Fake news consists of exaggerated headlines and false stories appearing as genuine news—spread on the Internet and disseminated through other kinds of media. Its purpose is to influence politics, gain customers for advertisers, or even get laughs. Since most fake news comes from anonymous sources, it’s difficult to track and stop. As a result, the process of sharing genuine news can often become tainted or problematic. Of course, fake news is not new. In fact, it’s why the Apostle John, writing about his experiences with Jesus Christ, stressed in chapter 21 of his Gospel that he was an eyewitness to the events he describes. He wanted to assure us of their accuracy and reliability. He added this, perhaps as a postscript: “This disciple is the one who testifies to these events and has recorded them here. And we know that his account of these things is accurate.” In our day, Internet technology makes it possible for anyone to communicate fake news worldwide. For that reason, we must be very careful to identify credible sources of what is true and recognize what is false. Otherwise, we will find ourselves duped and following rabbit trails that lead us astray.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr. is the founder and chairman of UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.). Under his direction, UMI has grown to be a leading publisher of Christian education resources for churches in the African American community. Read More
