Across the Pastor’s Desk by Kenneth Jensen

During the past presidential campaign, 40 percent of the electorate received its news from Facebook.

As a media source, Facebook enables rumors, innuendo and conspiracy theories to spread without verification as to its original source or its content.

As a result, “fake news” and “alternative facts” proliferated, passed on via cable TV pundits and talk radio hosts. Who and what were we to believe? 

Everyone has a world view consisting of cultural prejudices, religious beliefs, political philosophies, etc. that affect our ability to discern the truth.

Many end up living in silos, as it were. We subscribe to information and surround ourselves with people who think as we think. Life turns into one of us vs. them. Never mind the fact checkers and the data; we will believe what we want to believe.

In spite of fake news and alternative facts, there is hope.

As Jesus said, “There is nothing covered up which will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known” (Luke 12:2). Eventually truth will prevail. 

In chapter 17, vs. 5 ff., the Prophet Jeremiah put it this way:

“Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals and make mere flesh their strength, whose hearts turn away from the Lord. They shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when relief comes. They shall live in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.

“Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Jesus promised, “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (John 8:31b-32). 

He also proclaimed, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). 

Discerning the truth comes about as we read and listen to what Jesus has to say in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. It is not about what others may say about Jesus. It is about what Jesus says concerning himself, God’s graciousness toward a fallen world and our relationships with and our responsibilities to one another.

Kenneth Jensen is a retired Evangelical Lutheran Church Association pastor living in Albert Lea.