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