A Pastor’s Guide to Wise News Consumption

News is everywhere. Local news. Texas news. National and international news. Political news, religious news, cultural news. Every day brings a fresh headline, a new controversy, or another story to follow. And for many people, keeping up with the news has become more than a habit. It has become an obsession.

Is that a good thing or a bad thing? It could be either. The only devotion that should rule our hearts is our devotion to Jesus. In fact, Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12.30–31). Our first priority must be knowing the Lord, honoring the Lord, and serving the Lord. Then, Jesus said, our second priority is to love our neighbors. That means engaging with others, encouraging others, and serving others. So, loving the Lord comes first, and loving people comes next.

A fair argument can be made that loving our neighbors includes being informed about what is happening around us. In other words, paying attention to the news can be part of loving people well. But that argument only goes so far. If the time we spend watching, listening to, or reading the news is going to fit under that second priority, then news must be a means, not an end. We should seek to understand what is happening in the world so we can love others wisely and help our communities and nation thrive, not merely so we can satisfy our curiosity or keep up with the latest controversy.

My mother used to tell me, “Son, when you grow up, you will learn that there are people who watch the news and people who make the news.” I think she was teaching me that the better way to use one’s time and energy is to impact the lives of others, not merely to observe the lives of others.

So how do we know whether our news consumption is wise or unhealthy? I think the best barometer is a simple question:

Will this news program, podcast, article, or website help me love the Lord more faithfully and love my neighbor more wisely?

If not, walk away. Do not get pulled into something that will only make you anxious, angry, fearful, or cynical. There is no spiritual value in that. Paul tells us to set our minds on what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4.8). If the news we consume is shaping our hearts in the opposite direction, we should take that seriously.

If the first question is how much news we should consume, the second question is where we should get the news we do consume. Choosing the wrong news source can quietly shape us in dangerous ways. It is easy to be misled or deceived, and our news sources have a powerful influence on the way we see the world. We are careful about the churches we join and the Bible teachers we trust. We should exercise the same kind of care when choosing the voices we allow to shape our understanding of the news.

Many people will agree with what I just said and still choose their news sources unwisely. This is not merely a matter of choosing a liberal news outlet or a conservative news outlet. People on both sides can distort the news through exaggeration, selective reporting, or even outright deceit. This is only my personal viewpoint, but I do not trust the slanted news from either MSNBC or Fox News. I believe both have repeatedly presented the news in ways that mislead their audiences.

So where do I get my news? That is a highly personal question, and I certainly would not want to bind anyone’s conscience to one news outlet or another. But there are a few sources I follow most days. I have found these outlets to be generally balanced, helpful, and informed by a Christian worldview. They help me stay properly informed without allowing the news to take an unholy and unhealthy place in my life. If you are interested, take a look and see whether any of them are valuable to you.

• Political and Worldview News

  • World News Group (wng.org)

    • I turn daily to World News Group. Their masthead says they provide “Sound journalism, grounded in facts and biblical truth,” and I have found that to be true. I know two of the leaders of this news organization personally, and I have great confidence in their integrity. WORLD offers a helpful blend of news reporting, cultural analysis, and Christian worldview reflection. You can read a few articles each day for free, but I pay for a monthly $4 subscription because I want to support good, honest, Christian journalism.

  • The Washington Times (washingtontimes.com)

    • The Washington Times is a secular news source, but I have generally found it to be useful and credible. It reports the news from a conservative perspective, which often aligns with my own political viewpoint, but I do not find it to be as sensationalistic or outrage-driven as many other news outlets. I still read it with discernment, as I try to do with every source, but it is one of the places I often turn for national and political news.

  • The Associated Press (ap.com)

    • I mostly use the Associated Press as a headline and breaking news source. Because AP is a major newswire service, it gives broad coverage of national news, international events, politics, science, culture, and more. I do not turn to AP for a Christian worldview or for in-depth moral analysis, but I do find it useful for quickly seeing what is happening in the world. Often, when I see an important or interesting headline on AP, I use that as a starting point for further reading from other sources.

• Religious News

  • The Christian Post (christianpost.com)

    • Just as there are many unhelpful secular news sources, there are also many unhelpful religious news sources. Some focus heavily on scandal, controversy, and outrage, often exaggerating stories in order to draw attention. I have found The Christian Post to be a more useful source for keeping up with religious news. Led editorially by Richard Land, a longtime Southern Baptist leader and former pastor, The Christian Post gives a helpful overview of news affecting Christians, churches, religious liberty, and the broader evangelical world. As with any news source, I read it with discernment, but I have found it to be a helpful place to begin.

• Political Commentary

  • The Briefing - Albert Mohler

    • Each weekday morning, Albert Mohler releases The Briefing, a daily analysis of news and events from a Christian worldview. The program usually runs around 25 to 30 minutes and helps listeners think carefully about politics, culture, moral issues, and world events through a biblical lens. The Briefing is an indispensable part of my own news consumption. I do not miss an episode, and I find it especially helpful because Mohler does not merely tell you what happened; he helps you think about why it matters. The easiest way to find The Briefing is to go to albertmohler.com/the-briefing, where you can listen without knowing how to use a podcast app. You can also find Albert Mohler on YouTube if that is easier for you. If you are reading this in July, you may have to wait a few weeks. Mohler usually takes July off, and The Briefing resumes in August.

  • Elephants in Rooms - Ken LaCorte (Youtube.com/@ElephantsInRooms)

    • I do not agree with everything Ken LaCorte says, but I often find his research into political and cultural issues helpful. His videos usually deal with controversial subjects and questions that many news outlets either avoid or handle too predictably. Because this is commentary and analysis, not straight news reporting, I watch with discernment. But I appreciate the way he challenges assumptions, presents evidence, and often forces me to think more carefully about issues I might otherwise view too simplistically. I usually come away from his videos better informed and with something worth considering. I would not recommend beginning here if you are looking for straight news. This is commentary and analysis.

News sources I personally avoid...

I hesitate to name sources I avoid because I do not want this article to become a debate about particular outlets. Still, because news sources shape us, I think it may be helpful to mention a few I generally avoid.

• MSNBC
  I avoid MSNBC because I find its coverage to be consistently shaped by a strong progressive and partisan perspective. In my opinion, it often presents the news in a less-than-honest way that reinforces its political viewpoint rather than helping viewers understand the full picture.

• Fox News
  I also tend to avoid Fox News. Though many conservative Christians trust Fox as a corrective to liberal media bias, I do not believe Fox is as fair and balanced as many people assume. Too often, in my view, its programming seems designed to keep viewers frustrated, alarmed, or angry. That may keep people watching, but I do not think it often helps Christians think clearly, calmly, charitably, or biblically.

• USA Today
  I avoid USA Today. In my opinion, many of its articles present themselves as straightforward reporting while quietly carrying a strong cultural or ideological agenda. That kind of advocacy can be especially influential because it is often subtle.

Friends, your attention is one of the most valuable things you possess. Spend it wisely. Stay informed, but do not be discipled by the news. Be careful who you allow to shape the way you see the world.

Pastor Noel