Losing Our Objectivity
Can we be objective in our thinking and doing?
Have we in this age of evil, this post-modern age lost that ability?
Were we ever objective in our thoughts, words and deeds?
As Christians we should (but often don't) be aware of our biased thoughts and words. Our words can kill or injure. Our relationship with Christ requires we be wise and discerning in ALL we do.
We are all the worst of sinners and will be continue to be sinners in this life.
Sins of the Tongue has the power to make or break a person's spirit, to bring joy or sorrow, to lift a person's spirit or cast them down into depression.
James 1:26, "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.
James 3:2-8, "We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison."
Proverbs 11:9 says, "With the mouth one destroyeth his neighbors." Proverbs 18:21 says, "There's death and life in the power of the tongue."
Ok so what about our objectivity?
This latest display of our cultural arrogance and self-righteousness gives new meaning to "The Joe Rogan Experience."
In the following Instagram video Joe Rogan explains what the program is about and it's intentions.
Video from Flawless MMA
Who is Joe Rogan?
"A standup comedian for over 20 years, Rogan’s sixth hour long comedy special Joe Rogan: Strange Times premiered on Netflix in October 2018. Rogan’s previous comedy specials include Joe Rogan: Triggered (2016) for Netflix, Joe Rogan: Rocky Mountain High (2014) for Comedy Central, Joe Rogan: Live from the Tabernacle (2012) released via his website, Talking Monkeys in Space (2009) on CD & DVD, and Joe Rogan Live (2007) on DVD. Additionally, Rogan released the CDs Shiny Happy Jihad (2007) and I’m Gonna Be Dead Someday (2000).
Rogan is host of The Joe Rogan Experience, a long form conversation with guests that is one of the most popular podcasts, currently distributed exclusively on Spotify.
Since 2002, Rogan has provided color commentary for the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) on Pay Per View, Spike Television, and FOX. Rogan’s passion for MMA began with martial arts practice at the age of 13. Within two years, the Boston native earned a black belt and soon became the Massachusetts full contact Tae Kwon Do champion four consecutive years. By the age of 19, Rogan won the US Open Tae Kwon Do Championship and as lightweight champion went on to beat both the middle and heavyweight title-holders to obtain the Grand Championship.
Film credits include Here Comes The Boom (2012) and Zookeeper (2011). Rogan hosted Joe Rogan Questions Everything (2013) for the SyFy channel. Rogan hosted the competition reality series Fear Factor on NBC in 2011/12 and previously for six seasons on the network from 2001-2006. Prior to Fear Factor, Rogan played Joe Garrelli, the resident electrician on the hit NBC comedy series NewsRadio.
Rogan regularly performs stand-up locally and internationally." from the website: Joerogan.com
Testing Our Objectivity
First of all Joe Rogan is a comedian and as you can see from the above description he is an entertainer.
The Joe Rogan Experience is not a documentary of a news program. He is NOT an authority on anything except perhaps "Comedy"!
I am not a big consumer of Joe Rogan although I watch his programs occasionally.
The Joe Rogan experience is a program in which he interviews different people with different opinions. Often he makes foolish statements and wrong statements. But who hasn't and if we look back at radio and television programs we can start a long list of people right from our former and current president to members of congress and etc.
Our media is filled with people doing salacious and sinful programs about the worst human behavior.
Our sin is we watch and consume it as truth!
For As He Thinks in His Heart So He Is
Proverbs 23:7
For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. "Eat and drink!" he says to you, But his heart is not with you.
What do you think in your heart? Are you objective, do you consider other opinions or are you an absolutist and prideful, believing YOU are correct and no one else could be speaking any truth?
"Inevitably, we have to face the reality that God has given us the responsibility of cleansing the thoughts of our hearts. The Holy Spirit and God's Word are available to help us, but each person must decide for himself what he will think, and what he will imagine. Being created in God's image requires that we be responsible for our thoughts." Merlin Carothers - What's on Your Mind?
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8, ESV)
Joe Rogan, his opinions and the opinions of his guests, no matter how right or wrong they are is not the problem, we are the problem!
Rogan's Moral Responsibility??
Does Joe Rogan have a moral responsibility to the public, to his audience? YES! Should we give him the benefit of the doubt as he attempts to explain what he does in his program? YES!
Should we be so gullible to believe everything we hear on his program or any other as truth or fact? NO!
HOW FOOLISH ARE WE?
Very few people in our culture now what to be held responsible for what they do, say or think.
This is a problem for the same reasons our politics and culture are falling into subjective, biased and sinful thinking behavior, WE CHOOSE TO BELIEVE WHAT IS SAID. We are too lazy to objectively think or research for ourselves.
We even lack the self-discipline to just walk away.
"A total of 270 US doctors, scientists, healthcare professionals and professors have written an open letter ( below)to streaming company Spotify, expressing concern about medical misinformation on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, listed as the platform’s most popular program.
The letter asks the platform to “establish a clear and public policy to moderate misinformation on its platform”. from the article:
"On Dec. 31, 2021, the Joe Rogan Experience (JRE), a Spotify-exclusive podcast, uploaded a highly controversial episode featuring guest Dr. Robert Malone (#1757). The episode has been criticized for promoting baseless conspiracy theories and the JRE has a concerning history of broadcasting misinformation, particularly regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. By allowing the propagation of false and societally harmful assertions, Spotify is enabling its hosted media to damage public trust in scientific research and sow doubt in the credibility of data-driven guidance offered by medical professionals. JRE #1757 is not the only transgression to occur on the Spotify platform, but a relevant example of the platform’s failure to mitigate the damage it is causing...from Open Letter to Joe Rogan.
The Value of Programs like The Joe Rogan Experience
"...Rogan’s incredible success is good news in a society inundated with fake news, cancel culture, and three-ring circuses disguised as presidential debates. It shows that long-form conversations between people who disagree, but genuinely like each other, are possible...
The Bible continuously exhorts fearful believers to take courage (Deut. 31:6; Josh. 1:6; Acts 23:11), even in the face of opposition. Anti-Christian sentiments are on the rise, and the speed with which you might get “cancelled” for saying something biblical is alarming. But our tenuous partisan climate is no reason to shrink back from lively debate. On the contrary, the biblical exhortation has always been to be hospitable toward others, to stand firm in the faith, and to shine in a world sunken in moral darkness (Heb. 13:2; Eph. 6:10–11; Matt. 5:16).." from the article: Joe Rogan’s Example for Believers