I watched the recent Documentary New Zealand, “Web of Chaos” (available on TVNZ On Demand) and I was disturbed by it. I wasn’t sure what to make of it. I wanted to know what others thought so I asked around.
My concerns were that there are some very alarming things
being said and done by the “far right”. There is no excuse for nastiness,
threats of violence, including death threats, and for the intransigent
proclamation of things that are simply not right. I was also concerned that
Christians are seen as key players. The documentary explicitly, and through selected
imagery at certain points, emphasised the role that Christians are playing. But
I was also concerned that the documentary appeared to lack any balance.
It dealt largely with the social media algorithms that feed
us more of the stuff we have already been watching, thus reinforcing those
views, and with mis- and dis-information. Misinformation is defined as being
inaccurate but spread with no malintent. Disinformation is a calculated
campaign involving untruths. I was concerned that all of the accusations of
mis- and dis-information were focused on the far right. What about the far
left?
And, if it was biased in that way, was it disinformation
criticising disinformation? Was it really a documentary or more a piece of
propaganda?
I started watching already suspicious. And, I think I saw
what I expected to see and I was agitated by it.
But I sensed the danger of getting sucked down a rabbit
hole. Hence my desire to talk with others. Was I over-reacting. Was I being
balanced and discerning?
Asking around, I discovered several things. Firstly, how few
people had actually seen it. Secondly, how few people actually watch anything
live. Some laughed and asked what TV was! But thirdly, some people had seen it but
not the way I had. They had not seen it as anti-Christian nor as propaganda.
They viewed it as far more of a factual documentary.
And so, I watched it again with that different pair of
glasses on and I saw it differently. Maybe it wasn’t nearly as agenda-driven as
I had suspected. We need to know about the power of the algorithms and about the hateful and untrue things being said by some. I still had some concerns about the way Christians were
portrayed and about the lack of balance. You will find Christians across the
political spectrum and with very good reasons. Some might be “right wing” on
some issues and “left wing” on others. Not all Christians are extremists any
more than all Muslims are terrorists, but that wasn’t acknowledged. And, as I
say, there was no investigation of the mis- and dis-information on the far left,
or what is driving that. However, I did realise that I had watched through a
suspicious lens and that distorted how I saw it.
It highlighted several issues for me.
1.
I am embarrassed by “Christians” being involved
in the extremes (on either side, but the current focus is on the right wing of
politics). While the portrayal might not have been either sympathetic or
balanced, the reality is that there are people who claim to be Christians but
who are behaving very badly.
We might not be able to “control”
them although, if they are in our churches, maybe we should have some tough
conversations. They are giving Jesus a very bad name. Christians need to
display at least some Christ-likeness and much of what we have seen has not
been Christ-like. We need to disciple people to maturity.
And, maybe the good witness of the
Christian community needs to be much more visible so that, at least, the world might
realise that not all Christians are extremists. May they also see compassion
and generosity and reasonableness that contrast with the view presented by the
media.
Of course, not everybody who
claims to be a Christian is. Some use the label as a convenience. The media
might not be able to discern that and we can do little about it, other than
provide a very different picture that might make people pause and compare.
2.
We need each other. I needed to talk to people
who could bring balance. It is too easy for me to sit with own my thoughts when
I need a wider perspective. The algorithms do create an echo chamber that can
distort our views. We need to talk to people who agree with us on many things
to see if they agree with us on this one. We need to talk to people who do not
agree with us so that we are challenged to consider different angles.
I particularly like watching
debates so that I can hear more than one view. I might disagree with one (or
both) but, at least, I need to grapple with the arguments. I fear that we get
precious few debates in our media now where we can hear diverse views.
3.
There is a huge need for discernment. In a
polarised world full of competing claims, presented convincingly and
professionally, how can we know what is right?
There is a great need to
fact-check and research. We should have the attitude of the Bereans.
Acts 17:11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble
character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great
eagerness and examined the scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was
true.
And we need to
recognise the power of the algorithms.
The restrictions of the Covid-19 pandemic allowed both unbelievers and
believers more time to search the web for information and to unwittingly go
down rabbit holes.
4.
Sin is not restricted to one political view. Much
of the polarisation today stems from an unwillingness to acknowledge good in
others. We are told that people in one category are totally evil while those in
another are 100% good. We need to recognise that there is good in our opponents
and evil in our supporters (and ourselves).
Those who are damning of one
group often display the very characteristics they are condemning in others.
Those campaigning against disinformation might use disinformation to do it. Those
demanding tolerance might be intolerant. Those who campaign for freedom need to
ensure they give freedom to others.
The Puritan immigrants to the
United States in the early seventeenth century sought religious freedom yet did
not extend religious freedom to others. Sin crouches at the door.
Christians are committed to
truth. Let us not be among those peddling lies.
The so-called “culture wars” are raging. We might feel
passionately about some of the things happening around us. In fact, we should.
A lot is at stake. But it is easy to identify with one side or the other and
for our views to then become twisted. Let’s keep talking to God, keep reading
the scriptures and keep talking to each other. Let’s make sure our passion is
well-directed and our behaviour reveals Jesus. Let’s lovingly challenge bad behaviour
in each other and be open to correction from our friends. The honour of Jesus
is at stake. And let’s keep praying.
