Update Addiction

Written By Jonathan Krogh

Dear Fellow News Junkies:

Some recent items in the media have revealed to me that I have a problem: politics has taken inappropriate residence in my head and heart.

A series of events taking place thousands of miles away from me, perpetrated by people I’ve never met, executing actions completely out of my control, have affected my demeanor, my energy, even my ability to concentrate on routine activities of daily life. This should not be acceptable. But like an addict believing the only resolution to feelings of withdrawal is another fix from the addictive substance, I am driven to doomscroll and double down on my helplessness. Of course, the purveyors of the addictive information are more than willing to leave little breadcrumbs of clickbait, driving me even deeper into a spiral of illusion. I jump back to my newsfeed to read one more update. If only I could discover the missing piece of data, an interview, a smoking gun, proof granting me that ‘gotcha’ moment of satisfaction, then I could regain control over my life having solved the problem. But my obsession with resolution is the problem.

My suppliers gain their income by captivating my attention; their income relies on engagement metrics, which like every other junkie, I willfully pay them. I sacrifice my time, my concentration, even my productive integrity grabbing the next fleeting informational ‘high’, which only leaves me thirsty for another update. In the end, my lack of spiritual willpower generates their revenue.

I could bemoan my helplessness in the face of their overwhelming sophisticated methods—using dopamine-feeding algorithms, sophisticated AI-driven models and real-time data curated to overwhelm my best judgment—but that’s not the problem. The problem is my own hubris that imagines I can master things that are completely out of my control. We have been lied to again and again; politics cannot and will not save us.

The problem isn’t new. The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans was writing to Christians who were captivated by believing political action carried salvific consequence. They taught that active resistance to political authority was a means to advancing God’s Kingdom. In chapters 12-15, Paul proposes a spiritual ethic that dismisses the illusion of political salvation. Powers and principalities beyond our control should be treated as just that, beyond our control. The Roman Empire was not going to cower at the influence of a few Christian tax-dodgers and conspiracy theorists.

Paul believed the job of Christ’s followers was humble appreciation for their genuine spheres of influence, not their inflated self-importance. This led Paul to commend: “…by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” (Romans 12.3, New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition) … “Live in harmony with one another; do not be arrogant but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” (vs 16-18) … “Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” (13.8) … “Welcome those who are weak in faith but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions.” (14.1) … “For we do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.” (vs 7-8) … “Let us therefore no longer pass judgment on one another but resolve instead never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother or sister.” (vs 13) … “We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us must please our neighbor for the good purpose of building up the neighbor. (15.1-2) … “May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (vs 5-6). (I realize providing this survey of verses risks missing the full richness of the text, but I also realize few readers will pull out their Bibles to read the three chapters in their entirety.)

If I were to summarize the most liberating words for me from these chapters, they are Paul’s invitation to sober humility. We are only given so much authority; the rest is an intoxicating and addictive illusion.

Striving to break free from addiction, I remain,

With Love,
Jonathan Krogh
Your Pastor  

Jonathan Krogh
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