Life Without Controversy

One blessing of the internet is the ability to share information and communicate, and this is also one of the greatest curses:  the spread of misinformation.  The internet is a prime breeding ground of rumours and conspiracy which have duped many.  When these thoughts germinate and take root in the minds of people, legitimate reporting and research are condemned as disinformation:  information that is deliberately misleading to promote sinister agendas of shadowy figures behind the scenes.  What is true can become so convoluted those taken in by conspiracies will not part with their views, even when it kills them.

I read an article yesterday of a nurse in South Dakota who allegedly expressed her sadness there are patients infected with COVID she has treated who used their last breaths to deny the existence of COVID.  It may very well be disbelief in COVID that led to careless behaviour which enabled them to initially contract the illness.  I have learned that it is impossible to change the hearts and minds of people no matter how hard I try, whether it involves politics, conspiracy theories, sport or religion.  For every fact, report or statistic shared, everyone seems to have their own preferred sources which confirm their beliefs.  This can be very disheartening when misinformation turns into an obsession nothing has the power to shift--not even the truth which has supporting evidence.  To think a person could be admitted to the hospital with a fever and respiratory issues, be diagnosed with COVID by the experts to whom they entrusted their recovery, and then for them to refuse the diagnosis as propaganda or call their doctor a liar blows my mind.

Great is the blindness of the human heart without the illumination and guidance of the Holy Spirit!  Without a doubt as human beings we all have our blind spots, but if the light that is in you be darkness, how great is that darkness (Matthew 6:23)!  The death of the body is a tragedy, and the eternal death of the soul infinitely more terrible.  Jesus miraculously opened the eyes of a man born blind who later met with Jesus and believed He was the Son of God.  Having his eyes opened the man trusted in Jesus, his soul was saved from hell and was granted eternal life.  The scribes and Pharisees believed Jesus was a sinner and a deceiver and refused to believe on Him though Jesus did many signs that affirmed His claim of being the Messiah.  John 9:39-41 reads, "And Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind." ⁴⁰ Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, "Are we blind also?" ⁴¹ Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains."  The Pharisees were self-righteous and thus remained in their sins.  They believed Jesus was wrong and they were right:  this revealed they were more blind than the man born blind.

If the Pharisees had confessed their blindness, through faith in Jesus they would have been able to see He was the Way, the Truth and the Life, the LORD and Saviour sent to save sinners.  When we adopt a humble posture before God, admit we are fallible and easily fooled He guides us into all truth and our souls find rest.  The ones who believe they cannot possibly be wrong in a controversial matter are already wrong whether they realise it or not.  People must place their faith in something, and only faith in God and His word will never lead us astray.  Of course there are people who attempt to twist the scriptures to suit their beliefs but fallacious arguments and distortions of scripture can be exposed by rightly dividing the word of truth.  If a person does not believe they are sick they will not go to a doctor:  if they believe they are sick and the doctor says they have COVID, why wouldn't a person believe it?  This shows faith is powerful.  Faith in self is a snare, and God will be faithful to reward those who trust Him despite our fallibility.

In the world and online there is no shortage of controversy, but 1 Timothy 3:16 has it right:  "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory."  As believers let us hold fast and walk according to this doctrine at the cost of our lives and refuse to promote controversial beliefs which cannot profit souls.