Deception is the Order of the Day

Bunked and debunked

I see these terms on social media in the form of an assertion of some truth.  A web site holds itself forth as a "news" source and it "reports" news that is designed to ignite (or fan the flames of) passion. Often these "news" items are repackaged tidbits from other "news" sites of varying degrees of credibility (or incredibility). 

Then, in the spirit of the game, another "news" pundit (of equally questionable integrity or reliability) will "debunk" the original "bunk" by accusing the original source(s) of being biased or outright lying. There is much caterwauling and beating of the chest, but usually very little (if any) actual facts offered as contrary evidence.

Frankly, it's exhausting.  Is there any such thing anymore as "honest" (in the intellectual as well as the moral sense) news outlet today?

Recently (for example), in the "discussion" leading up to the Iran "deal", we got very conflicting information from Russian and Israeli sources that contradicted U.S. sources (or offered glimpses into the details that were notably absent from U.S. reporting). It appears, in retrospect, that the ONLY reliable information available to the U.S. citizen was that which originated from either Russia or Israel. 

I apologize in advance for anything I post that proves ultimately untrue.  Like I said, it is exhausting trying to verify anything these days.   Deception is the order of the day.  

For what it's worth...Mat 24:24 tells us to be very alert in "The Last Days",  “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”

The mind (reason) is far superior to passion (emotion) in determining what is true, but ultimately all truth is spiritually discerned. 1 Cor 2:14 says "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." Another translation says it this way " A person who isn't spiritual doesn't accept the teachings of God's Spirit. He thinks they're nonsense. He can't understand them because a person must be spiritual to evaluate them."

Whether or not these are the "Last Days" (I believe that they are) it seems pretty clear that with so much deception and so much "...spiritual wickedness in high places." (Eph 6:10) that our reason alone is insufficient to know "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."   God help us.  

John A. Sterling, MA, JD
Dec 30, 2015