Fake News?

Half the truth leads to a whole misunderstanding.

Fake News?

Half the truth leads to a whole misunderstanding.

There is a growing awareness that the information you receive is not always enough information. It feels like yesterday’s fake news might be tomorrow’s established facts.

I was listening to a discussion of this article examining the degradation of confidence in the information we receive.

In the age of dogmatic declarations and jumping to conclusions we could use a little more “look before we leap.”

But my concern isn’t our use of media at the moment…

I’m concerned that the Fake News phenomena is not new but merely exposing the sinful dynamics of the human heart.

The fallen heart loves confirmation bias because we trust ourselves too much.

Throughout history this displayed itself in personal relationships not social media conglomerates.

Have you been willing to accept Fake News about a friend?... or foe?

Have you been willing to establish facts about a person with only half the story?

Are you doing the hard work of talking with real people about the specific issues you’re working through?

As a pastor, I observe how much pain comes from taking sides with only half the truth. The Scripture calls us to humility and to the hard work of loving relationships. Hearing it through the grapevine leads to vinegar relationships. The Proverbs tell us that a gossip separates close friends for a reason.

Trust me (irony understood) …

·      You don’t know the whole picture of that couple going through a divorce.

·      You don’t know the lengths those parents have gone through to disciple their child.

·      You don’t know what was said and how it was said.

·      You don’t have the full picture.

As a rule, bet that your limited conversations, perspective, and wisdom has major gaps.

This should not keep us from living but move us to pray.

God knows all. God observes all as it takes place. God never forgets. God knows the heart. In the final Day the Lord will bring all to light–even the motives of the heart and the things whispered behind closed doors.

The Fake News phenomena should drive us to prayer. We can rely on the Judge of all the earth to do right. In prayer we draw strength from the Spirit to do the hard work of love while we wait for the final Day to publish the full story. In prayer we can be faithful to our task of love in faith that the Lord is over all.

As Proverbs 18 says,

¹⁷ In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right,

until someone comes forward and cross-examines.