I think you would agree that we live in a time where we are bombarded with information from many directions. Finding the truth has become more difficult now than any time in our history. From social media to TV "news" sources to the internet, we can find a version of what gets our attention. We also tend to believe the sources which agree with what we want the truth to be.
A preacher should NEVER quote from an unreliable source. The Bible tells us that "a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways" (James 1:8). To quote a talking head from today's "news" channels is very dangerous - especially in these times of instability in our nation. I always get that cringe feeling when I hear someone say things like "I believe" or "I read a study" or "I heard" just as much as when I hear someone say, "The Lord told me....". We have to be careful and use discernment for these sources of information. Not all information will be accurate.
When I was growing up, we trusted our news anchors and newspapers. Walter Cronkite was called "the most trusted man in America" when he was reporting the news. We absolutely cannot say that now. Today it is about ratings, stirring up controversy and hidden agendas. I once worked for a newspaper and overheard an editor tell a reporter that he wanted a story with a different slant. These are dangerous times.
Let me caution you that everyone who says they support Christian values may be talking out of both sides of their mouths and have an agenda that isn't about the gospel at all.
If you want a sobering survey, Crosswalk.com found that the average person spends 145 minutes per day on social media. On top of that, 62% of Americans believe that social media maintains too much control over our news content. Sadly, the same survey revealed that adults spend less than 30 minutes per day reading their Bible. We would rather consume other sources of information than what is in God's Word to us. (See what I meant about finding surveys to support your point?)
John 8:32 tells us that when we know the truth that it will set us free. We don't see people acting free in knowing the truth today. Most would rather believe a lie. Why is that? Why can't people handle the truth? The reason people can't handle the truth is because it makes people uncomfortable in what they believe. We don't want to be wrong about what we think or believe. Pride is a strong wall we build against seeking the truth. Humans are like sheep, we will follow the easiest, most comfortable path and follow others.
Several years ago, when podcasts were the new thing, I had several prominent preachers I would listen to on a regular basis. Over the years I have had to cut them one-by-one because of the truth I have learned about them and errors in their sermons. Even with the one or two I still listen to; I am more cautious in discerning what they are preaching. Too many want to slant their sermons in the direction of their personal beliefs and not of the Holy Spirit. Today it is about appealing to political agendas than it is about the truth.
Proverbs 17:24 tells us that "the discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth." When we read social media posts or "news" posts on the internet, we need to read more than the headlines and also discern the source. We get lazy and believe whatever someone posts if it agrees with us. We need to be smarter than that.
So how can we discern the truth in our sources of information? We don't like to do the work, but these things could help:
- Research the source. Who wrote the article? What is their background, beliefs or political views?
- READ the article - not just the headline. Our attention span is too short, and we get impatient to read the whole thing so let's take time to read the whole thing.
- Seek advice from people you trust and talk about it.
- If you are conflicted about the information, pray about it. Sometimes taking a timeout from the noise helps us to think more clearly. "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." (James 1:5)
