Fake News

The date was Sunday, October 30, 1938.  The Mercury Air Theatre, a radio drama broadcast over CBS radio, decided to air a Halloween episode directed by Orson Welles called The War of the Worlds, adapted from the 1898 novel by H.G. Wells, called by the same name.  The main gist of the show was that through simulated news bulletins, it was suggested that our planet was under attack my alien Martians.  While the show began with a clear disclaimer that the show was entirely fiction, there were few commercial interruptions, so those who turned in late were sent into panic thinking it to be really happening.  People disagree as to how much panic actually ensued, but the public outrage that followed was definitely real.  Many felt that the show had been intentionally deceptive with its listeners.

Fake news has been around for decades as a novelty, but now, because of media bias, we must filter everything we hear through a “truth” filter, “Is what I’m hearing really true or is it false?”  Recently, a news story was published as being possibly true without any substantiation as to its authenticity.  Their reasoning was to let the reader decide.  It was soon shown to be false, yet many still believed it to be true because they had heard it on the news or read it on the internet?  If we can’t trust the messenger, how can we know if what they tell us is true? 

The ones most upset with The War of the Worlds’ broadcast were the other news outlets because this fake news broadcast created doubt in the minds of listeners that maybe all news providers might be offering up bogus reports.  How could any of them be trusted?

As Christians, we carry a very special message that we call “Good News,” yet many in the world today have determined it to be fake news.  The idea of Jesus coming to this Earth to die for the sins of mankind seems ludicrous, much like Martians invading Earth.  They have come to this conclusion because, generally speaking, Christians have failed to live out their faith in loving and caring ways.  Our culture has deemed the messenger unreliable, untrustworthy and at times, even a threat to society, because of how Christians have conducted themselves.  Churches across America declare this Good News but few listen or pay attention anymore .  Since they don’t trust the messenger, they ignore the message.

I’m reminded of the first couple verses of the old altar-call hymn, “Channels Only.”

How I praise Thee, precious Savior,

That Thy love laid hold of me;

Thou hast saved and cleansed and filled me

That I might Thy channel be.

Just a channel full of blessing,

To the thirsty hearts around;

To tell out Thy full salvation,

All Thy loving message sound.

Refrain:

Channels only, blessed Master,

But with all Thy wondrous pow’r

Flowing through us, Thou canst use us

Every day and every hour.

This year, make it your priority to be the kind of messenger that people rely on to speak truth into their lives.  It is only by being honest, loving, and trustworthy that people will accept the Good News as the life-changing message that it is.

For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.   Hebrews 4:2 [NIV]