Take your Bible and take your newspaper and read them both. But interpret newspapers from your Bible,” Karl Barth famously advised young theologians.

“The problem with Barth’s quote is not what he meant by it but its relevance for today,” writes Steven Félix-Jäger. “Since we’ve democratized our news outlets, we don’t get much of our news from newspapers anymore. Instead, we have highly partisan news television, YouTube channels, Reddit, TikTok, and podcasts.

Unfortunately, he goes on to say, “this flood of information has also opened the door to misinformation, disinformation, echo chambers, and ever-increasing divisions. Many churchgoers and even some pastors find it tough to grasp what’s happening in the world today.”

In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Félix-Jäger about how to practice discernment in the midst of a culture flooded by mixed messages. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host.

Steven Félix-Jäger is associate professor of systematic theology at Vanguard University, an Assemblies of God credentialed minister, and author of Hearing God, Following the Spirit: Practicing Discernment in a Pluralistic Age.

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Show Notes

• 00:00 — Introduction and Sponsor Ad
• 02:37 — What is discernment?
• 05:49 — What is pluralism? And why is pluralism a better way to describe our current moment than secularism?
• 18:46 — How do we hear God when there are so many other religions and ideologies shouting for our attention?
• 25:58 — What’s the difference between disinformation and misinformation? And how do we cut down the noise to hear God speak to us?
• 34:50 — What is political tribalism, and how do we follow the Spirit in an increasingly politically divided America?
• 43:00 — How can we follow the Spirit the “dark” experiences of life make it difficult to see him?
• 53:03 — What are you reading right now that’s interesting, helpful, and/or personally challenging?
• 54:09— Conclusion