Seeking Truth in a World of Fake News

We live in a world of "fake news." Fake news is proclaimed via the government, world politics, social media, corporations, news outlets, and the list goes on. The term fake news refers to any false or misleading information which has the capacity to intentionally deceive, manipulate, mislead, or twist the truth. Often the listener is left with questions as to what is true. Whom can we trust? How do we know what we hear or read is the truth? We feel deluged by a flood of untruth.

We should not be surprised by this. Fake news has been designed to mislead people since Genesis 3, when Eve had her life-transforming conversation with the serpent of old, Satan. In John 8:44 we are told that Satan was a murderer and a liar from the beginning. "There is no truth in him,” said the Lord Jesus. “When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." Should we be surprised that the father of lies would continue to spew his venom of fake news at every opportunity? The world is crying out and begging for the truth.

The Lord Jesus Christ claimed to be “the truth” in John 14:6. In John 18:37-38, Christ explained to his inquisitor, Pilate, why He came into the world. "To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice." Pilate responded with the question that all mankind continues to ask, "What is truth?" That is man’s response in a world of fake news. In John 17:17 we are told that God’s Word is truth. Jesus Christ claimed to be the One who came with the intent of bringing the world truth amid a world of fake news propagated by the father of lies. He left for us His Word, which indeed is truth. There is no fake news in Scripture; it can be trusted.

What is fascinating is that we are told in 1 Timothy 3:15 that the church of the living God is "the pillar and ground of the truth." Timothy was the pastor of the church in Ephesus. The believers in that idolatrous city would have known about the tremendous structure of the temple of Diana with its beautiful and massive pillars and foundation. But Paul uses this illustration to refer to the church. A pillar is a strong column or support for the roof. It also displays the roof so all can see it. The ground can be translated buttress, which is a projecting support reinforcing the pillars and strengthening the structure. It is God’s intent that His church will firmly uphold the truth of His Word and lift it up high so the world can see it, hear it, and be transformed by it.

How can the church be "the pillar and ground of the truth" if it does not have the Scriptures in the language of its people?

We have the privilege, as the church of the living God, to display God's truth by coming alongside and helping the church that is still waiting for God's Word. Though it is impossible to eliminate fake news, we can help God's church around the world uphold and display His truth to every nation, kindred, people, and tongue (Rev. 7:9). May Christ help us support the church worldwide so that truth is lifted up high like a pillar. The church continues to wait. Will you help us take them the truth? For the truth will set them free (John 8:32).