Buyer Beware

(Proverbs 14:15 KJV)  The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

Since the last presidential election we have been hearing about “fake news”.  Long ago I developed an attitude that says all news is “fake”.  I have that attitude because I am not “simple” (naive NASB) (6612a).  At least I like to think I am not naive.  I understand that there are levels of fake from the deliberate to the uninformed.  Thus when I read the news from some sources I question even the hard numbers given.  At other sources I just keep my filters on and my mind in gear.  Everyone gets it wrong sometimes and the first reports on the news are often full of error.

We face the same thing in our spiritual life.  When I talk to a Jehovah’s Witness I assume that they have a spin on what they say.  Some are deliberately lying to me and they know it.  Others are still young in their cult and have not had a chance to think it through.  When I hear a pastor in a genuine church spouting nonsense I often recognize it as nonsense.  The way I know is to get out my Divine Yardstick and start reading for myself.  The Holy Spirit will keep me informed if I put the right data into the Spiritual USB port.

So?  Always keep your thinking cap on whether you are listening to the news or the sermon.  Don’t believe everything you hear.  It is a sad truth but a necessary one.