Paul Harvey

Paul Harveiy had a portion of his newscast called “The Rest of the Story” and I thought of that as I drilled down through a follow-up MSNBC article which referenced additional information, through that one to where an apology was made.

The day before, MSNBC reported a 9-year-old boy was suspended from school for sexual harassment, by saying his teacher was cute.  The follow-up MSNBC article stated new information “raised the bar,” without additional explanation, but pointed to a local news article.  That said the school had sent the mother a letter explaining in detail her son’s infraction. The final link reported how the school apologized and said there had been no sexual harassment and the boy would get assistance in catching up on his studies.

I have two problems with what happened here – first is how a charge of sexual harassment could advance to the point that it did. There have been other such incidents.  It appears obvious to me that too many people are easily offended and abuse authority to bring vengeance down on the person who offended them.

The second problem is how we do not get the rest of the eye-catching headline stories.  The first news item would leave the reader believing the boy was sexual harassing his teacher and was duly punished by the school administration.  Although a portion of truth, the story was incomplete, even in the follow-up.

How much of our news is handled in a similar manner?

In respect to the first problem – let’s determine that we, personally, will not be so easily offended. Determine that we won’t let headline buzz words set our expectations at their lowest level.  Horror happens.  We know this because a 7-year-old girl can be beaten to death and thrown away. There is evil in this world, but let us not set that bar at the level that words alone offend us. 

As for the second problem, take time to reach the truth.  In this case, it took me less than ten minutes to follow leads to a truth not seen in the original story.

Yes, there is a biblical application.  Search out the rest of the biblical story.  Just as Paul Harvey’s stories were fascinating, so are others. Find out why Christians believe Jesus was the Messiah, then discover why Jews believe He was not.  Understand why some Muslims look upon ‘jihad’ as ‘struggle’ and others see it meaning a battle. See, too, how Muslims view Jesus.  Basically, know what you believe, why and be able to back it up.

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: (1 Peter 3:15 KJV)

Such studies could allow you to be called noble:

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (Acts 17:11 KJV)