Christian Living

Individual Thinking

by paul hoffmaster
01/30/26
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I find it very difficult to carry on a constructive conversation with people who are constantly parroting what the media or their peers are promoting.   Individuality seems to be diminishing into a tribal environment where “community” determines what and how to think.  We have the progressives and the traditionalists, liberals and the conservatives, the pros and the cons, the republicans and the democrats, and it goes on and on.  Each biased group has its own “constitution and bill of rights.”  They have their own standards and beliefs, which are supported by their weaponry of words and actions.  What each of the groups lacks is a monopoly on what is truth.  As Jesus stood before Pilate for sentencing, Pilate, upon hearing both sides, questioned aloud, “What is Truth?” (John 18:38).  Opinion does not necessitate truth.  The media is the “big brother” that tells its followers what THEY deem to be truth.  Following their lead, the people become the vocal and physical extension of that outlet.

The danger facing America is not from external challenges, but from the internal efforts to promote disharmony and confusion among the people.  Values, ethics, and morals are no longer the ingredients that keep our country a lighthouse to the world.  Instead of erecting barriers, we should strive to tear down walls. There is a determination that anyone who opposes their viewpoints is an enemy that must be labeled as a racist, white separatist, or a plethora of other labels.  God looks at His creations without respect for their personage; rather as a people that He loves unconditionally. (Acts 10; 34, John 3:16)  Adoption instead of the singular birth of thoughts and opinions has merged as a misguided tsunami of tribal behavior.

Historical ignorance is peddled across our land as an unfettered opioid.   To use terms like Nazi, Fascist, Gestapo, in describing certain activities in America, is totally beyond the realm of sanity.  To label certain politicians as Hitler far exceeds human reasoning.  Those who peddle such ignorance need to go to the nearest library and educate themselves on what really happened in Germany.  Jesus talked about the blind leading the blind and their consequent falling into a ditch. (Matthew 15:14)  Leadership in America has fallen into a pit of confusion. Instead of following a “pied piper” that leads people further into confusion, we need to awaken our brains and start thinking for ourselves.

Former President Ronald Reagan said that he was willing to trust the Soviets’ endorsement of the nuclear arms agreement, but also verify their actions.  Today we need to verify what is truth, before we trust the source of our news.  We must never be afraid of gathering all the data we can and then deciding for ourselves what is acceptable.  When media outlets only fill their time slots with one-sided agendas, it is time to find another outlet.

No one has a monopoly on truth.  But each person has a duty to use the brain God has given him to discern what is right and what is wrong.  Instead of being led about by the “news masters,” let us expand our minds and see and hear for ourselves what is happening in this world, and then decide what is right.  This type of truth is horizontal, but there is another truth that is infallible, and that truth is Jesus.  Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”(John 14:6)  I have found that through Jesus, I have a greater understanding of what is happening in our country today.