December 20, 2018

Lies Disguised as Truth

“You have profaned me among my people for a few handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. By lying to my people, who listen to lies, you have killed those who should not have died and have spared those who should not live.” – Ezekiel 13:19

It’s all just a masquerade but so many people think it’s real. They get agitated and upset over something they believe, causing them to sin in ways they wouldn’t otherwise have sinned.

We gather together with hearts hardened toward others, righteous in our beliefs and unwilling to listen to the other viewpoint. We don’t bother to check our facts or review our sources, choosing to believe what sounds good over what is right.

During my first semester of college, we were required to take a course titled Mass Communications 101. This was long before tabloids joined the broadcast ranks and long before the internet was slammed with Facebook and YouTube and other venues. It was a time of clear lines between legitimate news journalists and those who shredded the truth in order to sensationalize a story.

We studied the ways in which tabloids would take a tiny fact and surround it with what ifs and possibilities and unnamed sources. A person who wasn’t careful could believe aliens had invaded Los Angeles or a celebrity was having an affair. No proof was required.

We the people enjoyed that. We fed on what was sordid. We snatched up the tabloids and clamored for more. It was juicy reading and we believed it all.

Every now and then someone would sue but mostly folks just let it go. It’s difficult to prove someone tried to harm you even though you could easily argue that lies are intended to harm.

We the people fueled it all with our insatiable appetite for those things that fueled our anger and inspired our passions. We hungered for reality shows that made us feel better about ourselves by exposing the sordid lives of others. Our soap operas of yesterday became the tabloid journalism of today.

I am amazed at those who truly believe if it’s on YouTube or Facebook that it has to be true. I can only shake my head at those who truly believe that “news” on television is created all the same. They can’t see that people arguing about an issue has nothing to do with “news” and everything to do with opinion.

This isn’t about political positions. It’s about facts. Just because one person said it doesn’t make it true. Do people research issues and check facts? No. It’s just too easy to focus on those who share our opinions and spread their views as facts.

We have created a monster. Or, maybe, Satan has created a monster and used us to do it. We seek to destroy each other, unable to share a civil conversation about any issues we disagree on. We are so busy fighting “for” God, that we’ve lost Him and we don’t even know it.

Satan works hard each day to lead us astray, to focus our fight on each. Every time we believe his lies, we become less of who we could be in Christ.

November 10, 2018

Your Choice

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. – Galatians 5:1

We are blessed to live in this country. We are blessed by the many freedoms we enjoy. We have the freedom to worship as we choose. We have the freedom to speak freely. Do we use that freedom wisely?

I spent the early years of my career as a journalist. That’s right. A newspaper reporter. In Mass Communications classes, we studied how tabloids can use words to manipulate the truth. It seemed so clear. In reality, it wasn’t. That’s why so many people bought tabloids filled with lies that were bolstered by tidbits of truth.

It breaks my heart to see that happening in such a widespread way. I know. People love it. They buy into the lies. In our deepest parts, we love gossip and the drama that it brings. But it is just so wrong.

The press corps has become filled with people who are out to make a name for themselves. They will report almost anything just because they can. It’s all about being first rather than being right. It’s that mob mentality that turns frenzied at the first sight of its victim.

President Trump fuels that. He’s good at it. He always has been. Except this isn’t reality television where ratings determine your success. This is real life, real people, real events. It’s not okay to use your power and platform to condemn at random and to spread lies when it’s convenient.

Christ died to set us free so that we could live like Him, not so that we could implode in a field of lies. We don’t get to pick and choose which parts of the Bible we believe. Either you love Jesus as He is or you don’t.

That means loving people, including people you disagree with. That means tempering your words, being kind and forgiving and merciful. It means standing up for what’s right, even if it steps on your own political toes. It’s not about you. It’s not about me. It’s about Jesus. When did we lose sight of that?

It’s hard these days to determine fact from fiction. There are some really good reporters out there who deserve respect from everyone. They try hard to get the story right. That means stepping on toes. That means upsetting everyone. Because when you’re walking that line of truth, no one is happy with you.

It would be far easier to gather a bunch of folks together, call them reporters or news anchors, throw out a few “facts” and let them hash out their opinions. Label it news and watch the ratings skyrocket. Most folks don’t bother to check out what they’re hearing or reading to make sure it’s truth. I suppose if something is said enough times people stop doubting its validity.

Christ didn’t set us free to spread lies and hate. Every time we watch a “news” channel that does that, we are betraying Him. Every time we “share” something without making sure it’s true, we betray Jesus. We spread hate and discord because the drama feels good. Otherwise, why would we bother to listen or read something that upsets us?

Lies beget lies. Hate begets hate. Jesus? Well, Jesus is all about love. You have the freedom to choose who you will follow. Will it be the world with all it’s anger and hate? Or will it be Jesus, who beckons us to love and care for others? Your choice. I pray you choose wisely.