Is it just me, or is it becoming harder to discern truth from fiction–especially in the news realm? We hear a lot about “fake news,” partial truth, and slanted facts. It’s almost like people want what they believe to become the truth for everyone else to believe.
This isn’t a new problem. It’s been an issue for centuries. Check out Acts 21:17-39, for instance. Paul the Apostle was in Jerusalem meeting with the church elders. He agreed to take a purification vow for seven days with four other men. When the seven days were completed, he went to the temple to bring an offering. The crowds saw him and went wild with their accusations:
- He was teaching people against the Jewish law (not true)
- He defiled the temple area by bringing Greeks into it (not true)
It was so bad that people called for his death. He was arrested and, as he’s being taken to the barracks, the commander asks him,
“Aren’t you the Egyptian who started a revolt
and led 4,000 terrorists out in the desert some time ago?” Acts 21:38
Talk about fake news! Paul was a Jew, not an Egyptian! Who started that rumor?
Read and meditate on this story in Acts. And remember–Just because we want something to be true doesn’t make it true.
- How quickly do you believe information without verifying the facts? What can you do to search for the truth?