The Heart and the Mind - Use Both!

Think....use your brain!

By now you should know that everything you read or hear is not true. Let me give you examples of two statements I recently read and how I reacted to both...not that I am the best example...HAHA!

1st Example

"What Donald Trump has in common with Jesus is that they are both frauds that have duped their followers." - attributed to AOC

I do not like the politics of AOC. I do not particularly care for AOC. I believe AOC is not good for our country and she does say some so of the craziest stuff. But, I gave her the benefit of the doubt and did not automatically believe that is something she said. I did believe that is something she could have said not that she actually said it. I searched/researched on Google and DuckDuckGo and could not find any evidence of her saying that. Therefore I conclude that she did not say Jesus was a fraud.

2nd Example

"Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James told the NBA to dump the national anthem or he would quit."

Lebron is not my favorite. Michael Jordan is the GOAT and would have spanked Lebron while making him like it...hahaha! Lebron also says a lot of stuff I do not agree with especially his defense of China when they were persecuting, beating, arresting, killing the Hong Kong protesters. Yet, just like AOC, I gave Lebron the benefit of the doubt. I did not automatically believe he would say this. So again I did my own researching. Again, I could not find any evidence of Lebron making this statement. He didn't say it. Not true! I did find the source of the statement and it was a satirical post much like the Babylon Bee.

The same principle applies to the mainstream media(MSM). You need to use the same scrutiny and discernment to question what they are saying. Everything the MSM says is not true. Most of what they say is intended to influence opinion without reporting all of the facts. This can also be done by quoting statements out of context. Again to influence. This is not journalism. This is editorialism - structuring content to intentionally direct the viewer towards a preferred bias. They are directed to capture and awaken your emotion by creating a victimology story line - "the possession of an outlook, arising from real or imagined victimization, that seems to glorify and indulge the state of being a victim." This is done in almost every movie produced today. They all start with a person or animal that has become victimized.

Again, use your brain, not just your heart. Another tip is this...if a news network, newspaper presents 95% of it's stories negatively towards an individual or leader, there is something wrong. Just like the guy you went to high school with that always ran his mouth trashing the people he didn't like. You figured out that he had the guy lost his girlfriend back in the 6th grade to the one he always trashed. Well, none of his bad-mouthing was accurate just like what the MSM does is not journalism. BTW, what is up with the endorsing of candidates by News organizations come election time? News organization that endorse candidates are no longer news organizations...they are editorial story writers wielding political influence.

These are the same organizations that tell you who you should support because of your race, religion, gender or ethnicity. What they are basically saying is "you cannot think for yourself. Let us do the thinking for you. You just do what we say!"

Gaining knowledge, seeking truth and understanding should be the goal. The free exchange of ideas should be the activity. Do not allow someone to silence your ideals because they do not fit a narrative that you are supposed to fit in. Others will try and silence your voice by using names to convey shame...Islamophobe, Xenophobe, Misogynist, Sexist, Racist, Bigot, Hatemonger. Using terms to silence your voice is called intellectual cowardice.

Always seek to gain understanding. Always keep the heart connected to the mind. Always keep the mind connected to the heart. You cannot win an argument...winning should never be the goal. Arguing only creates greater separation. The bible says in 1 Peter 3:15 "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."

One last thing to remember about arguing..."Once you've cut off a person's nose, there's no point giving him a rose to smell." We want them to smell the rose - the sweet fragrance of our savior Jesus!