Wanderings
One benefit of a lonely path is thinking and praying freely without interruption. While I've been walking, I’ve been reflecting on silence about Jews being forced to run for their lives on the streets of Amsterdam and the non-stop destruction of our culture being waged by opinion shows of all political stripes. It’s past time to speak up for one and turn off the other.
Jews Running on the Streets of Amsterdam
When exactly did Western cultures become openly anti-Semitic in this century? Is there a specific date that can be referenced? The anti-Semitic sentiment was starkly revealed on October 8, 2023, when Americans filled the streets and occupied university campuses to celebrate the savage attack on the Jewish community by Hamas. Does anyone have a date in this culture when western cultures decided this inhuman action was celebration-worthy because the lives that were killed and the psyches that were grievously harmed were Jewish lives and psyches?
The anti-Semitic tendencies were starkly highlighted last Thursday when Jewish people found themselves fleeing for their lives in Amsterdam. There were countless false reports about a fascist rally scheduled for October 23 at Madison Square Garden, which attempted to draw parallels to a genuine pro-Nazi event from 1939. These politically motivated claims, made with an air of moral superiority, had no connection to the truth. In contrast, only a few reports have emerged regarding an actual event that resembled the morally reprehensible fascist pogroms against Jews in the 1930s. When did it become acceptable to obsessively report on a politically fabricated event while completely overlooking a real anti-Semitic incident?
As followers of Jesus, we have strong conviction and hope in the coming Kingdom of God. We believe that one day “a new heaven and a new earth” (Revelation 21:1) will emerge and we will be freed of suffering, pain, and death. But in this old heaven and earth, there is much suffering and difficulty. The point of spiritual formation in this life is to free us from being tone-deaf to human suffering of all types, all peoples, and all places. As a person being slowly transformed into the likeness of Jesus, our savior who was himself of Jewish descent, what can you do?
Refuse to be silent about anti-semitism.
Find real, trustworthy sources of news about anti-semitism. A good place to begin would be on The Free Press here on Substack. It has been one of the consistent and courageous sources of reporting on the horrendous anti-semitism of our times.
Thank you for reading! I sense your hunger for a deeper life with Jesus and appreciate all who support, subscribe, and share this independent endeavor with friends and family. If you haven’t already — please consider subscribing and gifting a subscription to someone who would enjoy it.
The Destruction of American Culture by Nonstop Opinion Shows
I want to say a word for turning off the opinion shows called CNN, Fox News, CBS, MSNBC, ABC, NBC—what other opinion shows am I leaving out? The harm they have all done to American culture may be irreparable. But it is not too late for you to rescue yourself from their assault on intelligence and emotional and spiritual health.
It makes no difference if the names are Anderson Cooper, Sean Hannity, Joe Scarborough, Lester Holt, Norah O’Donnell, or David Muir (among many others); none of them can be deemed trustworthy sources of real news. The days of genuine reporting are long gone. These hosts and their programs have sadly regressed into opinion-driven spectacles, featuring makeup artists, graphic designers, scriptwriters, and costly guests, all with the singular goal of persuading viewers to embrace their opinions. While this may not be a new phenomenon, the current opinion shows masquerading as news shows are particularly unreserved in using biases, fear, and hate to attract audiences and sell products. A friend of mine who facilitates guest bookings for these shows has shared that the financial compensation for appearances is staggering, with guests given clear instructions to be loud and outrageous to attract clicks and help the company sell products. Serious discussions about current events have been overshadowed by this emphasis on biased sensationalism. The reality is that engaging with these shows can be detrimental to our intellectual, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
Here is something you can do: Turn them off. Work a little harder to find actual news. Refuse to become part of a tribe defined by a particular bias, fear, or hatred. Trust your own eyes about what is going on. Talk to your friends about what they see.
Here is another thing you can do: join me in a social media (and media) fast beginning in January. The spiritual community I guide is agreeing to learn with me how to find freedom from the destructive opinion shows in order to fill our hearts and minds with what is good and true.