CREDIT: rawpixel.com

Dear Easter People,

ALLELUIA!  CHRIST IS RISEN! 

“Fake News” happens when people who can’t handle the truth call what they don’t like “fake” and hope people believe them. But some “fake news” is false. How do you determine the reality? It’s simple, consult the evidence. What does the evidence support? Reliable news is supported by reliable sources and evidence.

In the early church, “fake news” reporters tried pulling people away from the good news of Jesus Christ. Many just couldn’t believe Jesus was also God. Because, if He was God, He couldn’t die. And if He died, He couldn’t possibly rise from the dead. The truth – the Son of God’s death and resurrection are the basis for our faith in God’s good news! 

One the earliest purveyors of “fake news” was a guy named Cerinthus. He taught Jesus wasn’t God, but only carried “God” around with Him. He said Jesus’ divinity only joined Him when He was baptized.  Then, just before He died, His divinity left Him. Cerinthus’ teachings denied core Christian beliefs. 

John wrote to warn Christians about Cerinthus and others spreading fake news; urging them to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1) He advised testing what was heard, “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God.” (1 John 4:2-3) 

The false teaching about Jesus and God’s Word didn’t end with Cerinthus. And just like John’s day, we too can test these teachings. Whether the “fake news” questions Jesus’ divinity, God’s promises, God’s love for all human beings, or even day-to-day matters regarding rights to live, fighting poverty, and human sexuality and marriage let’s test it. God’s direction to the 1st century church still applies – test what’s said against God’s word. When we encounter “fake news,” use God’s word to proclaim the truth.

HE IS RISEN INDEED!  ALLELUIA!

                                                                                        In our Risen Savior’s Love,

                                                                                        Pastor Jim