Happy Sunday,
The following is a draft section of my book, Broken News, scheduled for release in ~Fall 2027.
I add/revise/cut content based on feedback from this newsletter each week, so if something stands out as wrong, confusing, or wow-that-actually-helped-please-don’t-change-it… hit reply and let me know!
Scriptural Basis
“If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Romans 12:18
Christians shouldn’t be “balanced.”
I write and advocate for politically balanced news (sharing both sides of the story, even when one is wrong). This sparks pushback that Christians shouldn’t be balanced; that sometimes Christians need to pick a side.
I agree.
Balanced news consumption is not the same as having balanced stances on everything in the news. Put differently, the goal of hearing multiple perspectives is not to land in the middle. The middle is not always correct, and we should not stand in the middle simply because we’re afraid of offending someone. We should be unwavering in our defense of what is right and good, refusing to compromise on what is true.
But we should also stand firm in the truth without being intentionally rude, harsh, or offensive. Both our position and our posture matter.
Romans 12:18 says:
“If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
“Live at peace with everyone” means we don’t get to be antagonistic in how we stand in the truth. But the “as far as it depends on you” is an honest reminder that standing in the truth isn’t guaranteed to be easy, and holding the right position doesn’t insulate you from being antagonized, threatened, or worse. When the difficulties come, we don’t change our position to turn down the heat, and we don’t antagonize to fight back.
Jesus shows us the beautiful (though costly) way. He didn’t soften who He was or claim not to be the Messiah to avoid the cross. But when He was being nailed to it, He prayed for the forgiveness of those with the nails. He was resolute in position and at peace with the people opposing Him, even at the highest cost.
Christians should have a balanced news diet (reading a small amount of multiple perspectives) so that we can effectively engage in the world. But that doesn’t mean being “balanced” in our convictions. Instead, stand firm in your position, while remaining gracious in your posture, even when it’s unpopular or costly.
Was this valuable? Was this heretical? Do you have a rebuttal? Should it not make the book?
Please hit reply and let me know! Your replies are genuinely a huge help and are massively shaping this book. I don’t have time to respond to each one, but I personally read every email.
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