Fake or Real

A well-intentioned young man, concerned about elections, recently sat down at the kitchen table in his apartment. Choosing his words carefully, he created a story that sounded believable, even though there was no basis of truth. Then he released his story into the vast internet world. His assumptions? That this would help his side. That he was doing nothing wrong.

His fabricated story spread widely, read by an estimated 6 million

people. Influencing many.

When his authorship was discovered, the young man, a recent college graduate with a seemingly stellar background, admitted his mistake. But, justifying his actions, he claimed that fake news flourished because it reenforced existing biases.

His story illustrates the willingness of many to believe anything that sounds credible. In the process becoming vulnerable to manipulation and deception.

This is not a new practice. We see this kind of deception when Hananiah pronounced words that he said were God’s. He acted and sounded like a prophet. But, in fact, the Lord had not spoken to him.

The Bible warns us that the world is filled with deception. That we easily can be manipulated. About politics and businesses. About the reputations of other people. And even faith-related issues. Some might believe they have the correct interpretation or God’s judgment on a matter. But this does not mean that they are right, or speak for Him.

These are times that call for discernment. To be on guard against deception. Not to believe everything you hear but to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1 John 4:1). Make sure you know God’s Word. That you check everything you hear against His unchanging standard. That you are sensitive to His Spirit.