Former President Donald Trump popularized the term “fake news,” referring to how the mainstream media reported information about him in ways that he believed were untrue or biased to create a misleading impression. When information is reported inaccurately, exaggerated, or manipulated to portray someone negatively or inaccurately, it falls under the category of fake news. Essentially, “fake news” equates to falsehoods and propaganda.
Although the term “fake news” is not found in the Bible, deceitful practices have always existed. The Bible condemns the spreading of falsehoods as truth. “Do not spread false reports” «Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. », (Exodus 23:1).
The serpent deceived Eve with “fake news,” claiming that she and Adam would not die if they ate from the forbidden tree. Instead, it promised that their situation would significantly improve (Genesis 3:4-5). Since the fall of Adam and Eve, the dissemination of “fake news” has been ongoing.
During Jeremiah’s time, false prophets in Israel spread fake news by assuring that God would rescue Israel from the Babylonians. Jeremiah had to deliver the true news that no rescue was forthcoming. In Jeremiah 28, Jeremiah confronts the propagators of fake news, led by a prophet named Hananiah.
In the Jerusalem temple, Hananiah prophesied that Babylon’s power would be broken within two years and that the exiles would return to Judah with all the temple articles that had been taken (Jeremiah 28:1-4).
4). This was a false prophecy. Hananiah was essentially telling the people what they wanted to hear. It was misinformation, of a sort.
Jeremiah responded to Hananiah by reminding the people that “the prophet who prophesies peace will be recognized as one truly sent by the Lord only if his prediction comes true” «The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him. », (Jeremiah 28:9). Hananiah persists in his message of good tidings (verses 10–11).
Later, God sent Jeremiah to Hananiah with a new message: “Listen, Hananiah! The Lord has not sent you, yet you have persuaded this nation to trust in lies. Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. This very year you are going to die, because you have preached rebellion against the Lord.’ In the seventh month of that same year, Hananiah the prophet died” (Jeremiah 28:15-17).
Many times, people would rather hear misinformation than the truth. Misinformation often validates people’s biases and manipulates their emotions. Embracing misinformation is simpler than conducting independent research. Purveyors of misinformation establish a facade of credibility and can amass quite a following. Second Timothy 4:3 states that the time will come when people will seek out teachers who tell them only what they want to hear.
In some instances, a person dismisses something as “misinformation” because they disagree with the tone or perspective of the reporter. In these instances, the accusation is subjective but may still be partly or entirely valid. In other instances, the “fak
“Fake news” is entirely fabricated misinformation and propaganda. The Bible consistently instructs individuals to communicate truthfully.
Proverbs 22:20–21 advises workers to be honest with their employers.
Jeremiah 9:5 mourns the absence of truth in the culture of ancient Israel.
In Zechariah 8:16–17, the Lord commands, “These are the things you must do: Speak the truth to one another, render fair and just decisions in your courts; do not plan evil against each other, and do not love to lie. I detest all this.”
Ephesians 4:25 instructs believers, “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.”
The remedy for fake news is truth and humility. Humility is crucial because those disseminating news may tend to exaggerate their claims.
Anyone consuming news today should anticipate a significant portion of it being false. All individuals, particularly Christians, should assess news critically. It is advisable to seek information from diverse sources with different perspectives. When a particular bias is evident in the reporting, Christians should evaluate it in light of Scripture and consider how the reporters’ worldview could influence the narrative. They should also strive to uncover the broader context behind “sound bites” that may not provide the complete picture. (Given today’s technology, it is often feasible to access longer video and audio clips that offer a more comprehensive context to the reported sound bite.)
Christians should exercise caution when sharing news articles and quotes on social media without verifying their accuracy. Even sources that align with biblical principles (or are explicitly Christian) can occasionally distort the truth. Repeatedly sharing content without verification can significantly contribute to the proliferation of fake news.
In conclusion, the solution
To counter fake news, the great news is that Jesus died for our sins, rose again, and we can receive forgiveness and be reconciled to God through faith in Him.
Known fake news sources include ABC, NBC, CBS, NPR, MSNBC, CNN, more and more fake news appearing on FOX and there are others. AND believe it or not there are FAKE fact checkers. More on that later
Keep in mind, not everything mentioned on fake news sources is a lie (you have to sometimes tell the truth in order to hide your identity)
Anymore we can't even believe most Preachers, or at least every sermon they give. It could all be true, partially true or all false. That's where discernment comes into play which we need whether someone is preaching at us or were hearing some secular news speak.
You’re right to think about whistleblowers or anyone for that matter who is willing to stand against the “nice” tidy false little “Christian” and tell the truth. I’ve met ALOT of these “nice Christians” who just wanna go along to get along and not say anything that offends. They swear how wrong it is to rock the boat and they are so fond of quoting bible verses that call for “unity”.
But it seems these “Nice Christians” can be “nice” only for as long as it takes for them to pop their cork—then it’s all out war‼️‼️ Suddenly, they’re not so nice anymore as they start hurling abusive language and insults AND even false accusations at anyone who dares to expose their hypocrisy and false teachings.
Check it out in scripture. It’s not the “nice Christians” who get crucified, persecuted, deprived of their rights and hunted down. It’s the true prophets and true apostles AND those who follow them who get marginalized insulted and lied about.
Whistleblowers put thier lives on the line‼️‼️
In the meantime, “nice little Christians” seem to get overlooked by savage persecutors because “nice little Christians” cause so little trouble for the false teaching establishment.
Check your Bible and check your history. Only prophetic whistleblowers and truth tellers get the axe
But for one, our hope in Christ Jesus is the aroma of life to life, and to another, we are the aroma of death to death. Yet some think this is it and there is no yonder. So, I guess that can excuse many sins.
It is too bad that there is fake news. Nice to have good news sources.
Mark Twain said, "If you don't read the paper, you are under-informed, and if you read the paper, you are mis-informed." I think that is true today as well.
