Thursday 5 February 2009

We are continuing on with a look at tough and soft mindedness - Martin Luther King, Jr.

This prevalent tendency toward soft-mindedness is found in man's unbelievable gullibility. Take our attitude toward advertisements... Advertisers have long since learned that most people are soft-minded, and they capitalize on this susceptibility with skillful and effective slogans.
This undue gullibility is also seen in the tendency of many readers to accept the printed word of the press as final truth. Few people realize that even our authentic channels of information - the press, the platform, and in many instances the pulpit - do not give us objective and unbiased truth. Few people have the toughness of mind to judge critically and to discern the true from the false, the fact from the fiction. Our minds are constantly being invaded by legions of half-truths, prejudices and false facts. One of the great needs of mankind is to be lifted above the morass of false propaganda.

We are all fed many different points of view and must make decisions about what is closer to the truth of a situation. Most times, we hear those half-truths that we may accept or reject. Sometimes it depends on what half of this so-called truth suits us as we are. It is not easy to step aside and be able to face down the various facts that are presented and decide what is the truth. Our hearts are often leaning in one direction before we hear the various voices that are presented to us. At times it only takes a nudge to move us further along in a direction we are already leaning. That does not always help us with discerning the truth. I suppose even "tough-minded" people can be soft-minded when it comes to their side of the story. A tough minded person needs to be aware of how easy it is to rest among like-minded folk. For in those cases, how much truth do we really see and hear. The community of the church is needed to be a community of truth discernment so that each of us can be drawn a bit more closely to what may be the truth in our day. We must also be willing to trust in the power of forgiveness because we will at times...buy into propaganda that smells so sweet but is really quite a rotten piece of work.

Connection: Count up - if possible - the number of times within this day that you hear propaganda of one type or another. Some of it may be so subtle or what we want to hear, we don't even know it is propaganda attempting to steer us.

Lord of All Truthfulness, we live in a world that rings with so many voices that claim to be the way, the truth, and the light. Unfortunately, few voices really bring such truthfulness with them. Inspire us to hold up the voices of the world alongside your vision and promise that is meant to lead us to truthfulness. Amen.