TRUTH – Part #8

Series of Articles On Truth

SPEAKING THE

TRUTH IN LOVE

Eph. 4:15

We have become so addicted to the social internet and the steady diet of content that aligns to our beliefs that we eat up whatever we’re fed without checking if it’s laced with poison.

Martin, Chris. Terms of Service (p. 112). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

_____

Only dishonest people seek out what is false. For financial gain, to persuade followers or for whatever other motives might activate deceit, there are those who produce fake news and those who consume it. Some out of carelessness, some with intention to mislead.

Christians must not be of this clan. Obviously, we are under the prohibition: “do not lie,” (Col. 3:9). In addition to that there is the value of discernment that is a component of the character of Christians: “…test everything; hold fast what is good,” (1 Thess. 5:21).

While there is no inherent wrong in using your computer or other digital device to read what’s available on the internet, and no obligation to avoid all social media, Christians must navigate this perilous territory aware that there are content creators who traffic in falsehood. These deceivers are often good writers and their content has an attractive and professional look to it. It may be laced with poison.

Religious error flourishes on social media, blogs, webpages and newsfeeds. Half-truths are sometimes whipped into a frenzy. Quotes are pushed out without context. Sources are not cited. Even photographs can be misleading.

We are warned and can be protected against internet fake news and poison by something that was given long before computers and online devices.

When you scroll with the mouse, have the Sword nearby: “…the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God,” (Eph. 6:17). “Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace…,” (Heb. 13:9).

Fake news just explains the fundamental problem in the world today. People’s capacity to engage in critical thinking has been arrested by intellectual laziness, cheap impulses, unbridled curiosity, and corporate and political interests. People running the show, who use social media as their battleground, understand what content will appeal to the weak minded individual as well as the strong minded so as to manipulate their view of reality. We’ve all had a little taste of it and even though it might be temporarily sweet in the end it will be very bitter indeed. – Herb Berkley