Truth vs. Propaganda
Propaganda. We’ve all heard this term before. We remember how Hitler used it to sway a nation to follow his insane agenda and gain their allegiance. Its definition is “Information especially of a nature used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.” We’ve even seen local news outlets adopt this deceptive way of reporting. They have taken a “side” politically when their only job is to simply report the news. This is a very dangerous practice.
Politicians are using propaganda to lull us into believing Socialism is in our own best interest, creating a bigger government with more control. They want to take more of what we work for and give it to others. Thomas Sowell said, “If you have been voting for politicians who promise to give you goodies at someone else’s expense, then you will have no right to complain when they take your money and give it to someone else, including themselves.” #scary
James Hochberg stated, “The application of taxing income to provide a national social safety net for the less fortunate in society began in the 1940’s under FDR and continued in the 1960’s under LBJ (it was never the intention of the writers of the Constitution for Government to be our caregivers) Now, in the 2020 presidential election cycle, several presidential candidates argue for actual socialism under our system of government. It is now, more than ever, that we need to remember what our system of government requires of each of us.
Adopting socialism on a grander scale must be rejected. Historically, socialism has been adopted by force, at the end of a gun barrel by political leaders in charge of existing political structures. There is a practical reason for that: socialists use other people’s money, that those other people would prefer to keep. Force is the only operative mechanism. #belearyvoter
But someone else is using it against us, on the daily. It’s our enemy the devil. He’s feeding us lies and half-truths so we will question what we believe; much like the propaganda used by Hitler; phrases and lies being told over and over until they seem like the truth. This practice is designed to trick us, it’s lies are said repeatedly into our minds, sounding like our own voice. His plan is to use this propaganda to deceive us if possible, so we must as believers be ever aware of what thoughts we allow our minds to grab onto.
Joshua told us in Joshua 1:8, “Keep this Book of the Law always on you lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” God’s Word is something a Believer cannot afford to sit on a shelf and let gather dust. We are to study it to learn it so that we can then do it. When we get it fully integrated into our minds and spirits, when the enemy comes with his propaganda we won’t be fooled!
He wants us to adopt his “point of view” instead of God’s. This has been his plan since the beginning. There is a term called Confirmation Bias that I want to explore. It is “the tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms or supports one’s prior beliefs or values.
In Scripture Paul talked about a group called the Bereans. Acts 17:11 says, “And the people of Berea were more openminded than those in Thessalonica, they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scripture day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.”
They did not reject his message because it was different than they already believed, but instead searched Scripture to see if it was truth. A lot of people and even ministers are doing this today. They feel convinced of something and search the Word for a Scripture that will support their belief instead of the other way around. That is confirmation bias.
When interpreting Scripture there are certain rules that apply. Who was it written to, cultural context, Law of First Mention, is it in context and more. We should never cherry pick a Scripture to try and support a belief that is not biblical in the whole of Scripture. Many misunderstand God’s heart when they do this.
More than ever, we need to know God’s word for ourselves. Paul told us “study to show yourselves approved, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15. We are fast approaching the end of the age and with that will be much deception. There will be a great falling away from truth by people and ministers in the church as they adopt worldly mindsets to fit their own beliefs and current cultural norms. We saw this in the news this past week with the Pope.
We can’t let the propaganda of our enemy deceive us. Jesus prayed and said, “Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.”
Father I pray for your Body. I come against the spirit of the age, the deception that is rampant in the world. I pray over the minds and hearts of your people to desire to know truth. Give us a hunger for your word like never before; a hunger to know you and your ways revealed in your Word. Give us discernment to see the lies we have believed and to be willing to accept your truth no matte the cost. Convict your ministers of the sin of compromise in teaching the full counsel of your word. Pull back the blinders that have kept us in darkness. In Jesus name.