Too much of a good thing, if it begins to own us, can lower our quality of life and even ruin it. From a Biblical perspective, we can quickly conclude good things, like alcohol and sex, if used outside of purpose, will bring ruin in this life and even God’s condemnation without repentance.
There’s a song released in 1985, by Robert Palmer, entitled, “Addicted to Love.” In the English language, the word “love” can have many different meanings, but it is clear from the lyrics, this love is specific to romantic love, describing well what happens to a person experiencing a focused infatuation for another person.
The first stanza and refrain read,
The lights are on, but you're not home
Your mind is not your own
Your heart sweats, your body shakes
Another kiss is what it takes
You can't sleep, you can't eat
There's no doubt, you're in deep
Your throat is tight, you can't breathe
Another kiss is all you need
Whoa, you like to think that you're immune to the stuff, oh yeah
It's closer to the truth to say you can't get enough
You know you're gonna have to face it, you're addicted to love
So, the concept is easy enough to perceive, that, if a chemical or behavior cause you to live “out-of-control,” this is a good definition of addiction.
We have something involved in our modern-day life which all of us have access to, even 24 hours a day, and that is the news. It’s available on live TV, live video formats, live podcasts, and, of course, it can be shared any time as saved formats, websites, and articles.
Science News
News addiction linked to not only poor mental wellbeing but physical health too, new study shows
Date: August 24, 2022
Source: Taylor & Francis Group
THE ARTICLE BEGINS…
People with an obsessive urge to constantly check the news are more likely to suffer from stress, anxiety, as well as physical ill health, finds a new study published in the peer-reviewed journal Health Communication.
During the last two years we have lived through a series of worrying global events, from the COVID pandemic to Russia invading Ukraine, large-scale protests, mass shootings and devastating wildfires. For many people, reading bad news can make us feel temporarily powerless and distressed.
For others, being exposed to a 24-hour news cycle of continually evolving events can have serious impacts on mental and physical wellbeing -- as these new findings, out today, show, with those who have a high-level of news addiction reporting "significantly greater physical ill-being."
LATER IN THE ARTICLE…
- 73.6% (about 8 times more likely) of those recognized to have severe levels of problematic news consumption reported experiencing mental ill-being "quite a bit" or "very much" -- whilst frequent symptoms were only reported by 8% of all other study participants.
- 61% (about 10 times more likely) of those with severe levels of problematic news reported experiencing physical ill-being "quite a bit" or "very much" compared to only 6.1% for all other study participants.
The study reports on an addictive response to news, but they do not attempt to assess news quality. For instance, they don’t ask the question, Is the news even true?” Are they doing more than just sharing information with us, or are they also attempting to persuade us to draw certain conclusions?
So, the study about news addiction is not holding the news responsible for the addiction, nor should it, just as we should not hold alcohol or sex responsible for their misuse. Instead, realizing that we could be addicted to news, we can also dig deeper into news quality, so that, even if not addicted, we are not deceived or manipulated.
Exo 23:1 "You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.
Num 13:32 And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, "The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature.
Just because we receive news, does this guarantee it to be true?
2Sa 13:29 So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and each one got on his mule and fled.
2Sa 13:30 And it came to pass, while they were on the way, that news came to David, saying, "Absalom has killed all the king's sons, and not one of them is left!"
2Sa 13:31 So the king arose and tore his garments and lay on the ground, and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.
2Sa 13:32 Then Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David's brother, answered and said, "Let not my lord suppose they have killed all the young men, the king's sons, for only Amnon is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.
2Sa 13:33 Now therefore, let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead. For only Amnon is dead."
Pro 18:17 The first one to plead his cause seems right, Until his neighbor comes and examines him.
Psa 118:9 It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in princes.
Psa 146:3 Do not put your trust in princes, Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.
ANOTHER ARTICLE PROVIDES SOME PRACTICLE ADVICE FOR COMBATTING NEWS ADDICTION…
HARTFORD HEALTHCARE
5 Ways to Avoid a News Addiction
September 9, 2022 | Elizabeth Marino
A new study suggests about 16% of the population are compulsive news watchers who can’t stop consuming or thinking about the news. The need for news and information can take over their lives, potentially leading to both physical and mental health problems.
THE ARTICLE REPORTS…
Chronic states of anxiety can lead to:
- Worsening mental health
- Poor sleep
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Anxiety
Worried that you might have a news addiction? Dr. Schnitzlein has these five tips for anyone looking to cut back:
- Blocking off chunks of time to read or watch news. Turn the device off outside of those times.
- Turning off push notifications.
- Avoiding “social” news inviting you to participate through comment/message boards.
- Viewing news only when you feel calm.
- Finding venues that provide facts.
If restraining ourselves in time spent focusing on 24-hour news seems difficult, it certainly can be. But a way to combat the addiction is to not leave the space of our time empty, and one of the best ways I suggest would be to focus on good news, the opposite of what we mainly see in the news cycle, but I’m not referencing here just any good news.
Psa 40:9 I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness In the great assembly; Indeed, I do not restrain my lips, O LORD, You Yourself know.
Psa 96:2 Sing to the LORD, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
Isa 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, "Your God reigns!"
As I conclude this presentation, I want to reference a statement Paul makes in 2 Corinthians, providing some closing comments.
2Co 4:2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
2Co 4:3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
2Co 4:4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
Closing comments
I suggest we focus on the good news, the gospel, of the Kingdom of God, whether struggling with news addiction or not, not allowing others who don’t seek first the Kingdom of God to manipulate us.
