Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. Psalm 1:1

Charles Warzel’s article Don’t Go Down the Rabbit Hole in the New York Times on the 18^th articulated that critical thinking, as we’re taught to do it, isn’t helping in the fight against misinformation, outlined the danger of misreading the events around us, failing to see divine purpose in action. The article reads in part and I quote:

“Our attention economy allows grafters, conspiracy theorists, trolls and savvy attention hijackers to take advantage of us and steal our focus. Credit: Leah Nash for the New York Times.

For an academic, Michael Caulfield has an odd request: Stop over thinking what you see online. Mr. Caulfield, a digital literacy expert at Washington State University Vancouver, knows all too well that at this very moment, more people are fighting for the opportunity to lie to you than at perhaps any other point in human history. Misinformation rides the greased algorithmic rails of powerful social media platforms and travels at velocities and in volumes that make it nearly impossible to stop. That alone makes information warfare an unfair fight for the average internet user. But Mr. Caulfield argues that the deck is stacked even further against us. That the way we’re taught from a young age to evaluate and think critically about information is fundamentally flawed and out of step with the chaos of the current internet. 

“We’re taught that, in order to protect ourselves from bad information, we need to deeply engage with the stuff that washes up in front of us,” Mr. Caulfield told me recently. He suggested that the dominant mode of media literacy (if kids get taught any at all) is that “you’ll get imperfect information and then use reasoning to fix that somehow. But in reality, that strategy can completely backfire.”

Our text in Psalm 1:1 warns every believer who wants to be obedient to the full text in 1 Peter 2:9-25.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. 1 Peter 2:9-25

Fleshly lusts go beyond sexual sins as we are apt to think, they cover all manners of unchristian conduct, envy, covetousness, evil speaking etc. How easily we get trapped with unsubstantiated declarations and acts peddled on the ever-increasing internet information sites. Let’s be wary lest we be sucked into the dangers of:

1. Walking in the counsel of the ungodly;
2. Standing in the way of sinners; and ultimately
3. Sitting in the seat of scorners.

We ought all the more to be wary of the consequences outlined in verses 4 and 5 as we see the day of visitation drawing nigh. Selah

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash