RWM Blog November 2024

Fake news – by Judith A. Thompson

(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
Fake news websites (also referred to as hoax news^[1][2]) deliberately publish hoaxes, propaganda, and disinformation purporting to be real news—often using social media to drive web traffic and amplify their effect.^[3][4][5] Unlike news satire, fake news websites seek to mislead rather than entertain readers, often for financial or political gain.^[6][4] Such sites have promoted political falsehoods in Germany,^[7][8] Indonesia and the Philippines,^[9] Sweden,^[10][11] Myanmar,^[12] and the United States.^[13][14][15] Many sites originate, or are promoted, from Russia,^[3][13][16] Macedonia,^[17][18] Romania,^[19] and the United States.^[20][21]

The other day I noticed a post on Facebook from someone I know and trust. As I read it I was excited to see something that I was passionate about had been a success. I pondered a few minutes and then decided to check it out. It sounded accurate. Just enough truth and facts to make me feel it was true. I tracked down the information with a little effort and found that the news release was not true but just another fake news story. It had raised my hopes and now I felt very disappointed. I had been deceived.

It reminded me of how often we have listened to mentors, sat in church and heard a message or something on the radio or tv and just took it all in. You liked what you heard and took it as truth without doing your own research. Then you passed on the information to others without having vetted the information. We all rejoice….in fake news.

Not only the world but the Church has been guilty of this very thing. Over the years we allow others to give us their interpretation of the Word. It saves us time! It’s much easier that way. We don’t have to do it ourselves. Oh, we take notes…we even live by what we hear. But is all that we hear truth?

The enemy of our soul seeks to mislead and lie to us. “The enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy!” (John 10:10) keep reading… “but I (Jesus) have come to give you life! Not just life but life abundantly!”

In these days we need to be diligent to hear God’s voice and seek him for ourselves. Not through someone else’s experience or interpretation. Don’t allow the enemy’s voice to speak “fake news” over your life in anyway.

Matthew 24:24 (NIV)
“For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”

Spend time with the Lord, learn His voice. Guard your spirit and learn to “vet” what you allow to feed your soul and spirit.