Here’s the latest from the crossroads of faith, media & culture: 01/04/24
Big choices ahead. 2024 is apt to be the epitome of the proverbial watershed year with very consequential choices to be made pertaining to the direction of our country, world and culture. Those issues are myriad and I plan on sharing my thoughts on the most significant among them on Friday.
Before any complex issue can be tackled however, it is my belief that you need a firm set of principles to deal with them. These principles need to be held internally within ourselves first and foremost if we are to seek to apply them to the world at large – but, from hard experience, I do believe the 14 Principles I espouse here are helpful and empowering ones that should be promoted in the culture (i.e. the media), education, business and government (i.e. the rules we are all expected to live by).
Here goes:
1. The Principle of Balance
That is the principle that virtually any line of thought can be taken to an extreme. True progress isn’t to be found in taking things to the extreme right or the extreme left. True progress is made when we find the balancing point between the two perspectives and then proceed forward with equilibrium.
It’s been said that for every adage there is another one that seems to say the exact opposite. It’s not that one is right and one is wrong. Very often they are both true but they both exist to balance one another.
A quick search of the internet turns up several examples. Some of my favorites include:
- Look before you leap/Those who hesitate are lost. In other words, find the balance between recklessness and too much caution.
- If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again./Don’t beat your head against a stone wall. Find the balance between steadfast persistence and doing the same thing that failed over and over again and expecting a different result (the definition of insanity per still another adage). Perhaps it is good to hold onto a positive goal but be willing to adjust your tactics to meet reality.
- Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today./Don’t cross the bridge until you come to it. Procrastination certainly doesn’t tend to accomplish much but neither does trying to accomplish everything all at once. And sometimes it is necessary to take a breather and get your bearings – just not too much.
- It’s better to be safe than sorry. /Nothing ventured, nothing gained. That whole recklessness vs. caution thing again.
- Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth./Beware of Greeks bearing gifts. It’s important to seize opportunities as they occur (Strike while the iron is hot!) but don’t leap before you look (If it’s seems to be too good to be true it probably is). In other words, be open to possibilities but hold onto your common sense. It’s a balance.
- Do unto others as you would have others do unto you./Nice guys finish last. This one’s hard for Christians because it is indeed a foundational part of our belief system that we treat others as we would want to be treated ourselves, that we turn the other cheek and not look for confrontation and certainly not revenge. On the other hand there’s also this from Galatians: For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Of course, people can go on for centuries quoting different passages of The Bible to make seemingly contradictory points (and they have). It can get very circular. The truth, I think, is that even biblical ideas need to be held in balance. So, yes, we should always seek to be fair and kind to others, avoid conflict and not act out of anger or in search of revenge. And we should strive to be nice because it is the right way to be and because, well, Time wounds all heels. At the same time, however, I do not believe we are called to submit to the yoke of any kind of slavery – not just slavery in the literal sense but also any form of physical or emotional abuse including any forms of bullying, shaming or gaslighting. Avoid conflict if at all possible but, in appropriate ways, stand up the rights of others – and yourself.
- Many hands make light work./Too many cooks spoil the broth. Somewhere between everyone having a say and nobody in charge lies balance.
- A stitch in time saves nine./If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. There’s definitely good in looking ahead and anticipating what may go wrong in the future and attempting to deal with it beforehand but that doesn’t necessarily require tearing asunder the system that’s in place. All too often you create new problems that are even worse. Nobody said balance was easy.
- Save for a rainy day./Tomorrow will take care of itself. Along the same lines as the above, there’s a perennial tension between wisely preparing for the future and not letting yourself be overcome with worry about it.
- Life is what we make it./What will be, will be. We can’t control everything and are foolish to try – but we are equally foolish if we don’t control what we reasonably can (i.e. our tempers).
- Opposite attracts./Birds of the same feather flock together. It would be a dull and uninspiring world if we were all alike. So, celebrate our differences – but also celebrate what we have in common.
- Faint heart never won fair lady./The meek shall inherit the earth. Confidence and assertiveness are good but too much of those good qualities can all too easily morph into aggressiveness and arrogance which are not good.
- With age comes wisdom. /Out of the mouths of babes come all wise sayings. Younger people benefit the wisdom that older folks (hopefully) have to offer but older people benefit from the energy and new perspectives that the young bring to the table. Nobody has a monopoly on smarts.
- Two is company, three is a crowd./The more, the merrier. Openness to other people is a great quality which should be encouraged – as long as boundaries are respected. Which brings us to our second principle.
2. The Principle of Boundaries
We all have our God-given inalienable individual rights but we all benefit when we respect the boundaries of others. Beyond individuals, the idea of boundaries extends to such areas as religion, science, business, media and government. All offer something good to society so long as they all stay in their lanes. Societal balance is disrupted once the leaders and members of any one of those sectors start getting a little haughty in believing that what they bring to the table should supercede the perspectives of the others. Religious leaders are called to articulate moral principles that help guide people in all walks of life but they are not called to rule the world. History has taught us the danger of theocracies. Scientists have so much knowledge to offer but neither are they called to rule us. As smart as they are, they don’t know everything and the excesses of mad scientists aren’t just documented in comic books. History books are full of examples as well. Business leaders are great at creating innovative products and services, as well as jobs, but people are not created to serve their bottom lines. The media should inform, entertain, provoke us to think and inspire us – but does anyone think the world would be a better place if Hollywood ran things? Government leaders are indeed supposed to come up with rules of the road for the rest of us to abide by but those rules are supposed to serve freedom and everyone’s right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Once those who are supposed to serve us start flipping that dynamic and it becomes about maintaining their power we have the seeds of tyranny.
3. The Principle of Conviction.
Everyone has the right to believe what they believe – about God, about when life begins and, yes, even about the fairness of election outcomes. We all need to follow the law but that should never preclude more debate. We need more honest discussions and less coercion from either the right or the left.
4. The Principle of Courage
It’s been said that the cost of freedom is eternal vigilance. That’s true – but maintaining freedom also requires the courage of citizens to stand up in a lawful way for the values they hold to be true. The Constitution literally isn’t worth the paper if power seekers are allowed to distort and/or ignore it.
5. The Principle of Discernment
Education needs to get back to teaching kids how to think not what to think. And adults need to get back to examining issues on their own merit, on eternal principles and not according to whose ox is being gored.
6. The Principle of Discipline
Success is achieved through persistent discipline. While our standards must be realistic and understanding of human weakness and imperfection, we do nobody any favors (including students) by lowering the objective standards of excellence. And, yes, we should strive for excellence.
7. The Principle of Empathy
We would all do well when considering any issue before us to take some time to consider the matter from our opponents’ points of view. To paraphrase Desiderata: Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to (those we view as) dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. The way to solve problems is not to destroy the other side. It’s to understand it and work with all people goodwill to come up with solutions that, as best as humans can, address everyone’s legitimate concerns.
8. The Principle of Forgiveness
This applies not just to others but ourselves – and our ancestors. We need to learn from the past not use it as a vehicle for condemnation because if we persist in peeling that onion we’ll be left with nothing to hold onto. No individual and no culture has a perfect history. Utopia and Wakenda are fantasy worlds that exist only in fiction. Jesus said to the crowd gathered around the adulterous woman “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” Our faith is built upon forgiveness but social media and other cultural forces have made it all too easy to form mobs and throw stones. As individuals and as a culture, we need to start resisting that temptation and move forward with forgiveness.
9. The Principle of Gratitude
There’s an old saying that goes Use it or lose it. You could add Be grateful for what you have or lose it. On a national level I’d say that applies to our freedom and democracy – though, TBH, I’m not so sure some of those making the most noise on that front are motivated by gratitude. That’s where discernment comes in. Know who your true friends are and be grateful for them.
10. The Principle of Humor
Laughter is truly a very good medicine. It can literally add years to your life and can can bring people of diverse backgrounds together in a way that few things can. It’s the antidote for self-importance in ourselves, in the powerful and even in those who perceive themselves as perpetual victims. The ability to laugh at one’s self is freeing. A good joke can range from nonsensical to pointed but it should never cross the line into being cruel. Anything can be abused.
11. The Principle of Passion and Purpose
The right to the pursuit of happiness is noted right at the start of the Declaration of Independence. If you can find a way to match your passion with a purpose that benefits others, you have discovered the recipe for lasting happiness. BTW, happiness is not a sin. As long as your not hurting others, pursue what you love without embarrassment or guilt.
12. The Principle of Perseverance
Neither pursuing what you love or standing up for what you believe in is easy. There are bound to be tough times. The toughest times often come right before the breakthroughs. Stick to it. Your goals and methods may have to be adjusted some but don’t give up.
13. The Principle of Self-Confidence
You’re unlikely to go anywhere if you don’t believe in yourself. Believe that God made you good and placed positive dreams in your heart that will lead you to a good place if you pursue them with honesty, humility (be willing to pay your dues), gratitude and non-boastful confidence.
14. The Principle of Trust in God
That’s right. Trust God. There is nothing more empowering than believing this: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. To truly believe that the Creator is on your side – even to the point of fixing your mistakes – is a powerful idea. On the other end of the spectrum, to believe in a false vindictive god who is out to punish and harm anyone whose faith isn’t perfect is, I’ve come to believe, worse than doubting or not believing in the divinity of Jesus or even the existence of God.
There is no sin that is beyond God’s ability and willingness to forgive – but first you have to believe and trust that God is indeed good and has the best interest of you and everyone else in His world at heart. To believe the opposite is a destructive false belief that can block a person from experiencing the unlimited healing power of God’s grace. The good news is that it’s a temporary condition. All one has to do is decide to change that paradigm in one’s own mind (you can certainly ask God for help) and that blockage will immediately be removed. The best response to personal failure, the failures of others and the failures of our ancestors is not condemnation but acceptance of God’s mercy and grace (for all of us) and a resolve to do better in the future.
John W. Kennedy is a writer, producer and media development consultant specializing in television and movie projects that uphold positive timeless values, including trust in God.
Encourage one another and build each other up – 1 Thessalonians 5:11
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