A. WHAT IS FAKE NEWS?
? Is it correct to call it fake news?
? Webster – definition of fake: “To prepare or make something deceptive or fraudulent.”
? Better phrase – bias news, or slanted news, or prejudice news. The media believes they are telling the truth (according to their understanding).
? News/media reporters believe different views of truth, law, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
? News/media deeply believes and maintains their own different interpretation of life.
? Not just media, but many/most people.
OVERVIEW
? The media is influenced by culture, and institutions (home, school, work, etc.).
? The media is spiritually blinded.
? The media is influenced by the world, the flesh, and the devil (Eph. 2:2-3).
? The media is influenced by lust of flesh, lust of eyes, and pride of life (1 John 2:15-18).
B. INFLUENCED BY CULTURE AND INSTITUTIONS
? Dictionary: culture is deeply influenced on life from values, and attitudes. Your life and opinions grow from your roots.
? Public schools believe truth is not absolute but relative. Honesty is an expression of your inner character and people are good. They deny people are born in sin, and that they come from evolution.
? Institutions (home, schools, work) organized patterns of group behavior, that is accepted and advances group and personal goals.
? To change behavior we must change people actions, thinking and purpose in life. This is done by Christ (2 Cor. 5:17).
C. INFLUENCED BY THE WORD, FLESH, AND THE DEVIL
“We were influenced by the sins of the world and that we obeyed the suggestions of the devil … and we followed the passions and indications of our fleshly desires”) Eph. 2:2-3, ELT
? The world influences us to conform to its culture.
? The devil is a liar (John 8:44), who convinces us of his ways.
? The flesh is our inward desire. Modern psychology teaches four desires: love me, accept me, protect me, and exalt me.
D. INFLUENCED BY LUST OF THE FLESH, LUST OF EYES, AND PRIDE OF LIFE (1 John 2:15-18)
? The word lust can be evil or normal desires. Evil is in the object of desiring.
? Desires of flesh – want experience to satisfy, excited, or drive our physical body
? Desire of eyes – want what we see, i.e., houses, clothes, things, money, etc.
? Pride of life – goal: make our self better, educated, advancement. It can be evil. Power over others, selfish ambition, etc.
E. INFLUENCED BY THEIR SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS
“Satan … the God of this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe … they are unable to see … God’s light … unable to understand the gospel … unable to know and follow the light of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:3-4, ELT).
? People are blinded by their sin and their punishment in hell.
? People are blinded to truth about God, His expectations for their life, and His expectation for the operation of home, government and our lives.
F. THE ANSWER:
“If My people who are called by My name, will humble themselves in prayer, seek My presence by confessing and turning from sin; then I will hear their honest request. I will forgive their sins, and I will heal problems where they live” (2 Chronicles 7:14, ELT).
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
To email Dr. Towns - eltowns@liberty.edu.
