Who Really Controls the Narrative?

Throughout time there have been individuals who recognized that they could control people if they could control how they think. They could control how they think if they could control the information the people received. Some have describe the control of information as controlling the narrative.

It is important to realize that human beings make decisions and engage in activities based on what they believe to be true. That’s called perception. Of course, it is possible for a person to have a wrong perception about something.

As an example, one of my sisters has been a dog lover from a very young age. I don’t know how it came to be, but she believed herself to be a friend of all dogs. Although my parents taught us NOT to pet stray dogs, my sister was convinced in her mind that all dogs loved her (presumably as much as she loved them). Her conviction was her perception of the truth. However, that was not the truth and I was witness to two occasions in which she was attacked by dogs that she was attempting to pet!

Her perception of the truth, or as some like to call it today, her truth, clashed with reality. Reality is truth. Your perception doesn't change it.

My sister had developed her perception of the truth out of personal desire. She loved dogs so much that she desired for all dogs to love her. Yet, her self-desire was not true to life. Her narrative was generated in her own mind.

While it is possible for us to construct our own narrative, it is often the case that someone else is trying to supply the narrative. Over the years news media have been criticized for controlling which stories are told and how they are told. Some media outlets have been accused of misinformation to influence political elections.

Whether through public speeches, word of mouth, written information or electronic media, people have been trying to influence the minds of others for millennia.

It started in the Garden of Eden when the serpent deceived Eve. (Like Solomon said, “There is nothing new under the sun.") Think about the serpent’s approach. God had already informed Adam and Eve of His expectations and restrictions. They were to tend the Garden of Eden, but they were restricted from the tree in the middle of the Garden. God informed them. God set the narrative. God revealed truth.

The serpent asked Eve, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” The serpent challenged the narrative, that which had been revealed by God. After Eve answered the serpent with the information they had received from God, the serpent openly contradicted it. So, the serpent first planted a seed of doubt by challenging the narrative. Then the serpent changed the narrative with a lie. That is why Jesus called the devil the “father of lies.”

Ever since that time there have been people challenging truth; they introduce doubt about the truth of God’s revelation. Having introduced doubt, it is easier to completely change the narrative, that is, change the truth of God’s revelation by introducing lies.

From the beginning truth has been under attack and it continues to be attacked in our day. Throughout the ages philosophers have struggled with and attempted to find truth. And yet, all along, the truth about mankind has been revealed, not by a pope, not by the church, not through man’s search. Truth is revealed by God! God has authored the narrative of truth. Believe God!

Mark Stinnett

March 24, 2024

Embrace Discipline

My parents disciplined me. As a result, I now exercise self-discipline.

I disciplined my children. Now grown, I expect them to exercise self-discipline.

Did you know that preaching and teaching are forms of discipline?

In the English language we usually reserve the word discipline for stronger kinds of action. We discipline our children by placing them in ‘time-out,’ by restricting privileges, or by imposing unwanted duties or activities. Discipline may include physical discipline as well.

There was a Hebrew word used in the Old Testament, musar, that meant discipline, but had a much broader meaning than our English word. Musar included any kind of correction and for that reason might be translated reprimand, reproach, reprove, rebuke, or chastise. At times musar referred to training. And, a surprise to some, musar also included simple instruction that might be given verbally, in writing, or by demonstration. Musar may come as preaching, teaching, and even in writing, like this article.

As instruction, musar was not merely informative. There was always a purpose and a goal. The purpose of musar was to affect one’s attitude, choices, and behavior.

In our day, discipline is sometimes misunderstood. It is not the same as punishment. The goal of punishment is equity and justice. A person is expected to pay for a crime committed, whether a fine, public service, or imprisonment. Our laws attempt to increase the severity of the payment according to the severity of the crime.

Discipline is not about paying one’s crime debt. Rather, discipline has the purpose of keeping a person on the right path. Ultimately, discipline carried out by parents or others in positions of authority should bring about self-discipline in the one receiving discipline.

Children are not born with self-discipline, but self-ishness. As children mature there should be a diminishing need for parental discipline while self-discipline increases. When adults lack self-discipline in matters of the spirit and morality, it may be necessary for a loving fellow Christian to step in and apply musar.

But let’s face it; in general, we do not like correction. Many shrug off helpful instruction with statements like, “I can figure it out on my own,” or “I don’t need your help.” It is likely that you know someone who politely listens to instruction or correction, and then ignores it and does whatever he/she wishes to do.

You might be thinking that not all instruction and correction comes from a person who cares. True. Also, not all instruction is good instruction. However, here’s the point:

A fool rejects his father’s discipline (musar)

But he who regards reproof is prudent.

—Proverbs 15:5

A fool thinks that musar (instruction, training, correction, discipline) is not necessary. He pushes it aside, sometimes in anger. He may not want the challenge or difficulty of training or the potential humiliation of correction, or he may simply consider himself above discipline.

In great contrast the prudent (wise) person not only accepts discipline of all kinds, he has regard for discipline. That means that he sees value in all kinds of discipline recognizing that it is necessary and also beneficial. The wise person doesn’t just accept discipline, he embraces it. 

What is your attitude toward discipline?

Mark Stinnett

March 17, 2024

I Love That Song, But What Does It Mean?

I wish we would sing all my favorite worship songs...every week.

I don’t know how that sounds to you, but it occurred to me that my favorite songs might not be suitable for worship. Some of my favorites are written for performers, not for congregations of common folks. Some of my favorites should either be rewritten in modern English or retired because of the vocabulary that requires a dictionary and/or awkward wording that would challenge a literary scholar.

When the Apostle Paul wrote about singing in the assembly, he insisted that there must be understanding. The musical elements of a song are what make a poem a song. Musical elements can facilitate or distract, but the words are central to meaning. The words ought to convey a message, and that message ought to conform to the truth expressed in Scripture.

Song leaders ought to think about the content of each song selected. Does it communicate to the people attending? At times a brief word of explanation might be appropriate, but if a song requires an entire lesson defining archaic words and explaining complex poetry, it might be wise to omit that song from the weekly worship service?

Words spoken at the Lord’s Supper table and in prayer are supposed to communicate. Leaders ought to use a microphone if available, and if not, speak up! God may know our thoughts as we speak, but our thoughts are communicated among people who cannot understand them unless they are made known verbally and audibly in an understandable way.

I laugh, and sometimes roll my eyes, at newscasters reporting local sporting events. No longer can they say that a baseball player hit the ball, they use all kinds of slang expressions to describe a hit ball without using the word hit. He poked it, punched it, blasted it, blooped it, dinked it, tapped it, slammed it, or crushed it. If you are not a baseball fan, the message might be lost in all the jargon. Yet, that is the point, the message might be lost in all the jargon.

Sometimes, we fall into the same trap with excessive religious jargon. When we pray in the assembly we should use words that our audience understands, not potentially confusing jargon. Our words at the Lord’s Supper table should not need to be decoded.

I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.

—1 Corinthians 14:15

Paul acknowledged communication and communion with God through his spirit, but he also recognized communication and communion with fellow Christians through the mind. While all of our worship is directed to God, He intends for everyone to understand. Our purpose in coming together is two-fold: worship to God and encouragement of fellow Christians.

Of all the activities in which we participate in our weekly worship service, only our participation in giving requires little or no communication. For everything else communication is critical. For that reason it is imperative that our communication be understandable, appropriate for that aspect of the worship, and meaningful. For that reason, religious jargon and obsolete phrases should be omitted. There may even be songs that should be retired.

Everyone who serves in a leading role in the assembly should give thought to his service of leading. Put God first, but remember the importance of communicating in such a way that the church, the people of God, are encouraged.

Mark Stinnett

March 10, 2024

My Favorite

What is your favorite song? 

It doesn’t have to be a religious song. 

Which is your favorite?

Why is it your favorite?

Have you ever stopped to think why your favorite is your favorite? The question applies to anything for which you have a favorite: song, meal, actor, hobby, season of the year, etc.

Your favorite (anything) is your favorite because you like it the most. (Go ahead and chuckle. It may not be deeply profound, but it is true.)

Having a favorite in any category is about personal taste and personal preference. It is all about the things that appeal to you most. A favorite often involves your senses. Yet, a favorite might be appealing to you on an emotional or intellectual level.

I have been told that a parent should never have a favorite child, but should love each child equally. Yet, there is something about that statement that doesn’t work in real life. The statement ends correctly by advising you to love each child equally. Yet, for each one of my five daughters there are specific areas in which each is favored. In that, I am simply acknowledging that there are common preferences and common interests that draw me to each one, but those preferences and interests may be different for each daughter. The key is to not allow those preferences and interests to govern my love for any one of them over the others.

With that thought in mind, turn your attention to the Lord’s church. I think we all know and understand that personal favoritism has no place in the body of Christ. Yet, God did not leave it up to our human reasoning.

Believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 

—James 2:1 (NIV)

Favoritism, partiality, prejudice: Whatever wording us used, an attitude of favoritism has no place in the body of Christ. There is no mystery as to how God views partiality.

If you show favoritism, you sin…. (v. 9)

We may have best friends. We may prefer one preacher over another, prefer one song leader over another, prefer one song over another. However, we must not allow our personal preferences to develop poor attitudes. We must not allow a preference of friends to generate a poor attitude toward other Christians. We must not allow our personal preferences to keep us from listening to the word of God regardless of who is preaching or teaching. Truth may be presented in a topical sermon or in a class in which passages of Scripture are examined carefully. We must not allow favoritism to form our attitude about the songs we sing in the assembly, or to affect how we think about prayers offered.

Favoritism is about your attitude. When favoritism is allowed to develop the way we value people we have sinned. When favoritism casts a dim shadow in our mind about the way things are organized or carried out by fellow Christians, we have sinned. If we find ourselves giving more thought to the pitch and tempo of the songs, the length of prayers, or mannerisms used by the preacher or teacher, instead of the content presented by each, we are listening to our fleshly preferences. Sin is near.

It is natural and proper to evaluate the way things are going in life, and that includes all things related to church life, even our weekly worship. However, we must evaluate with wisdom, with Bibles open, and not with attitudes of favoritism.

Mark Stinnett

March 3, 2024