What Really Matters Today: 5 PM Evening News Through a Biblical Lens

The clock strikes five. You settle in with your coffee or dinner, and the evening news flashes across your screen. Headlines scroll past: political tension, economic uncertainty, global conflict, cultural division. Within fifteen minutes, you've absorbed reports from a dozen countries, each story heavier than the last.

And somewhere between the opening segment and the weather forecast, you feel it: that familiar weight settling on your chest. The world feels broken. Chaotic. Overwhelming.

If you're a follower of Christ, you've probably wondered: How am I supposed to process all of this?

The Evening News Dilemma

Evening news programs serve an important function. They keep us informed, connected to our communities, and aware of what's happening beyond our immediate circles. Being informed is part of being a responsible citizen and a good neighbor.

But here's the tension: most evening news isn't designed to bring peace. It's structured for impact, urgency, and emotional engagement. Networks compete for your attention in a crowded media landscape, which often means leading with the most alarming story, the sharpest conflict, the latest crisis.

There's nothing inherently wrong with this approach from a journalistic standpoint. News is, by definition, the reporting of notable events: and notable often means disruptive or concerning. But as believers, we're called to "set our minds on things above, not on earthly things" (Colossians 3:2), while also being "wise as serpents and innocent as doves" (Matthew 10:16).

So how do we stay informed without being consumed by anxiety? How do we engage with the news without losing our peace?

Facts: What the Evening News Does Well (and Where It Falls Short)

Evening news broadcasts give us rapid-fire updates on current events, usually presented in digestible segments. They cover politics, crime, weather, human interest stories, and sports: all packaged into a tight thirty or sixty-minute window.

What they do well: They keep us aware. They alert us to dangers, celebrate local heroes, and shine light on injustice that needs addressing.

Where they often fall short: Context. Nuance. Hope. Most evening news operates on a "if it bleeds, it leads" mentality. Positive developments get thirty seconds. Tragedies get ten minutes. The result? A distorted view of reality that overemphasizes threat and underrepresents grace, resilience, and everyday goodness.

This isn't a criticism of journalists: many work incredibly hard to report truth. But the format itself can warp our perspective if we're not careful.

Lens: What Does Scripture Say About Staying Informed?

The Bible doesn't mention cable news or smartphones, but it has plenty to say about wisdom, discernment, and where we place our focus.

We're called to be awake and aware. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for their inability to discern the signs of the times (Matthew 16:3). Paul urged believers to "understand what the Lord's will is" (Ephesians 5:17). Awareness is biblical. Ignorance isn't a virtue.

But we're also called to guard our hearts. "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it" (Proverbs 4:23). What we consume shapes how we think, feel, and act. If we're filling our minds with fear-driven narratives every evening, that will affect our peace, our trust in God, and our witness to others.

Fear is not from God. Paul wrote to Timothy, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7, NKJV). When news consumption produces chronic anxiety, something's out of alignment.

Our hope is not in political systems or human solutions. While we're called to engage as citizens and pray for our leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2), our ultimate hope rests in Christ and His Kingdom: not in election outcomes, Supreme Court decisions, or economic policies. The news will tempt you to believe your security depends on the next headline. Scripture says otherwise.

Response: How to Watch the News Like a Christ-Follower

Here's the practical part: how do we actually do this? How do we consume evening news through a biblical lens?

1. Start with Scripture, Not the News

Before you turn on the TV or scroll through headlines, spend time in God's Word. Let truth anchor you before the noise begins. When your mind is first calibrated to eternal realities: God's sovereignty, His faithfulness, His love: you're far less likely to spiral when you hear troubling news.

2. Ask Better Questions

Instead of just absorbing what's reported, engage critically and prayerfully:

• What's the full story here? What context am I missing?

• How might God be at work even in this difficult situation?

• How does this news call me to prayer, action, or compassion?

• Is this story stirring fear in me, or is it prompting godly concern?

3. Limit Your Intake

You don't need to watch three hours of news coverage to be informed. Choose one trusted source, get the overview, and step away. Constantly refreshing your feed or channel-surfing between networks doesn't make you more informed: it just amplifies anxiety.

The Assemblies of God has long emphasized the importance of being Spirit-led in all areas of life. That includes when and how much news you consume. If the Holy Spirit prompts you to step back, listen.

4. Balance Bad News with God's Good News

For every troubling headline, remind yourself of a gospel truth:

• "War in the Middle East" → "The Prince of Peace reigns, and one day every knee will bow."

• "Economic downturn" → "My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory."

• "Political division" → "In Christ, there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free. We are all one."

This isn't denial. It's perspective.

5. Turn Concern into Prayer

When a news story breaks your heart, don't just sit in sadness: pray. Intercede for the people affected. Ask God to bring healing, justice, and His presence into that situation. This transforms you from a passive consumer into an active participant in God's redemptive work.

6. Look for the Helpers

As Mr. Rogers famously said, "Look for the helpers." Even in the darkest stories, there are people showing up with love, courage, and service. Celebrate them. Let their example inspire you. Often, those helpers are believers living out their faith in real time.

7. Test Everything Against Scripture

News commentary often includes opinions presented as facts. Political talking heads push narratives. Advertisements appeal to fear or greed. As a believer, your job is to test everything against the Word of God. Does this align with Christ's teaching? Does it promote love, truth, and justice: or division, fear, and tribalism?

The Invitation: A Different Kind of Evening Briefing

What if we reclaimed the 5 PM hour? What if, instead of letting the evening news define our emotional state, we let Scripture define our perspective?

That doesn't mean ignoring the news. It means filtering it through the lens of faith. It means staying informed without being consumed. It means responding to brokenness with prayer, hope, and action rather than despair.

The world is broken: Scripture never promised otherwise. But the same Bible that warns of tribulation also declares, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

So tonight, when you turn on the news, remember: You're not just a viewer. You're a child of the King, filled with the Holy Spirit, called to be salt and light in a world desperate for hope. The evening news can inform you. But only God can anchor you.

Need prayers? Text us day or night at 1-901-213-7341.

Follow for more Christ-centered clarity on today's biggest questions.

---

Source: Biblical analysis and practical application based on Scripture and media literacy principles.