Pastor's Corner

30 Mar
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Mid-Week Challenge

I’m a sci-fi nerd.  I’m not as deep into it as some, but I enjoy a classic TV episode, movie or latest ET theory.  Back in the 90s there was an alien investigation show that had as its tag line “The Truth Is Out There.”  The statement challenged us never to believe anything a face value, to keep looking, examine the evidence and eventually you would discover the truth.  It was also a statement about not trusting what the government or their representatives on what they had to tell us!   That advice has never been truer than today.  Over the past few months, we have heard political news stories after news reports about what was recently reported as fact is now not so true.  The term “walk it back” has resurfaced in the past few days because so much of what we have been told by the media was not the whole story.  In fact, one could make a case that the media’s reporting has been political in nature.  I joke, because everyone knows that most news outlets are politically motivated or heavily ratings driven causing them to fudge the details to tip the scale in their viewers favor.  It is sad that major media believes that we can’t handle the facts and make up our minds on how the truth impacts our own personal life.  It is insulting to learn that they are using just enough of the truth to slant our views toward their leaning, instead of allowing us to make up our own mind based on the full story.  Thanks to the internet, video cameras on our phone and an awakening toward actual misinformation, anyone can quickly get to the bottom of what actually happened. The Google search engine has a feature where you type in a few words and it will offer to complete the sentence for what you are searching for.  Even this “tool” is slanted toward influencing your search toward their popular culture. Type in terms “Afghanistan, Ukraine, Florida, or SCOTUS,” hit enter and you will be given is a list of politically charged news stories.  What if a student was simply looking for information on a school project on these subjects? 

The truth matters and those who have been charged with truth telling are no longer trusted; that is if you look at it based on political affiliation. https://www.businessinsider.com/most-and-least-trusted-news-outlets-in-america-cnn-fox-news-new-york-times-2019-4 Even pastors have lost credibility https://www.christianitydaily.com/articles/15039/20220224/pastors-no-longer-perceived-credible-trustworthy-barna.htm Christians are challenged to “always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15) We are not charged with being an expert on every topic in our culture, but Jesus did tell us that we were being sent out into a sinful world and we should prepare ourselves with the truth. (Matthew 10:16)  

With all the misinformation that is out there, don’t be fooled by simply taking an “expert’s word for it.”  2 Timothy 2:15 challenges us to study the Bible so we can use it correctly when encountering the information of our day.  I challenge you to read 2 Thessalonians 2. Here Paul gives a warning of what is to come.  He shares how things will develop in the end times and how we as Christians are to respond.  Google is nice, but God has given us one of the greats search engines for truth in the Bible.  When Christians approach life with a Biblical Worldview we see more clearly how to listen to the news and how to discern the truth.  Only then can we interact most effectively with those who we share life with.       

So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.  2 Thessalonians 2:15

Serving the Savior,

Bro. Jonathan

By: Dr. Jonathan Richerson

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