Politically more right-wing people react more strongly to negative images, more left-wing people to positive images. According to a study by Mike Dodd, published March 5, 2012 in the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society has been published. The test groups were Americans. One Republican, the other Democrat.

The US Republicans tend to be right-wing, conservative, religious, militant, for as much freedom as possible in business life and gun ownership, against abortion and gay marriage, for tax cuts, for a lean state, etc. Donald Trump is still fresh in our memories.

The US Democrats are more left-wing, liberal, progressive, for peace, disarmament, environmental protection, social justice, feminism, more state control, against the death penalty, against gun ownership, etc. Barack Obama and now Joe Biden showed us more of this side of America.

Republicans respond more to the negative, Democrats to the positive

The experiment found that images of spiders (fear), a maggot-infested wound (disgust) and a man being beaten up (anger) showed more nervous excitement among conservatives than among democrats. They were also staring at you a few milliseconds longer.

Images of a smiling child, a bowl of fruit or a cute bunny, on the other hand, drew more reaction and attention from liberals.

What are we controlled by?

That can be interpreted in different ways. Either the conservatives are more fearful and therefore react more strongly to anything negative. Or they are more morally committed and evil affects them more. In contrast, liberals are either more indifferent to evil because they themselves lead more permissive, sensual lives, or have their eyes more on good because they reject evil.

I believe both are correct. There are people like that in both camps. The majority, however, as the Bible teaches us, is more likely to be guided by their carnal nature. They are either driven primarily by fear or lust, are either critical of others or so "positive" that they live life to the fullest, even when it goes against God's law.

Followers of Jesus have the right relationship to good and evil

As followers of Jesus, we are free from fear, turning our eyes to good and closing our eyes to evil, but not so tight that we fail to help those around us who are suffering or that we become alienated from reality. As Jesus' followers, we are not people who enjoy pleasure, who only have eyes for the sensual, delicious and beautiful. Nevertheless, Jesus' followers are shaped more by good than by evil.

The study prompts us to question ourselves as to how far we follow the apostle's exhortation when he says: "Furthermore, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is righteous, whatever is pure, whatever is lovable, whatever what is any virtue or anything praiseworthy, think about it! Whatever you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do that; and the God of peace will be with you.« (Philippians 4,8:9-XNUMX)

Our words – a table of contents

What are our conversations about? More about the negative or the positive?

“Our words are a table of contents of our character. You can testify against us. Here's how important it is to choose our words with care... Words are either a scent of life that promises life, or a scent of death that brings death (2 Corinthians 2,16:XNUMX). All may fill the closets of their hearts with pure and holy treasures by thoroughly acquainting themselves with the precious words of Jesus.« (Review and Herald, January 18, 1898)

“I long so much that all who know Jesus will be identified by the spirit that breathes in their words. Jesus says: 'The good man brings forth good out of the good treasure of the heart, and the evil man brings evil out of his evil treasure. But I say to you that on the day of judgment people must give an account of every useless word that they have spoken. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned!‹ (Matthew 12,35:37-1) Our words, like a table of contents, provide information about the state of our hearts. Whether people talk a lot or a little, their words reveal what's on their minds. A person's character can be judged quite precisely by the content of their conversations. Reasonable, true words have the right ring. 'But the end of all things is near. Be sober and sober in prayer.' (4,7 Peter XNUMX:XNUMX)" (Youth Instructor, June 13, 1895)

'Every word we speak is a seed that springs up and bears either good or bad fruit, according to the nature of the word. Our words reinforce the feelings that caused them to be spoken. Exaggeration is a terrible sin. Passionate words sow seeds that will bring a wicked harvest that no one wants to reap. Our own words affect our character, but they affect the character of others even more. The Infinite God alone can measure the calamity of careless words. These words come out of our lips, and we may not even mean them maliciously. But they are like a table of contents of our innermost thoughts and work to evil. What misfortune has already been caused by thoughtless, unkind words in the family circle! Harsh words sometimes bother us for years and never lose their sharpness. As professing Christians, we should consider the impact of our words on believers and non-believers around us. Our words are registered and harm is done through thoughtless utterances. Nothing can quite undo the evil influence of thoughtless, foolish words. Our words show what our soul feeds on.« (Youth Instructor, June 27, 1895)

The above counsel of Paul in Philippians is the remedy for our souls here. However, we will not succeed in putting this into practice unless we take Jesus into our hearts every day and let him reign supreme. Then his Spirit will fill us and we will turn our eyes to what is beautiful and good, live according to God's commandments and stand up for justice and freedom for the oppressed and suffering.

“I am crucified with Christ; and now I live, but no longer I myself, but Christ lives in me. But what I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.« (Galatians 2,20:XNUMX)