Controversial wars. Mass shootings. A celebrity gone too soon. Political theater. Tech billionaires on trial. There’s always bad news to consume and a good incentive to consume it in today’s society. Being informed is a modern cultural virtue highlighting our apparent connectedness‚ care‚ and capacity. Of course‚ solid journalism and an understanding of historical and current events are valuable. When creators tell stories with integrity‚ justice is served‚ the voiceless gain a voice‚ and generations are inspired to use their talents and resources for the benefit of their neighbors. News can help us learn‚ connect‚ and thrive as individuals and communities. But particularly when it comes to bad news‚ we’re wise to consider our engagement. When we doomscroll‚ queue podcasts‚ and obsessively click on every breaking news alert‚ are we tuning in because we believe doing so will help us better serve Christ’s kingdom? Or has tragedy become our entertainment? Engaging or Escaping? Has tragedy become our entertainment? If we’re honest‚ constant input might be our way of escaping the pain in our hearts and neighborhoods. Decrying events thousands of miles away is much easier than seeking to meet the needs of the homeless person on the next corner. Spending hours on a true crime podcast is a temporarily satisfying adrenaline antidote to the monotony of virtual work. Spiraling down the Instagram Reel rabbit hole of political drama instead of having curious conversations with family lets us feel like we’re on the right side of history. But at what cost to our mental health and surrounding communities? Information consumption is often solitary. Doomscrolling doesn’t require us to do the complex‚ devoted work of engaging in redemptive relationships with embodied humans. Too often‚ watching the news cycle leads us to the despair from which Christ frees us and prevents us from taking tangible action in his name. From Watching to Walking Instead of watching from afar‚ notice how Isaiah 58:10–11 calls us to walk with those in need: If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted‚ then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places. We’re not called to simply repost stories about helping the hungry and shake our heads at the desires of the afflicted. We’re called to pour ourselves out and satisfy the desires of the needy. Whereas observing other people’s misfortune often breeds fear and gloom in us‚ when we help the suffering‚ the Lord lightens our gloom‚ guides us continually‚ and satisfies our desires. It’s not in scrolling that we’ll be satisfied—it’s in serving. God offers us so much more than a constant stream of information. He invites us into his redemptive story and promises to provide for our mental and spiritual well-being as we respond to others’ needs. To be clear‚ this passage indicates we’ll face emotional and spiritual struggles as we meet physical needs and battle suffering. However‚ as we follow his commands to care for the vulnerable‚ God promises to truly satisfy us in this work and grow our witness of joy—something the news could never do. Understanding current events is important if we want to effectively help the vulnerable. But tragedy isn’t for our consumption. It’s not even for us to fully understand. Tragedy points us to the effects of sin on every individual and institution. God calls us not merely to be informed about the suffering around us but to step into it‚ knowing he’ll sustain us. Consider the Fruit So how can we engage information in a way that honors the Lord and helps our neighbor? We can begin by considering what sort of fruit our news consumption is bearing in our lives. As you scroll through your feed‚ read articles‚ and listen to podcasts‚ pay attention to your responses. Are they characterized by the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22–26)? Love for your neighbor Joy that’s above circumstances Peace dependent on God’s greater plan for your life and this world Patience for the learning process Kindness that overflows to action Goodness from a righteous‚ humble heart Faithfulness in a few areas of service Gentleness toward the limitations of your mind and body Self-control in your desire to know more If instead your responses are characterized by fear‚ anxiety‚ and sin‚ it’s probably time to take a closer look at your habits. Bonnie Kristian suggests in her book Untrustworthy that rather than being informed‚ we should be studious. “To be studious is to seek knowledge and to seek it rightly‚” Kristian explains. “A studious person realizes her own limits and knows she cannot be well informed about everything.” This approach means engaging deeply with fewer stories while rejecting the need to jump at every headline. God calls us not merely to be informed about the suffering around us but to step into it. Begin by fasting from TV news‚ app notifications‚ and daily rundown emails. Remove the noise for at least a few weeks‚ and reflect on any difference this makes to your relationships‚ mood‚ and anxiety levels. As you take time to read Scripture‚ journal‚ pray‚ and discuss this experience with your community‚ notice if there are a few causes or needs that remain on your heart and mind. Consider how the Lord might be calling you to devote your prayers‚ hands‚ and finances to those situations. Then begin rebuilding your newsfeed to consume information in a way that helps you better love God and care for your neighbors. The Christian life isn’t about being informed on every topic we encounter. It’s about being part of God’s transforming work in the world as he writes the eternal story—no matter the news of the day.

Seminary isn’t as idyllic as the websites suggest. Beautiful days‚ fresh-faced students‚ and faculty with all the time in the world for you are a “best foot forward” encounter. I know—I work for a seminary. As the term progresses‚ the assignments mount up‚ and both staff and students look increasingly disheveled‚ it’s easy to feel like you’re beginning to sink. You question why you’re here‚ doubt you’ll ever complete all the necessary tasks‚ and wonder how you’ll face tomorrow. Instead of throwing you a life buoy when you begin to sink‚ the gospel grace in Isaiah 6 can prevent you from reaching that point. Three truths here can help you swim. God’s Greatness One being looms large at the outset of Isaiah 6: God. The description of God in these verses is highly exalted. He’s enthroned (v. 1a)‚ and the throne of heaven is reserved for the One who’s truly sovereign. He’s high and lifted up (v. 1b). We join Isaiah in craning our necks to see up. It’s like standing at the bottom of a skyscraper and peering up to the top. As the seminary term progresses‚ the assignments mount up‚ and both staff and students look increasingly disheveled‚ it’s easy to feel like you’re beginning to sink. God’s train fills the temple (v. 1c). Alec Motyer helps us understand this strange phrase which “expresses the general truth that God is present in all his majesty at the center of his people’s life. The temple is no mere symbol of his indwelling presence; it is the reality of it.” God is present everywhere‚ but he’s present in a special way with his people. God is worshiped by the heavenly creatures who are in perpetual motion and unending song (vv. 2–3). Serving and praising God never ends. And this is right because he’s holy and glorious across all the earth. For the seminary student in danger of sinking‚ consider the privilege it is to study this great God. To be permitted to set aside time every week to delve into Scripture. To again and again—across days‚ weeks‚ months‚ and years—study God’s revelation of himself. What a privilege to know God‚ to see God‚ to behold God. Don’t waste this precious period of devoted study. There was no way Isaiah could ever forget his vision of God. Our prayer must be to have a similarly unforgettable encounter with God through our studies. Seminarian’s Sin Our God is great‚ and Isaiah 6:1–4 only scratches the surface. But it’s not always that simple‚ because we’re sinful saints. Isaiah’s a sinner too. He’s a saint—a prophet of God—but he’s also a sinner. Isaiah declares himself lost and possessing unclean lips (v. 5). He’s not alone. He lives among a people who share the same sinful nature and tendencies. After seeing the greatness of God‚ seeing our sin is inevitable. The call to make the most of our studies is idealistic because of our sin. Every seminarian needs to know he or she is a sinner. Your sin will manifest itself in many ways during your studies: laziness‚ misplaced priorities‚ jealousy of others‚ pride in success‚ distraction from communion with Christ‚ and more. Seminarians need to know others are sinners. The faculty aren’t perfect. Fellow students aren’t perfect. Churches aren’t perfect. Many people you interact with across your studies will sin against you‚ both intentionally and unintentionally. We operate in a fallen world‚ and that world doesn’t stop at the seminary’s gates. But even though we’re fallen‚ God can still use us because of his glorious grace. Glorious Grace The burning coal is taken from the altar (v. 6). It’s where God accepted sacrifices for sin. Substitution takes place there. Something dies on the altar instead of Isaiah. The result of this substitution‚ symbolized by the touching of the coal to the lips‚ is twofold (v. 7). First‚ Isaiah has his guilt removed. This is expiation. As the psalmist puts it‚ “As far as the east is from the west‚ so far does he remove our transgressions from us” (Ps. 103:12). God’s glorious gospel grace takes Isaiah’s sin away from him. It’s removed. Second‚ sin is atoned for. This is propitiation. God’s wrath is satisfied‚ and Isaiah no longer faces judgment. God’s glorious grace doesn’t simply take sin away and sweep it under the carpet. God’s grace deals with sin. It’s grace‚ as Motyer reminds us‚ because “Isaiah contributes nothing; all is of God.” In Jesus Christ‚ it’s no different. Our sin is dealt with—removed and atoned for—by God’s grace. In his novel Silence‚ ShÅ«saku Endō writes‚ “Christ did not die for the good and the beautiful. It is easy enough to die for the good and the beautiful; the hard thing is to die for the miserable and the corrupt.” But that’s the gospel. Jesus died for us in our miserable and corrupt sinful state. It’s central to who we are. The gospel of grace must be the pot in which we plant our entire life. It’s the fertile soil in which we grow. It’s central to our lives together in seminary. We must marvel at God’s work in and through us that has led to the opportunity to study together. God’s goodness to us is only possible because of Jesus’s life‚ death‚ resurrection‚ and ascension. Without this‚ we’re lost with our unclean lips. Great Ideas Through Ordinary People Ronald Reagan didn’t think highly of himself. He credited his rise through the political ranks in America to what he said‚ not who he was. Peggy Noonan quotes him as saying‚ “It was the content. I wasn’t a great communicator‚ but I communicated great things. . . . I never thought of myself as a great man‚ just a man committed to great ideas.” We must marvel at God’s work in and through us that has led to the opportunity to study together. As a result of beholding God in all his greatness‚ Isaiah offers himself for service (v. 8). If we don’t behold God as he reveals himself in Scripture‚ we’ll never serve him. So I encourage you as fellow sinful saints to resolve to behold your great God and his glorious grace throughout your time at seminary. Let’s agree with Reagan that we’re not great but we have great things to speak of. And as we remember and speak the gracious gospel‚ may the Lord save us from sinking in seminary.

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