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Denison Forum

Denison Forum – What is going on at CBS?

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Contemporary journalism and the quest for truth

The Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) was founded nearly a hundred years ago. It is sometimes called the Tiffany Network, alluding to its high programming quality during the tenure of its founding. Now people across the political spectrum are asking, What is going on at CBS?

First came allegations that 60 Minutes edited its interview with Vice President Kamala Harris to favor her. Many called on the network to release a full transcript of the interview; former staffers demanded an independent investigation.

Then came the network’s rebuke of morning anchor Tony Dokoupil after he challenged author Ta-Nehisi Coates’ anti-Israel characterizations and lack of historical context during their discussion of Coates’ one-sided new book on Palestine.

The Washington Post spoke for many in calling the interview good journalism. The chair of CBS’s parent company later admitted that CBS leadership made a “bad mistake” in upbraiding Dokoupil as it did. Gayle King has also been criticized for reportedly giving Coates her questions in advance of her part of their interview.

CBS is also under fire for telling its staff not to refer to Jerusalem as a part of Israel due to its “disputed status.”

Truth or “truthiness”?

We all want to believe that our work matters, that we are leaving a legacy by what we do. Those of us whose work is words especially wonder if we are making a difference.

To this end, many believe that their words can make the world what they believe it should be.

Why?

Our culture has jettisoned its belief in objective truth for what Stephen Colbert calls “truthiness,” defined as “the belief in what you feel to be true rather than what the facts will support.” As a result, some journalists believe that their value no longer lies in reporting the news but in changing society.

Those on one side of the partisan divide think they are saving Palestinians from Israeli “colonizers” and democracy from those who would destroy it. Those on the other side think they are protecting democracy from “wokeism” and socialism. Both are speaking “their truth” unfettered by objective accountability.

There was a day when words could not be published without going through editorial review. For example, when I wrote a book on radical Islam some years ago, I worked with an editor who had served in the US Army. He corrected several of my statements regarding military hardware even though I was quoting other sources. His expertise made my words more accurate than they would have been otherwise.

Now social media gives everyone’s words unfiltered, unedited access to the world. And the line between objective reporting and opinion journalism has been blurred if not obliterated.

Seeking truth beyond our “horizon”

Our secularized culture can reject objective truth, but this makes truth no less objective. To claim “there is no such thing as absolute truth” is to make an absolute truth claim. The person who denies the sunrise does not harm the sun.

At the same time, we all experience what Hans-Georg Gadamer called the “fusion of horizons”—when we view a sunrise, listen to music, or otherwise interact with the world, we interpret it from our unique perspective. We bring it into ourselves and ourselves into it.

We can therefore either abandon our quest for objective truth, as many do, or seek an authority we can objectively trust.

Such an authority must obviously come from outside our personal “horizon” and be superior to our finite, fallen minds. The good news is that we have such an authority available to us today:

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16).

God’s word reveals God’s superior, omniscient mind (Isaiah 55:8–9). As such, “the law of the Lᴏʀᴅ is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lᴏʀᴅ is sure, making wise the simple” (Psalm 19:7). We can therefore know that “every word of God proves true” (Proverbs 30:5).

“A flash of light comes”

Our decision is whether to trust God’s revealed truth or “our truth.”

The latter leads into confusion and spiritual darkness: “If anyone … does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing” (1 Timothy 6:3–4). The former leads to spiritual enlightenment: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).

Accordingly, Oswald Chambers observed:

All God’s revelations are sealed until they are opened to us by obedience. You will never get them open by philosophy or thinking. Immediately you obey, a flash of light comes. … Obey God in the thing he shows you, and instantly the next thing is opened up.

Then he adds:

“God will never reveal more truth about himself until you have obeyed what you already know.”

Will you obey “what you already know” today?

Monday news to know:

*Denison Forum does not necessarily endorse the views expressed in these stories.

Quote for the day:

“Truth is the agreement of our ideas with the ideas of God.” —Jonathan Edwards

 

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Max Lucado

Max Lucado – Let Your Life Illustrate Christ

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Listen to Today’s Devotion

Tucked away in the cedar chest of my memory is a Sunday school teacher in a small West Texas church.  She gave each of us a can of crayons and a sketch of Jesus torn from a coloring book.  We didn’t illustrate pictures of ourselves, we colored the Son of God.  We used what she gave us.  No blue crayon for the sky?  Make it purple.  If Jesus’ hair is red, the teacher won’t mind.  She taught us to paint Jesus with our own colors.

God made you to do likewise.  He made you unique so you could illustrate Christ.  Make a big deal out of him. Don’t waste years embellishing your own image.  Who needs to see your face?  Who doesn’t need to see God’s?  Besides, God promises no applause for self-promoters.  But great reward awaits God-promoters–  “Good work!  You did your job well.” (Matthew 25:23).

 

Read more Cure for the Common Life: Living in Your Sweet Spot

For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.

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Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – Set Upon a Rock

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“For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock” (Psalm 27:5, KJV).

Doug and Judy stood at the graveside of their little Timothy – their only child – who had been run over by a drunken driver while riding his tricycle on the sidewalk. It was a senseless, one-in-a-million, freak kind of accident, but their little lad was gone forever from their loving embraces.

As they wept, I consoled them with the promises of God’s Word: “In the time of trouble, He shall hide us in His pavilion, in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide us. He shall set us upon a rock.”

In the words of Jesus, I shared with them His promise, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28, KJV). “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27, KJV).

Man’s words are never adequate in a time like this. Only the holy, inspired Word of God, revealed through the indwelling Holy Spirit, can help us to comprehend and experience the reality of His promises.

What a joy to be able to tell people – burdened people, grieving people – that we serve God, who not only saves to the uttermost, but who also is the God of all comfort. As His Holy Spirit empowers us, let us share the good news of an all-loving, ever-wise Savior.

Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1-4

TODAY’S ACTION POINT: Today I will ask God to help me to be sensitive to the hurts and heartaches of others, so that I can comfort them with the Word of God through the enabling of the Holy Spirit. And when I face grievous troubles, I too will look to the rock, Christ Jesus, and claim His wonderful promises for comfort and strength.

 

http://www.cru.org

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Seek Spiritual Discernment

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Proverbs 2:1-7

At one time or another, everyone feels confused, uncertain, or misled. When that happens, we can live victoriously and confidently only by possessing spiritual discernment—the ability to see life from God’s perspective. We need His help to distinguish between right and wrong, good and best, truth and error.

Each day we make many decisions—some trivial, others critical. The Lord doesn’t want us to form judgments based on mere appearance or human reasoning. But the world is so full of deceptive information that we, on our own, couldn’t know what to believe. And so God has given us the Holy Spirit to help us see the reality of each situation as He does.

We can fully trust the Lord with our relationships as well. Since He knows every person’s heart, the only way we can wisely interact with others is to be sensitive to the leading of God’s Spirit within us.

Although the Father gives each of His children the capacity for spiritual discernment, many Christians are unaware of it. They stumble through life, doing the best they can, but fail to use this wonderful provision. Others may not think they need it. They make choices according to their own knowledge and reasoning, never giving the Lord a second thought. Unless we cooperate with God in the development of His gift of discernment, it will lie dormant within us.

A discerning spirit begins with a humble, teachable attitude. If you’ve been handling decisions, situations, and relationships through your own wisdom, confess this to God. Then ask for His perspective and search His Word for direction. Your wisdom will grow, and discernment will protect you.

Bible In One Year: Psalm 132-138

 

http://www.intouch.org/

Denison Forum

Denison Forum – Police treating London mosque assault as terrorism

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A vehicle rammed into people leaving London’s Finsbury Park Mosque after Ramadan prayers early this morning. One person died and ten were wounded. According to CNN, the leader of the mosque protected the suspected attacker from the furious crowd until police arrived.

The attacker reportedly shouted, “I did my bit, you deserve it.” London’s mayor called the crash a “horrific terrorist attack.” If the assault was retribution for jihadist attacks in London on March 22 and June 3, it makes clear that violence only begets more violence. But we can choose to break the cycle of vengeance. It is a fact of human history that our past need not determine our future.

Consider Brooks Koepka, the surprise winner of yesterday’s US Open. Golf’s four “major” titles are obviously its most prestigious and stressful tournaments. It would seem that experience is a critical advantage.

However, Koepka had never won a major title before and had won only one previous PGA tournament in his six years on the tour. In fact, fifteen of the last seventeen major champions were first-time major tournament winners. In athletics, our past need not determine our future.

One more example of our thesis: when Jacob David Alderdice proposed marriage to Uzezi Elakeche Abugo, the engagement ring he gave her was too small and cut off the blood to her finger. When it turned a dark shade of purple, they rushed to the emergency room. The ring was cut from her finger, leaving her with a lasting scar. The couple was married two days ago, showing that in relationships, our past need not determine our future.

Part of our divinely created nature is our capacity for freedom. As a result, we can refuse to return violence for violence. We can refuse to let our achievements limit our dreams. We can view injuries as invitations to a new life.

Consider King David. The youngest of eight sons, he was ignored and ridiculed by his brothers before he defeated Goliath and became king of Israel. In Psalm 144, he explained his secret: “Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; he is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me” (vv. 1–2).

Note David’s intimacy with his Lord: six times he used “my” in referring to God. And the One he depended upon so fully gave him a future and a legacy we celebrate still today.

When we make his declaration our commitment, his victory can be ours: “Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord” (v. 15). How blessed will you be today?

 

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John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Dealing with Despair

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John MacArthur

“Take the helmet of salvation” (Eph. 6:17).

We’ve seen how Satan attacks believers with his two-edged sword of doubt and discouragement. But he doesn’t stop there. He tries to take you beyond discouragement to despair by robbing you of hope. Unless you’re careful, his attacks will be successful when you’re battle-weary.

The prophet Elijah is an illustration of that truth. The highlight of his ministry came atop Mount Carmel, where he slew 450 prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:40). Yet immediately after that great victory, he fled for his life because Queen Jezebel threatened to kill him (1 Kings 19:1- 3).

He ran from Mount Carmel into the wilderness of Beersheba, where he “sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, ‘It is enough; now, O Lord, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers'” (v. 4). He went on to moan, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Thy covenant, torn down Thine altars and killed Thy prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away” (v. 10).

Elijah lost hope because he failed to see his circumstances through the eyes of faith; he was attempting to fight the battle on his own. He allowed himself to become emotionally, physically, and spiritually spent, and became overwhelmed with self-pity. He felt utterly alone.

But God hadn’t abandoned Elijah. He was still in control and His people were numerous (v. 18). But Elijah had, in effect, removed his helmet of salvation and received a near-fatal blow to his confidence in God’s blessing on his life.

There may be times when, like Elijah, you lose your confidence and doubt God’s faithfulness. At such times, putting on the helmet of salvation means taking your eyes off your circumstances and trusting in God’s promises. You may not always sense His presence or understand what He’s doing, but be assured He will never leave you or forsake you (Heb. 13:5) and His purposes will always be accomplished Rom. 8:28).

Suggestions for Prayer:

Praise God for His unchanging character and irrevocable promises.

For Further Study:

Read Isaiah 40:29-31 and Galatians 6:9.

What promises are given in those passages?

In what specific ways do they apply to your life?