Be Wary Of What You Hear
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. -- 1 John 4:1
I know some people really like the controversies and getting all fired up. Other people think talk radio is all about teaching and preaching and confirming our faith. Sometimes. And there are wonderful programs out there with awsome speakers and teachers. There are also some folks out there saying things that simply aren't true. The danger comes in trying to distinguish between the two. It worries me that some people probably won't take the time.
One evening I was listening to a radio talk show while I worked. The radio station plays mostly music but once a week it has a local talk show for an hour. I heard a Christian counselor condeming people who suffer from depression, saying bluntly that depression was all about selfishness. Excuse me?! I quickly prayed that no one suffering from depression was listening. Comments like that -- factually untrue -- could push someone to commit suicide or continue to suffer in silence rather than seeking help.
I listen to another station when I'm a few hours north of here. Again, it's mostly music. The owner periodically gives editorial comments. I certainly don't have a problem with that. It's his station, after all. I do have a problem when he states his opinion as fact. I spent many years as an editorial writer and columnist. There is a huge difference between opinion and fact.
That gets me back to all those other programs I'd rather not listen to. Unless I know the speaker to be reputable, I turn the dial. Maybe I could learn something. And, yes, I probably miss some wonderful programs. But I suspect I'd just spend lots of time trying to verify what the speaker was saying when I got wherever I was going.
Talk radio can be fun but don't ever trust its speakers without verifying what they say with God and the Bible.
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