Whatever is pure and lovely

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

I have pondered these words on and off, ever since my attention was first drawn to them. In a world of so much darkness, so much deception, shouldn’t we know what’s going on? 

It was awareness of the darkness that led me to seek the light. First the false light of new age spirituality, and then the true light of Jesus Christ. 

Now I spend little time down rabbit holes, because seeking more knowledge of the darkness unsettles my soul, and has occasionally given me bad dreams. 

But isn’t this just living in oblivion, and in just as much denial as those that delude themselves into thinking this is all part of a ‘great awakening?’ Isn’t it selfish to all those who are suffering? 

The Bible does say that we must be as ‘wise as serpents’ (Matthew 10:16) and to beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15-16). But we are meant to focus on God, not the darkness.  

Something occurred to me last night about what the Bible does tell us to do, to ‘love our neighbour’ to be hospitable, to give to the poor. It is in these acts that we can actually make a difference. 

If we know about the darkness and the suffering in this world, the poverty, the abuse, then there are people doing good work that we can support financially. I have been listening a lot to the Inspired Podcast From Simon Guillibaud which is now my favourite podcast! And the charity he works for is a genuinely good cause. 

Years ago, before COVID when I was trying to raise awareness of medical harm I became aware of the appalling way that big medical charities conduct themselves; giving their directors huge salaries, spending all the money on shiny leaflets and ultimately existing to feed more people into preventative medicine and the pharma machine. 

I’d long ago given up supporting charities but now I’m finding smaller Christian ones that I know I can trust. 

Researching the latest rabbit hole can be a major distraction to the ways we can use our time and resources to help others. I know sometimes this info can be vital to learn and share to lead others into the light. 

However, it can become an addiction and an idol. It was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that Adam and Eve were warned against eating. In an age of over-abundance of information we can have the feeling we are missing out if we don’t keep up to date. 

But I trust that if there’s something I need to know God will lead me to it. 

Until then, I’ll keep my focus on whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable.

I am so much happier for it.