Living Truthfully: Ellul, Propaganda, and the Christian Mind

In an “age of mis-, dis- and mal-information,” how can Christians in the public square remain thoughtful and informed? How can we resist becoming so desensitized that we lose our God-given “muscle” of critical thinking?

In a recent Friday Forum, Dr. Stephen J. Nichols, president of Reformation Bible College and chief academic officer for Ligonier Ministries, addressed these critical questions. Drawing on insights from French sociologist Jacque Ellul’s 1962 book Propaganda, Nichols argued that a Christian worldview is a necessary bulwark against groupthink.

A leading 20th century thinker and member of the French resistance, Ellul “lived through Lenin, Stalin and Hitler.” Nichols focused on Ellul’s insights into the three societal conditions that allow propaganda to take root:

• Bombard people with excessive information so they will forget.
• Always have “breaking news” so they do not reflect or think critically.
• Have no “North Star” or standard to measure deviation.

For Ellul, the plumb line is natural law; for Christians it is the revelation of scripture, Christ himself, said Nichols. “This is what propaganda wants to desensitize – the nature of objective truth. Relativism lets power get away with anything – because it has no standard.”

“Christians are called to remember, called to think, and called to follow our certain and firm North Star,” said Nichols. “In a Christian worldview, history matters… It is the timeless that best enables the response to the threats and opportunities of the timely. It helps mitigate against our catastrophizing nature,” he said.

How can Christians working on Capitol Hill, who often are caught up with the issue of the day, recognize these conditions – and resist them?

“Though you are necessarily engaged in the immediate and breaking, write about current events responsibly. Provide context. Stay grounded in an embodied community.” With a nod to R.C. Sproul, a Ligonier legend and one of the first speakers at Faith and Law, Nichols concluded, “Renew your mind.”

“Living truthfully means that we do not conform to the gods of this age, the gods of the timely, the breaking news, the modern world as a world of means. Rather we seek to be renewed in our minds.”

Thank you, Dr. Nichols, for this timely reminder to stay grounded in God’s revealed truth, to engage with others in seeking wisdom, and to place our current moment in the stream of history. Thus renewed, we “may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2.

That’s a good word for public policy!