The radio in my little Hyundai Elantra only picks up FM radio stations (the AM band is defunct). For someone who enjoys hearing the news, sports, or talk radio, this is maddening. The reason it is maddening is because I find myself listening to NPR (National Public Radio) for all things news when I am driving. It’s the only station on the FM spectrum in our area with any news.
The election coverage this past year topped all discussions for many people who I know. Myriads of opinions were hurled from the far right, the far left, the center, and every other sphere of the political universe. One day while listening to NPR, I had to chuckle when one of their announcers clearly said that they represented reporting that was “unbiased.” Anyone that has listed to NPR for any length of time knows that they are anything but unbiased. They typically lean left and far left in many areas. To be fair, they do have some interesting reports that have nothing to do with politics, but when they enter the political scene, the “bias meter” unashamedly dips towards the left.
I remember hearing a report last summer about Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. In an unprecedented manner for a Supreme Court Justice, she unashamedly (and very biased) bashed the presumptive Republican nominee, Donald Trump. Pundits both from both sides of the aisle decried her statements. Daniel Drezner, of the Washington Post, stated, “This was a remarkably stupid and egregious comment for a sitting Supreme Court justice to make on the record.” The Chicago Tribune put out the following:
Now, to be fair, Ginsburg did apologize for her remarks, saying they were “ill-advised.” However you look at the incident, Justice Ginsburg was far from biased in her remarks.
At times in my life, I have thought of myself as an “unbiased” individual. One who would always approach a situation with a clear, unclouded, unbiased mind. Someone who could parse both sides and opinions of a topic with fairness and clarity. Guess what? I was wrong. You see, I am a culmination of everything I have read, heard, seen, and went through in my life. I have come to the conclusion that I am biased…quite biased actually!
It reminds me of the response of Peter & John to the authorities in Acts 4 when they were commanded “not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.” Their response was quick and decisive and very biased! See their response here:
Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
The principle they responded with is what is on the inside – what they have put into their hearts & minds – will come out on the outside! Every person you meet is biased to some degree. They have been filled with all sorts of ideas, opinions, facts, lies, truths, etc. And the same goes for YOU! You are a culmination of everything you allow into your heart and mind.
And THAT is why I submit to you that you are careful what you allow into your mind on a regular basis. Paul encourages his readers in this arena in the following way:
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8
No, I am not advocating that you become a hermit in this world to all & everything contrary to the worldview you deem correct. However, as I learned in computer classes in college bodes well in life…input = output! I write all of this to say – be careful who you allow to influence your life.
Oh, as far as my radio goes, I’m stuck listening to “unbiased” NPR radio unless one of my readers donates for a new radio!
spiritually relevant 