Other than the resentful, vapid feed on Facebook, X (or Twitter, or ‘formerly known as Twitter’ [just what are we calling it these days?!]), or wherever you consume your content, what have you read that has nourished and challenged you? Social is a wonderful megaphone that amplifies our current beliefs–does anyone really follow people they are predisposed to disagree with? But we need so much more than just the empty echo chamber that so often boisterously clamors for our attention. When was the last time you spent more time in a paper book than your phone or computer reading? Not even an audiobook. A paper book where you can highlight, mark, annotate, think, muse, and turn ideas over in your head? Not an ebook. But with a pen or pencil write with your hand, highlighter to spark your interest, or Post-It note to recall a concept down the line? When was the last time you wrote or journaled or put something on paper–even if it stinks? Even if no one will ever read it. No one is going to go combing through decades-old Tweets to get your take or beliefs. And yet, we’re still using books decades, centuries, even millennia old, to learn and discern and grow wiser.
The digital media world is just as much a part of the consumer mentality as is credit cards or Amazon Prime. We consume content. And yet–none of it sticks. None of it matters. To combat that we must have the antidote of good literature, meaningful conversations, and most importantly, personal devotions. And more than a tweet’s worth of Bible. And more than a mere “like” of a solid, grounded doctrine. Personal interaction. Personal transformation as a result of the Spirit’s renewing of our mind. Find a book. Read it. A book that challenges you. Especially the Book of all books. Your viewpoint. Your heart. Your preconceptions. Read. Get off social media. We need the greatest Book and solid literature and the discipline of analog writing more than any divisive or polemic post or thread that we or any theologian, politician, commentator, or influencer–of any stature–can conjure up.