Your Voice

Are you addicted to doomscrolling?

By Brian Hobbs
Editor, Oklahoma Baptist Messenger

According to a recent study, on average we spend five and a half hours on digital media and glance at our phones 221 times every day.

What are we doing during those hours? One phenomenon that has emerged is called doomscrolling (or doomsurfing), which has been defined as “the act of spending an excessive amount of screen time devoted to the absorption of negative news.”

Feeding our desires

Just what is it about social media and life in general that makes people drawn to such news?

For starters, there is something innate in humans that draws our eyes toward the sordid. Think of how traffic always slows down around a car wreck. Think of how local television news stations always lead with bad news. Think of how fast tragic news travels.

Christians can and should be aware of suffering and bad news around us. When disaster strikes, Christians cannot bury our heads in the sand or be blind to needs.

At the same time, much of what passes for staying informed or getting the real news is really just an expression of our daily appetite for outrage and intrigue.

A little bit of gossip or a feeling of outrage is what we desire, but feeding that desire often leaves us only wanting more.

This partially explains why social media and the internet are filled with millions of websites and popular social posts that gain attention based on outrage and intrigue.

Christians should not be the people feeding on such things. The Apostle Paul, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, gives timeless and timely lessons to us in the Book of Romans.

Hear these words: “Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you” (Rom. 16:19–20).

Did you hear that? We are to be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil. Christians would do well to be more aloof from outrage and intrigue. Why? Because we rest in knowing God is in control, and we want to be a people marked by calm confidence in Jesus.

C.S. Lewis said, “A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.”

Use it as your cue

Are you constantly ogling your phone to look down on others or partake in the daily outrage? If so, the next time you are tempted to spend part of your day doomscrolling, use that as your cue to pray and get into the Word, “making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:16).

In the end, that’s the kind of time investment that will make an eternal impact.

Let me be very clear.  The purpose of this post is not to gain sympathy or seek affirmation. So as much as I appreciate that, please don’t respond accordingly.

The purpose of this post is singularly to state that I identify with so many of you, my fellow pastors, in a season of deep sorrow, struggle, discouragement and, yes, depression.

Cultural headwinds that feel like a hurricane, sickness, death, loss of trust in individuals and organizations. All of that and more.

You are not alone in your feelings. You are not less of a pastor or a Christian because of these emotions. You are a tenderhearted shepherd who hurts with his flock.

All saints through the ages have endured such dark seasons, many far worse than ours. And all made it safely to the safe harbor — albeit with torn sails and a battered hull. But safely nonetheless.

And so shall we. When all hope seems to fade, set your sights on that harbor and your Strong Captain who is more than capable of securing your safe passage.

Mark Clifton
Senior director of replanting North American Mission Board

Don’t play ‘The Blame Game’

I’ve never seen a board game called “The Blame Game,” but I know something like it exists.

People play different versions of it in real life all the time.

Since Eve blamed the serpent and Adam blamed Eve, the blame game has been played in various forms.

The Bible is full of examples.

The Israelites blamed Moses for desert life. Ahab blamed Elijah for the king’s troubles.

Even Martha blamed Jesus for Lazarus’ death.

And the blame game beat goes on today. Teams blame coaches for losses. Teenagers blame parents for restrictive lifestyles.

Churches blame pastors when sin erodes the fellowship. Parents blame teachers when kids fail. Politicians blame other politicians for inflation.

Paul noted a universal rule of the blame game — finger pointing.

“Therefore you are without excuse, O man, whoever you are who judges, for when you judge another, you condemn yourself, for you who judge do the same things” (Rom. 2:1).

Jesus didn’t look favorably on judging others. A judgmental attitude serves as a smokescreen to hide your own foibles.

Paul saw such judges as guilty of the same issues for which they condemned others — hypocrisy, another rule of the blame game.

Never forget that God, the ultimate Judge, knows the truth about you. Let that serve as motivation to can the blame.

Darryl Wood
“A Personal Word from a Retread Pastor” blog via Facebook

We have a solemn responsibility to speak the truth, teach the truth and live by the truth.

Clayton Cloer
Pastor, Church at the Cross in Orlando, Florida

Our network of Southern Baptist Churches continues to send missionaries across the world, share the good news of Jesus, raise up the next generation of leaders, speak biblical truth, plant thriving churches and cooperate for the good of the gospel in our world. We pray the Lord brings a spirit of revival as we walk in truth.

Pastor Mark Bethea
FBC Montgomery

“People are willing to write a check if asked. They’re willing to help, but I just felt a calling to go over, to actually do something in person,” said Susan Kirkland, who traveled with a team of Alabama Baptists to Romania to help serve Ukrainian refugees.

“We want to become a church that looks more like our neighborhood, and we want to become a church that looks more like heaven,” said Teman Knight, pastor of Heritage Baptist Church in Montgomery.

“The Bible never says every negative thing that happens to us is the result of sin. But it does teach every sin carries negative consequences,” said James Jackson, pastor of Glynwood Baptist Church in Prattville.

One of the greatest examples of cooperative missions is Southern Baptist Disaster Relief and countless selfless SBDR volunteers who serve faithfully. …

The sacrificial ministry of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers has been a beacon of light amid darkness and despair. Repeatedly, I have heard those to whom they minister ask them, “Why would you do this?” and heard them respond, “Because Jesus loves and cares about you.” …

Every mobile kitchen, shower trailer, chain saw unit and roofing nail is available because Southern Baptists choose to give cooperatively to support missions and ministry like Southern Baptist Disaster Relief. SBDR is one of our greatest examples that we are better together.

Coy Webb
Crisis response director, Send Relief

From the Twitterverse

@johnthweatt
“Father, What we know not, teach us; What we have not, give us; What we are not, make us; For the sake of your Son our Savior. Amen.”

@scarby76
One of the mistakes Jonah makes as he looks upon Nineveh is that he doesn’t recognize that the same mercy they are getting is the mercy he has received. Great sinners need great mercy, and we are all great sinners. Point people to Jesus and His mercy and watch what happens.

@edstetzer
Most people in the church are friendly. Most people treat pastors with respect. But it can be hard to find true friends among those you’re charged to shepherd.

@shadesmtn
If you put your attention on what has been done TO you, it will be impossible to forgive.

If you put your attention on what has been done FOR you, forgiveness will be normal.

@MichaelCatt
The danger of the hour is everyone wants the platform but nobody wants the prayer closet.

@DustinBenge
There’s no greater hope that we have in a life wrecked by sin, shame and despair than to be in the arms of a devoted, loving heavenly Father.

@bobrobertsjr
Pastor, your church isn’t a platform upon which to perform or a place of self-actualization & fulfillment, but an altar where you lay your life down for the sheep God has placed in your care — Just like Jesus — never forget that.

@Bezner
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you” (Ps. 56:3).

Life can sometimes be overwhelming. God is still powerful. God is still good.

@orenrmartin
All of God’s external works — from creation to consummation — are works of the three Divine Persons enacting one divine power, ordered by one divine wisdom, expressing one divine goodness, and manifesting one divine glory. —@scottrswain

Letters to the Editor

The lead article for the June 2 issue — “Overwhelmed,” “amazed” while ministering to Ukrainian refugees — was touching and factual.

I am sure the national news must have given the statistics quoted in this article, but with all the death and gunfire coverage, I missed it.

Your article gave reasons for Poland’s tremendous support of the Ukrainian people — not to let WWII happen again.

I appreciate the author’s missions work and coverage of the situation and his ability to show the brotherly love and compassion of others as well as one’s love of his country in the piece.

It is hard to believe the world’s situation of school killings and countries invading other countries.

Thanks again for your leadership and direction.

Sharon Hill
Birmingham, Ala.