In our news media the idea that Christianity, or specifically, the God of the Bible, has any impact on current events is seen as a myth. If you consider the reporting of news events in the same way that the news commentators do (either consciously or unconsciously) you will have a distorted view of reality. You will be lulled into assuming that God is like us, just a spectator to the unfolding of human events. However, it is this flawed assumption that is the real myth. Acts 17:24-27 teaches that God is deeply involved in the events of all of human history, including current events:
24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.”
Thus, if you ignore the power and plan of God when you talk about history or when you report the news, your discussion lacks key facts. It is true we do not often know the particular reasons why God has chosen to make history unfold as it has. This must be clearly stressed. But we do know this: God is sovereignly active in all of human history including what will be reported on tonight’s network news reports.
The fact of God’s sovereign control must be at the forefront of our thinking. Wars, earthquakes, and cultural upheavals are not a series of unrelated, random events. They are all part of the specific plan of the Lord of Creation— his eternal plan to bring glory and honor to himself. Failure to report this aspect of current events means that only part of the story is being told. It means that reality has been distorted into an inaccurate and flawed report. Imagine the following news alert crawling across the bottom of the TV screen as you watch a cable news program:
Breaking News Alert: The President and leaders of Congress failed to ask God for wisdom in determining how to address the crisis in Syria. This reckless and arrogant refusal to trust God has historically led to grave consequences in the course of human history. Leading cultural commentators like Kirk Cameron, Cal Thomas, and Dr. Ben Carson call for prayer and the application of biblical principles.
Such an alert will not be on the news reports this night. But it should be!
Remind your children of these realities when the pundits and commentators report or comment on what has happened and why. If they don’t acknowledge God’s control, then they are not acknowledging the truth. They are out of touch with reality.