We’ve all heard the saying, “if it bleeds, it leads.” Sensational headlines draw readers, because just like the scene of a car accident, where traffic slows as drivers stare at both the wreckage and the activity of first responders, it’s human nature to have one’s interest piqued by catastrophe. But in addition to having our curiosity aroused, our sense of mortality is quickened as we’re struck by the sobering reminder that our lives could be turned upside down – or worse – in the blink of an eye.
Here are a few recent headlines:
“The delta variant is ‘ripping through the unvaccinated’ and crowding hospitals in Florida, Texas”[1]
“Outbreak in Israel, Fully Vaccinated Individuals Make Up 50% of Infected Adults”
“Georgia man dies after allegedly stabbing, killing officer outside Pentagon” [2]
“From Beijin to Wuhan, China orders mass testing and restrictions as Covid cases rise”[3]
“Disney employees among 17 arrested in undercover child predator sting”[4]
“Vaccine mandates for indoor dining and theaters are coming to New York City”[5]
Now, while most of those aren’t “bleeding,” they certainly contain a substantial amount of dirt and grime. By using fear, danger, uncertainty, and, in the case of the child predator sting, shock, the media are able to snag our attention, which often leads us to absorb all manner of negativity.
Such headlines create within us a great deal of anxiety over the wellbeing of our friends and family. And while we genuinely care about those the news events have affected, we can’t help but insert ourselves and our loved ones into the stories, which cues our imaginations to envision terrifying what-ifs and anxiety-provoking scenarios.
One could list a number of false headlines and examples of media fearmongering, all of which help foment needless panic and outrage. (Remember the toilet paper and bottled water shortage we saw last year? How about the murder hornet invasion, and “systemic police racism”?) While not every “bleeding” headline is fabricated or sensationalized, we recognize increasing dangers every nation on earth. Believers in Christ recognize these dangers as the “birth pains” foretold in Bible prophecy.[6]
“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” – 2 Timothy 3:1-4, ESV
“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.” – Matthew 24:6, ESV
It is evident to me that the descriptions and themes contained in those verses perfectly encapsulate the age in which we’re living. But despite the fact that there exist very real dangers and legitimate threats, which journalists write about and report on daily, we do ourselves no favors by clicking their links or tuning into their segments. As Christ said, “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? “ (Matt. 6:26, NIV)
I recently came across this quote, which beautifully complements Jesus’ words above:
“Real contentment must come from within. You and I cannot change or control the world around us, but we can change and control the world within us.”
– Warren Wiersbe (American pastor and Bible teacher, 1929-2019)
Research shows that negativity displayed on news broadcasts captures viewers’ attention more than positivity, and also increases their ability to remember the story.[7] This tendency to expose ourselves to distressing news is called negativity bias; our brains were designed to pay more attention to bad things because it helps us avoid danger.
The avoidance of danger is, of course, a good thing, but in an age in which negative stimuli come at us 24/7, it can take a severe toll on our mental health by increasing stress levels, interrupting our sleep, exacerbating personal worries already present in our lives, and creating irrational beliefs, as well as fearful thoughts.
Fear stems from feeling as though we no longer have, or are quickly losing, control. We realize that things like earthquakes, sexual predators, viruses, vaccine injuries, political corruption, you name it, are not things we as individuals can sort out or put an end to, and so fear sets in, removing our focus from the things we can control and gluing it to the apparent chaos running rampant in the world beyond the relatively calm oases of our homes and communities.
We would do well to be like the birds, and the “lilies of the field,” who do not worry or fret but rather trust their Creator to provide, guide, and ultimately defeat all evil just as He has defeated all sin.[8]
Next time you see a headline screaming for your attention, simply ask yourself whether devoting your time to it would benefit or harm your mental and emotional health. If the answer is “harmful” or even “neither,” it probably isn’t worth it.
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” – Philippians 4:8, NIV
[1] USA Today
[2] WSB Atlanta
[3] CNN
[4] Fox 13 Tampa Bay
[5] Vox.com
[6] Matthew 24:8
[7] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08838159609364369?src=recsys&
[8] Matthew 25:41; John 12:31; Revelation 17:14; Revelation 20:13-14