Rear Admiral John Kirby (Ret.) serves as White House National Security Communications Advisor. He has become a familiar face on every news network. One of the only spokes people brave enough to appear on all news platforms. What I find telling about the networks are the type of questions they ask him and how poised and confident his answers are on each station.
On Monday, Kirby appeared on both NBC and Fox morning programs to respond to Iran’s attempt to hit Israel with hundreds of missiles and drones. The attack was the first of its kind where Iran went directly after Israel, instead of using its proxy units to attack. Kirby was composed, confident and consistent in his answers. There was, however, a difference in the questioning. Savannah Guthrie of NBC, used her time and question selection in an attempt to get Admiral Kirby to blame Israel for the attack, while Bill Hemmer & Dana Perino of Fox framed their questions around Iran’s support of Hamas and Israel’s actions being one of defense. They highlighted the fact that only one person was injured and the defense measures worked. Two different approaches to the same story, but Admiral Kirby’s answers were consistent to both networks. He didn’t take the bait from either outlet.
There are times when I wish we could return to the 1930s when it comes to reporting the news. One broadcast by the BBC on April 18, 1930 stands as the lone example. At the start of its regular news broadcast at 8:45 p.m., the BBC announced, “Good evening. Today is Good Friday. There is no news.” This unexpected declaration was followed by 15 minutes of piano music, before the radio station resumed its broadcast of Wagner’s opera Parsifal. https://historyfacts.com/world-history/fact/bbc-announced-no-news/
In the 24-hour news cycle we cannot imagine a news channel doing this today, but it would be refreshing to just hear the truth. Just report the news and allow the viewer to decided. That is why I point out Admiral Kirby’s interviews. He didn’t take the bait, he answered their questions and stayed on script. I don’t know how he does it; few could do his job. Don’t stir the controversy, just report and return when there is additional information.
In Titus 3:9-11 we are warned to watch out for this attitude in the Church. Human nature invites us to formulate an opinion before we have all the facts. Doing so can harm others and our own reputation. We are told: But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. Proverbs 29:22 has a similar message: A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression. This is why most Americans go away angry and still uninformed after watching reports from the major news outlets. Sometimes this happens in churches today too.
We have to be aware of what the Bible actually has to say and how to apply it in our day!
It is hard for our generation to admit, but sometimes the best answer is simply, “I don’t know!” I don’t know how I feel about that… or I simply don’t have an opinion on the subject. Don’t let someone bait you in on a controversial subject you have little knowledge about and possibly zero interest in discussing. Jesus said it best: All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ anything beyond this comes from the evil one (Matthew 5:37).
Serving the Savior,
Bro. Jonathan
On Monday, Kirby appeared on both NBC and Fox morning programs to respond to Iran’s attempt to hit Israel with hundreds of missiles and drones. The attack was the first of its kind where Iran went directly after Israel, instead of using its proxy units to attack. Kirby was composed, confident and consistent in his answers. There was, however, a difference in the questioning. Savannah Guthrie of NBC, used her time and question selection in an attempt to get Admiral Kirby to blame Israel for the attack, while Bill Hemmer & Dana Perino of Fox framed their questions around Iran’s support of Hamas and Israel’s actions being one of defense. They highlighted the fact that only one person was injured and the defense measures worked. Two different approaches to the same story, but Admiral Kirby’s answers were consistent to both networks. He didn’t take the bait from either outlet.
There are times when I wish we could return to the 1930s when it comes to reporting the news. One broadcast by the BBC on April 18, 1930 stands as the lone example. At the start of its regular news broadcast at 8:45 p.m., the BBC announced, “Good evening. Today is Good Friday. There is no news.” This unexpected declaration was followed by 15 minutes of piano music, before the radio station resumed its broadcast of Wagner’s opera Parsifal. https://historyfacts.com/world-history/fact/bbc-announced-no-news/
In the 24-hour news cycle we cannot imagine a news channel doing this today, but it would be refreshing to just hear the truth. Just report the news and allow the viewer to decided. That is why I point out Admiral Kirby’s interviews. He didn’t take the bait, he answered their questions and stayed on script. I don’t know how he does it; few could do his job. Don’t stir the controversy, just report and return when there is additional information.
In Titus 3:9-11 we are warned to watch out for this attitude in the Church. Human nature invites us to formulate an opinion before we have all the facts. Doing so can harm others and our own reputation. We are told: But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. Proverbs 29:22 has a similar message: A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression. This is why most Americans go away angry and still uninformed after watching reports from the major news outlets. Sometimes this happens in churches today too.
We have to be aware of what the Bible actually has to say and how to apply it in our day!
It is hard for our generation to admit, but sometimes the best answer is simply, “I don’t know!” I don’t know how I feel about that… or I simply don’t have an opinion on the subject. Don’t let someone bait you in on a controversial subject you have little knowledge about and possibly zero interest in discussing. Jesus said it best: All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ anything beyond this comes from the evil one (Matthew 5:37).
Serving the Savior,
Bro. Jonathan
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