Read Time: 5 min 01 sec | Reading Level: 7th Grade

U.S. NEWS

New Chat, Who Dis?

The world’s buzzing this week with news that a group chat about American military plans accidentally included… a journalist. Oops.

Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was added to a Signal chat with top U.S. leaders on March 13. The chat, called “Houthi PC small group,” included 18 officials who were talking about a military attack on Houthi rebels. (The Houthis are a group from Yemen that the U.S. categorizes as terrorists. They have been attacking ships to show support for Hamas in Gaza.) Goldberg thought the chat might be fake, so he watched the convo quietly.

The morning of March 15, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth updated the group. He sent out info about the target, weapons, and timing of the strike. Mr. Goldberg knew the chat was legit when the strike in Yemen happened just as planned.

Goldberg left the chat and reached out to the White House to ask for comment. President Trump’s administration confirmed the chat was real and said “no classified information” was shared.

This story has people asking how a journalist got involved in such a sensitive military conversation. Some lawmakers from both parties said it was wrong for the officials to use the messaging app Signal, which is encrypted but not meant for secret military info. Some critics, mostly Democrats, said if anyone else did this, they could go to jail. Trump called it a “glitch” and said the White House would look into it. 

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ABOVE ALL, LOVE
Whether you’re critical of your government or think it’s unfairly criticized, the command for Christians is to love neighbors and enemies alike. That requires speaking about others with dignity and respect, even when we feel like they haven’t earned it.

“With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in God’s likeness. Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way… Who among you is wise and understanding? By his good conduct he should show that his works are done in the gentleness that comes from wisdom.”
James 3:9–10, 13 (CSB) (read full passage)

What gospel lesson can be taught through this story?
God is eager to forgive and renew us when we admit our mistakes—whether big or small.

The Lord is not a perfectionist manager who’s just waiting for us to slip up so he can point out how much better he is. He knows our brokenness, and he’s way more eager to show us compassion than we are eager to admit our sin. When we admit that we’ve fallen short, he’s quick to forgive us (Psalm 103:8-12; Isaiah 55:7; 1 John 1:9).

Forgiveness doesn’t mean that we will be spared the consequences of our bad choices… but God does promise to work out the circumstances of our lives—including the bad things we bring on ourselves—for our good: “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28 CSB).

What response to this story do I want to model for my children?
We can model care with our words and care with other people’s privacy so that our kids trust us with their deeper thoughts.

Not many of us are privy to government secrets, but each of us is entrusted with sensitive information. A friend shares a private struggle, an intimate prayer request is spoken in our small group, we overhear something intended for other ears… and our response sets an example to our children. 

Proverbs speaks to the value of discretion—a key component of wisdom. Discretion involves knowing when to speak and when to be silent, and using kind, even-tempered words (Proverbs 12:23; 16:21). Guarding our words so that we don’t blab thoughtlessly protects us and blesses others (Proverbs 12:18; 13:3).

• Read some biblical proverbs about wise speech (you can start with those listed above!) and discuss areas where you need to grow.

• Memorize Romans 8:28, “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose” (CSB).

• Pray that each of you would have the humility to admit your faults to God and each other and that you’d model God’s forgiveness for one another. Pray that the Holy Spirit will transform your speech so that your discretion will bless others and bring God glory.

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