Answer: Media and social media.
As I did my best I also ended up writing a blog about a question I decided should better be posted on my blog.
Yesterday I was supposed to be coming up with ten different questions that I would like to answer for an upcoming interview on No Boundaries Radio. I wrote an unusual blog instead. Now I have lots to do today.
All I can say is I like to shock people and if my being on this show shocks people then you might just want to tune in and see if I can handle the format. God did not tell me to go and speak to perfect Christians. I will leave it at that.
However, to further answer my answer here is my blog.
Each person in the world has a very small view of the world
around them. Each person makes decisions based on their own experiences with
their own part of the world. They then search out other people of like mind and
spend their time living comfortably with each other within this viewpoint.
Predominantly, this grouping is a normal way of life for everyone. Most of
these individuals and groupings are neither interested in other people
viewpoint or desire to learn about these differences. It is a fact of history
as well as everyday life.
Add in media and
social media and there are two platforms for new behaviors. With the media it
is all about manipulating the news to keep up interest in any particular group.
The stories have to be sensationalized to keep the groups attention. Unfortunately,
the media is controlled by people who feel that their opinions are worth more
than anyone else’s viewpoint and they want people to conform to their view of
life. They use the media platform to manipulate pretty much everyone. They do
it not just to get their way which is to get you to believe that what they say
is the only way but to continue to get you to buy into their lifestyle. It is
all about money, and not your money, they are only interested in making your
money their money.
The other side of this is the social media platforms. We all
rant and rail against the methods social media platforms use to keep us
engaged, but we are manipulated by them. We forget on a daily basis just how
much. For these platforms give us a greater voice, one we don’t seem to be able
to handle very well, for we react too much of what is on these forums in a
negative manner. We spread hate. Instead of gathering together and helping one
another we divide and conquer by counting coupe with some kind of snarky
comment which shows how superior we are from one another. We all do it. If you
say you don’t you are lying. If you think any form of one-sided opinion is
anything more than intent to divide people into acceptable and non-acceptable
people than you are misguiding your own self. I admit it. I have to fight the
behavior every single time I post something on social media. If you think the
ability to say the things we say is all about being free then you are mistaken
as to what freedom means.
I suppose the only
thing that keeps me generally from not pretending that I am above the behavior
is my personal beliefs. Oh not the history lessons for they are speaking about
the past, but the life lessons, on how I am personally supposed to behave.
I find my peace within the pages of the Bible but I look to
God’s greatest command. To find something to love in every single person--without
excuse.
1 John 4:20-21
"Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister."
Matthew 22:36-39
New International Version (NIV)
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
