his neck.
2. It is man-centered, generally focused on what we can do to save society or our culture.
3. It puts the emphasis on “heroic” acts more than on walking faithfully with Christ day-by-day.
4. It conveys a sense of hopelessness, that things are so dark that all a person can do is grit his teeth, bear it out, and be courageous.

Now, most people may not have any of this in mind when they use the word “courage.”

But here’s the point…if “courage” is not the New Testament word used for our calling in this present world, then maybe we need to use different words.

Words such as…faithfulness, perseverance, endurance, being strong in the Lord.

Does it make much difference? Is this all a bunch of semantics?

Well, in my own mind, if I am told to be “courageous” then I almost immediately think of charging into a battle, speaking out in a confrontational way, or standing up in a heroic act that makes me feel stronger and look braver.

But if I am challenged to be faithful, then suddenly the picture seems to change. Now I see a longer view. Now I see a daily walking with Christ…a living with integrity…a being a faithful husband, father, and friend…a standing up when needed but also a graciousness and wisdom in every moment of every day.

Courage makes me want to muster up my strength to face an evil, darkening world that seems to be winning the day and engulfing everything in its path.

Faithfulness calls me to fix my eyes on Christ, to love God and to love others, and to face the challenges before me as they come.

Courage makes me want to fight people.

Faithfulness calls me to fight the sin that so easily entangles me.

Here is an example that comes to my mind (and I apologize in advance for referencing the story of Ravi Zacharias again). Ravi was courageous as he stood before secular audiences and boldly presented the gospel. But, unfortunately, in the later stages of his life, he was not faithful. And courage, without faithfulness, eventually backfires…and hurts people.

That’s why we need more than just “courageous Christians.”

We need faithful ones.

We need walking in wisdom, speaking the truth in love, living in purity, rejoicing always, praying without ceasing, giving thanks in all things, pursing peace, overcoming evil with good, zealous for good works, looking forward to the blessed hope of Christ’s appearing, ones.

The battle has already been won. Christ is the victor. He is going to build His church. He is going to reign on this earth. The future is already the past in the eternal, sovereign purposes of God. So I can rest in Him…not live in fear…be bold…be humble…and let the joy of the Lord be my strength.

Lord, give me the courage to live like that!

Have you noticed how polarized our world has become?

We seem to be drawing battle lines…retreating behind walls…lobbing grenades at our enemies.

The middle ground is eroding.

The extremes are becoming the norm.

And social media algorithms and market-based, crisis-driven, anger-producing news shows push us toward the edges.

How is a Christian to stay balanced in an extreme world?

I remember reading a book by Charles Ryrie in Bible college, Balancing the Christian Life. It was a good reminder that spiritual health, just like physical health, is often a matter of staying balanced.

There are dangers both to the left and to the right.

So you shall not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right or the left, to go after other gods to serve them. (Deuteronomy 28:14; also Joshua 1:7; 2 Kings 22:2)

Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil. (Proverbs 4:27)

There are extremes that have to be avoided from either side.

Therefore, the Bible often provides “tension points” on both sides to help us stay balanced.

For instance, justice and mercy.

He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)

To do justice and to love mercy at the same time requires balance. And, as Micah 6:8 reminds us, this kind of balance only comes with walking humbly with our God.

We naturally tend to extremes. It is humility before God, and a willingness to see our own weaknesses and sins, that helps us walk the fine line of wisdom.

Truth and love.

Conviction and compassion.

Zeal and knowledge.

Boldness and gentleness.

Even in theology, you realize that God has established “tension points” that keep us balanced.

God’s sovereignty and human responsibility.

Jesus’ divinity and humanity.

Worship in spirit and in truth.

And even negatively, we are to avoid legalism on one extreme (the Galatians) and licentiousness on the other (the Corinthians).

Thus, when it comes to our present situation, you are most balanced when you feel tension from both sides.

I am a citizen of the United States…thus I participate in politics.

But I am also a citizen of the kingdom of God…thus I keep everything in perspective.

I am always pulled from two sides.

I am “in the world” but not “of the world.”

I am involved in the culture but I am also separate from the culture.

I am to seek better laws for the good of society but I also realize that only the gospel can change hearts and truly transform society.

As D.A. Carson notes in his book, Christ and Culture Revisited:

We await the return of Jesus Christ, the arrival of the new heaven and the new earth, the dawning of the resurrection, the glory of perfection, the beauty of holiness. Until that day, we are people in tension. On the one hand, we belong to the broader culture in which we find ourselves; on the other, we belong to the culture of the consummated kingdom of God, which has dawned among us. Our true city is the new Jerusalem, even while we still belong to Paris or Budapest or New York.

So what does all this mean?

If we are going to stay balanced, then we need the body of Christ. That is God’s plan to keep us balanced. The person of mercy needs the person of discernment. The bold prophet needs the quiet servant. The visionary needs the administrator. The activist needs the pacifist. The go-getter needs the stop-and-waiter. The zealot needs the tax collector.

And vice-versa.

Unfortunately, we tend to pull away from those who are different than us…who disagree with us…who see things differently than us…and gravitate to those who affirm what we already think.

We get lost in our echo chambers.

And we become more extreme…less balanced…less healthy…and more detrimental to the body of Christ.

Here is one thing that you can bank on: If the church of Jesus Christ is fighting amongst itself, then the effectiveness of our witness to the world is already lost. If we are angrily divided and arguing over Trump…over Biden…over coronavirus…over racial issues…over social policies…over politics in general…then the reality of the hope, peace, grace, truth, and salvation of Jesus Christ is lost in the noise.

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” (John 17:20-23)

We need one another in the body of Christ.

We need to be challenged.

We need to be corrected.

We need to be willing to listen and to seek understanding.

We need to be endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

These are the “tension points” that keep us balanced.

Just like the springs of a trampoline. It is the consistent pull from different angles that enables the trampoline to function and to spring us higher in our relationship with Christ.

Of course, just like a trampoline, we also need “anchor points.”

There are certain things that we cannot compromise. There are certain truths that define us as believers that cannot be discarded or politely ignored.

• Jesus is God incarnate.
• Jesus died on the cross as the substitutionary atonement for our sin.
• Jesus physically rose again from the dead.
• Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
• God’s Word is absolute truth.
• Believers are called to live in holiness.
• The world desperately needs the gospel.
• We are to live for Christ and proclaim His truth regardless of the consequences.
• Jesus Christ is coming back to judge the living and the dead and to reign on this earth.
• Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Anchor points are our foundation…our priority…our north star.

Anchor points are our biblical absolutes…worth fighting for.

Tension points, on the other hand, are our convictions, preferences, and perspectives.

They are important…they are real…they are worth a good discussion…but they are not worth losing our relationships over.

We get out of balance when we confuse the two.

Perhaps the classic Christian statement is worth repeating:

“In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.”

May God plant us so deeply in His Word…humble us so thoroughly by His sovereignty…transform us so completely by His Spirit…that we exude the character of Christ in all that we think, say, and do.

The One who perfectly balanced justice and mercy, grace and truth, boldness and gentleness, humanity and deity, is the only One who can keep us balanced today.

As a pastor, I pay close attention when I hear the news of another pastor dealing with depression, struggling with addiction, or falling into moral failure.

Unfortunately, the stories happen way too often.

The latest involves one of my spiritual “heros,” Ravi Zacharias.

Ravi passed away from cancer about eight months ago so it is particularly sad to hear about the increasing scandal that is being uncovered after his death. From all the mounting evidence, it seems that Ravi engaged in sexual misconduct at a level beyond a one-time mistake or questionable impropriety. It seems to have been an ongoing pattern…at least in the later stages of his life.

It is sobering…unsettling…disturbing.

How can a man who impacted so many thousands of lives for Christ…who seemed to have such a strong, solid faith…who appeared to have a vibrant, loving family…be caught up in such a sordid tale of sexual sin?

For those who know the stories of Scripture, you actually realize that it is not only a possibility but also a reality for many who otherwise lead a godly, moral life. Abraham and Hagar. Judah and Tamar. David and Bathsheba. Solomon and all of his concubines.

Many of the “heros” of the faith have their own skeletons in the closet.

So how do we process this as believers? Is it excusable? Is it proof that all of our moral codes are simply a scam? Is it a slight on the name of Christ?

No. No. And yes. To the last three questions.

Now on to how to process it.

1. No one is immune from sin. 

If the stories of Scripture teach us nothing else, it is that everyone is a sinner…everyone is capable of moral failure…everyone needs grace. Being a pastor…or a Christian counselor…or an apologist…or a spiritual “hero”…does not give someone some kind of spiritual immunity from the battles of sin. Every day is a challenge to walk with Christ. Every day confronts us with temptations to engage in sin. Any day can be the day of a spiritual downfall. Scripture makes it clear:

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. (1 Corinthians 10:12)

The person most vulnerable to sin is not the broken man in the support group but the confident man sitting in the church pew thinking that he is okay.

As long as churches keep focusing on image and promoting a superficial spiritual veneer of self-sufficient righteousness, then these “shocking” stories of moral failure will continue to crop up.

2. No one is beyond the need of daily accountability. 

Since any day can be the day of our spiritual downfall, then every day we need the mutual support, encouragement, and accountability of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

But exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (Hebrews 3:13)

Bottom line: We need one another.

No believer was designed to live the Christian life alone. No believer is strong enough to battle temptation alone. No believer will grow in character apart from the body of Christ.

I don’t know the details of Ravi’s personal walk with Christ but, from what I can tell, it seems like he operated in an insulated world of his own making. His international ministry became his “church” and his accountability was apparently limited. When you become a Christian “star,” you often operate in an orbit all your own. No one asks you the tough questions because it appears that you are impenetrable and beyond accountability.

How else can you explain how the leader of a worldwide ministry is apparently never confronted about his shared ownership of two massage parlors? Or questioned about his frequent visits there two or three times a week?

Sure. These things could be legitimate in certain circumstances, particularly when dealing with chronic physical pain as Ravi apparently did. But the optics don’t look good…and certainly someone in Ravi’s position should do everything possible to be above reproach.

Someone should have challenged him.

More importantly, Ravi should have asked to be challenged.

Apparently no one did…and apparently Ravi never asked.

3. Sexual sin is exponentially increasing in our sex-saturated society.

Sexual sin has always been around. It is nothing new. Scripture warns about it frequently.

Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. (1 Corinthians 6:18)

In some sense, it is not surprising that Ravi…or any other person for that matter…falls into sexual sin. Our society practically encourages it. Advertises it. Expects it. Facilitates it. Flaunts it.

Sex is our culture’s drug of choice…and sex addiction is perhaps one of the most difficult to conquer.

That is why Scripture encourages us to “flee.” Sexual temptation is not something that can be dealt with lightly or with half-hearted resolve. Its tentacles reach far and wide and any lingering stare…additional click…late-night channel surfing…or smartphone app…has the potential to lead to a lifelong slide into deeper and deeper sin.

I don’t know when Ravi’s slide began but it is apparent that he gave in at some point, compromised his convictions, rationalized his choices, kept his battle a secret, fed his growing addiction, and found himself further down the road than he could have ever imagined.

It is a warning to us all.

To all who value sexual purity.

To all who strive to live above reproach.

To all who desire to remain faithful to their spouse.

To all who want the best of God’s design for sexual intimacy.

To all who long to glorify God and magnify the name of Christ.

4. It is time for the church to face its failures and live lives of vulnerable authenticity.

More than anything, Ravi’s story reminds me again that the church has to own its own failures. We are far too often guilty of self-righteousness, hypocrisy, moral superiority, and pride. We cannot expect to be messengers of good news when our own lives are a mess in the news…or when our own actions betray our words…or when our own sins blaspheme the name of Christ.

Scripture encourages us to judge ourselves not everyone else in the world.

For what business is it of mine to judge outsiders? Don’t you judge those who are inside?But God judges outsiders. Put away the evil person from among yourselves. (1 Corinthians 5:12-13)

It seems that we often have this backwards. We often spend our time talking about how bad the world is and excusing our own failures and sins…rather than confronting our own sins and failures and seeking to love and give grace to those in the world.

It’s a sad commentary on the American church.

And I am not excusing myself.

I am part of this church.

Vulnerability begins with me.

Integrity begins with me.

Purity begins with me.

And honesty, humility, and accountability are essential for all of us.

And Lord willing, such an aroma of grace and truth spreads outward to those around us…who no longer smell the stench of scandal in our midst but catch a whiff of the life-giving fragrance of Christ.

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. (2 Corinthians 2:14)