Spreading Lies
“Do not spread false reports. Do not
help a guilty person by being a malicious witness.
“Do not follow the crowd in doing
wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding
with the crowd,” – Exodus 23:1-2
A wicked person listens to deceitful
lips; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue. – Proverbs 17:4
It was one of those outrageous lies. You know what I’m
talking about. Someone says something on Facebook and everyone starts sharing
it without bothering to check the “facts.”
California is not trying to ban the Bible. The state
legislature couldn’t even if it wanted to. The First Amendment still exists.
Nor is the state attempting to shut down faith-based bookstores.
A legislator trying to stir up support for his
campaign spread falsehoods about a proposed piece of legislation. It was something
easily checked. But, well, the lie sounded right to people who want to think only
the devil and his followers live in California.
What bothers me is our willingness to share lies like
it’s nothing. It matters. When you seek to harm people by stirring up hatred
and discord, you become part of the problem. You become a liar too.
I lived in California. I attended one of many churches
in California. I know. It’s shocking to some of you. California is the home of
many Christians. There are many, many homes filled with people who pray and
study the Bible and try to live according to God’s Word.
Many of the people who spread Facebook lies consider
themselves to be honest, Christian people. They would argue vehemently,
defending themselves and saying they believed the lie. They didn’t bother to
check the “facts” but, well, they’re entitled to their opinion. It’s just too
easy to hit that share button. But when you repeat lies – gossip at its worst –
you are a liar.
I know. Some people point the finger at Facebook and
certainly that company must share the blame. But we each have individual
responsibility to make sure that what we share is factual, not because it
sounds right but because we’ve checked the facts.
Stop spreading lies, and hate, on Facebook and other
social media outlets. It not only makes you look bad, it turns people away from
Jesus.
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