Dear Friends,
One of my favorite writers,
Dave Burchette has shared an interesting message on the effects that
negative news is having on our mental and physical health. I share
it with you this morning in hopes you might find it as enlightening
as I did.
A study published by the Psychology Department at the
University of Essex looked at the negative emotional and cognitive
effect of hearing bad news only. Here is the opening statement from the study.
“Journalists employing the
maxim “if it bleeds, it leads” seem intuitively aware of the negativity bias
people have in attending to and remembering bad events over good ones. Indeed,
negatively valenced news dominates the press and is shared on Twitter more
frequently than positively valenced. (newsjournals.plos.org)
The study went on to note
that “news featuring others’ immorality captivates people, it can have aversive
affective and cognitive impacts, increasing emotional disturbances and
negatively skewing people’s belief in the goodness of others”.
I think we have witnessed
that increasing and divisive effect on our culture. The authors are correct
that such reporting of bad news “captivates” and leads to lots of unhealthy
biting on the clickbait of negativity. The study examined an interesting counterbalance.
Would showing acts of human kindness and compassion immediately after the acts
of immorality create better emotional health?
The results revealed that
seeing those acts of kindness left the test subjects in a better mood and with
more positive views of humanity. Just to see if kindness was the difference maker,
they showed some subjects only humorous stories to offset the bad news. Those
subjects felt better but the conclusion was fascinating.
Quoting the study again.
“Amusing news stories
certainly helped buffer the effects of bad news and reduce the mood
disturbances they caused. But in comparison, participants who’d been shown acts
of kindness reported a more positive mood on average, and a greater belief in
the goodness of humanity.
This shows us there’s
something unique about kindness which may buffer the effects of negative news
on our mental health.”(niemanlab.org)
I find these studies
fascinating as a person who believes in the wisdom of Scripture. The effects of
kindness were well documented in the writings of the Gospels, the Epistles of
Paul, and many other places in the Bible. It is important to note that these
concepts were revolutionary in a culture which focused on power and control.
Paul’s message to the church at Colossae is just one example of the amazingly
positive potential of following the teachings of Jesus.
Since God chose you to be
the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy,
kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s
faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so
you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us
all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule
in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And
always be thankful. (Colossians 3)
Scottish writer Henry
Drummond observed in the late 19th century that “the greatest thing
a man can do for his Heavenly Father is to be kind to some of His other
children”. That is our job as followers of Christ. Too often we have failed to
show up for work.
I want the grace that God
has given me to make my heart sensitive toward the poor and hurting and
spiritually seeking. It is hard to spend much time in the New Testament and not
realize our challenge to be kind. Here is a very small sample.
35 But love your enemies, and do good, and
lend, expecting nothing in return, and your
reward will be great, and you will be sons of
the Most High, for He is kind to the
ungrateful and the evil. (Luke 6:35, ESV)
22 But the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, (Galatians 5:22 ESV)
32 Be kind to one another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians
4:32 ESV)
4 Love is patient and
kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. 1
Corinthians 13:4, ESV)
The charge of hypocrisy
leveled at the church has a lot to do with our obsession with sin management
over living a life of kindness, grace and service. If I am not living out of
grace then the love of Christ isn’t reaching as far as it could. Kindness is
clearly step one.
Kindness does not require
great skill or advanced degrees. One of my spiritual heroes is Frederick
Buechner. He wrote that “if you want to be holy, be kind”. You do not have to
like someone to be kind. Kindness is powerful. Kindness tears down walls. Kindness
builds trust. Kindness shows the love of Christ through our imperfect efforts.
For Christians, kindness gives the hearer a reason to listen to our message of
redemption and grace.
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