by Canon Rob Penrith
South Africa is just an incredible, beautiful land dotted about with iconic mountains and populated by an enormous forest of trees and ever-changing oceans that leave you with a myriad of moments to see the glory of God revealed through His creation and gifted to us who have eyes to see!
Sadly, South Africa also has a very sad and sometimes violent underbelly fuelled by poverty and greed and appalling mismanagement and policing. This struck me as I was watching the local news and article after article honed in on a population that experiences violence and graft on a frightening level. (“Graft” means the “acquisition of gain or advantage by dishonest, unfair or sordid means, especially through the abuse of his position or influence in politics, business, etc.)
I turned to the News24 App and the detailed page of articles had only bad news. Clearly people just love “bad news”. Now that is nothing new! Remember Paul’s take on this reality where he prophesies: 2 Timothy 4:3, “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead… they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”
One author has postulated a suggestion as to why this happens – and it makes sense. You see bad news doesn’t ask anything of us. It may disturb us, but it rarely calls us to repent or change.
In stark contrast, the Gospel demands a response—repentance, surrender, discipleship. Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily” (Luke 9:23). That’s not an easy sell in a comfort-seeking world.
The 24-hour news cycle and social media algorithms thrive on fear, outrage, and anxiety. They amplify the worst of humanity because that kind of journalism gets clicks. World news, at the moment, is focussed on the dictators of nations, flexing their muscles and drooling with the desire for greater power and wealth. Everything is considered an “existential threat” – everything from the world at war, to the crime statistics, to an ever-growing threat from AI. etc, etc, etc!!
By contrast, the Gospel spreads best in humility, quiet witness, and truth—not clickbait at all to a fallen world!
Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:4, “The god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.” There is a real spiritual battle at play. The enemy wants to keep people distracted, fearful, and uninterested in the truth.
And all the time these same people live in God’s garden of beauty – an expression of God’s love and presence and provision.
In a Celtic way of seeing, we might say that people are more attuned to the storm than the still small voice. The rustling of the Spirit, the whisper of grace, and the warmth of the fire on the hearth can be missed when hearts are too full of noise and fear.
The Gospel is Good News precisely because we live in a world full of bad news. The challenge—and the calling—is to live it in such a way that people see it as real, relevant, and radiant. The challenge to you and me is to deliberately live the Gospel and to offer a waymark, pointing this generation towards the Gospel which offers what the world never can: forgiveness, freedom, hope, and resurrection life. In a world drowning in despair, God still speaks joy. In a culture hooked on fear, Christ proclaims peace.
We need to open our ears again—not to the noise of the world, but to the whisper of grace. The Good News doesn’t just inform. It transforms.
Am I, truly, an agent of transformation to all who encounter my witness and example? Think deeply on these things.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, help me to tune out the constant noise of fear and bad news, and open my heart to the Good News of Your Kingdom.
May I not be hardened or distracted, but renewed by Your truth.
Help me to live the Gospel in such a way that others see its beauty through me.
Amen.
Listen again to this beautiful Worship hymn by Graham Kendrick –
Shine Jesus, Shine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FuW20MYAK4
Have a blessed week,
Rob