The Tragedy of Doom Scrolling — Feeding on Other People’s Pain Is “Starving Your Soul”

Stop Feeding on Other People’s Pain

Pastor/Author John Piper has a warning for Christians: your scrolling habit might be starving your soul. In a recent “Ask Pastor John” episode, the 80-year-old Bible teacher said tragedy is never meant to entertain us — it’s always meant to wake us up and bring us to a place of repentance for our own sin.

The Wake-Up Call

Piper pointed to Luke 13, where Jesus responds to news of a massacre not with commentary on the victims’ sin, but with a warning to everyone listening: “Unless YOU repent, you will all likewise perish.” Piper summarized it bluntly: “You deserve the same thing, so just repent” (The Christian Post).

You Are No Different

Here is the bold truth Piper is pressing on us: every headline of disaster is a mercy, not a spectacle, whether it be nationally, personally or someone else’s demise. He recalled a sermon by R.C. Sproul that reordered his own astonishment: “What you ought to be amazed at is that YOU weren’t among the number.” YOU woke up this morning. That is not luck. That is the Lord holding your lungs open for one more day of repentance.

Not Entertainment — Intercession

Piper drew a hard line against doomscrolling for its own sake: “Looking at the news, Facebook or all other social media platforms day-by-day on your phone… just because it’s interesting or shocking or titillating, is not good.” Christians were never called to feast on other people’s downfall. We were called to grieve, pray, and act according to what scripture commands us to do.

Jesus said plainly, “In this world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). The tribulation is not a glitch in God’s plan — it is the plan, and He is already standing on the other side of it interceding on behalf of you and me. We should do the same for the world and all those that God has placed around us. 

Take Heed, Time Is Short

Stop scrolling for a thrill or to catch up on the latest. The clock is ticking and time is very short. Instead Start scrolling on your knees. Every tragedy you see today is God’s invitation to repent, to pray for the suffering, and to thank Him — out loud — that you are still breathing. Close the apps. Open your Bible and say thank you before you say anything at all.  Amen.

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