Fake "News"

For the past few weeks, the signs outside our building have pertained to fake "news," which surely almost everyone in the country has heard about by now. Before we even get to that, there is the problem of "non" news. For example, the following fact was discussed on The O'Reilly Factor on March 22nd. The host said:

A 14-year-old girl in Rockville, Maryland was raped in a high school bathroom by two men allegedly in the United States illegally. An 18-year-old from Guatemala and a seventeen-year-old from El Salvador were freshmen at the school….

Fox News covered the story extensively last night. But ABC, NBC, and CBS didn't cover it on their nightly news broadcasts, nor did they mention it this morning, and they have hours of air time in the morning. CNN did not cover it in prime time last night. Neither did MSNBC in prime time.

That is beyond anything I've ever seen in my 40 years plus experience of journalism—a story of that magnitude ignored by the national media….

O'Reilly attributed the "Passover" on this news item (which they may have eventually reported on) to the fact that the mainstream media and a number of politicians are soft on immigration policy. Lending credibility to that charge is the fact that, even after the young girl was brutalized, "Maryland's House of Delegates actually voted to make the state a 'sanctuary.'" (The governor, evidently a person of at least average IQ, promised to veto it.) Most citizens recognize the insanity of "sanctuary" cities and states. In fact, an immigration advocate said that the two men ought to be burned at the stake (after due process, presumably).

In addition to significant news stories being omitted, however, is the fact that dozens of fake news stories have been broadcast, and one wonders how many have heard the truth of the matter. The March, 2017 issue of The Limbaugh Letter published two pages of "Fake News Whoppers." For example, The Hill published this tidbit:

A Muslim-American Olympic Medalist says she was detained by Customs for nearly two hours without explanation after President Trump's travel ban was instituted a few weeks ago.

Limbaugh then details the fact of the matter:

After an uproar, the Medalist, Ibtihaj Muhammad, tweeted: "Thanks to all who reached out regarding the December incident at Customs." Oops. She was detained by the Obama Regime. Trump did not become President until 1/20/17; his Executive Order was announced 1/27/17. (14).

That is not to say that other events did not occur after Trump's Executive Order, but this one was obviously not one of them. More? Okay, CBS News reported: "Statue of Liberty Was Originally Muslim Woman." This was offered as criticism of the President after the travel ban was in place. The only problem is one of inaccuracy. According to The New York Times, the inspiration for the Statue of Liberty "was the Roman goddess Libertas, the personification of liberty and personal freedom" (10/28/00) (14).

Fake "news" has been put out by CNN and a host of other news outlets. It's getting to the point that one must wait two or three days to see if a news story will be retracted or modified. With all of these occurrences in mind, we put up the sign:

Spreading fake "news"?
You could get caught
in your own mouthtrap.

Such has already happened with several news outlets who are too sloppy to check the information they publish. But as citizens, we should be careful about not repeating such distortions. However, since that original sign was posted, we have played off of it to (hopefully) spiritual advantage with a succession of follow-ups, which are listed below.

There is only one gospel –
Galatians 1:6-9.

Preaching a false gospel
makes one accursed.

"Faith only" is
fake spiritual news.

"Once Saved, Always Saved" is

Paul did not use the expression fake spiritual news, but he did instruct the Galatians that they had allowed themselves to be removed from the true gospel to "a different gospel, which is not another." In fact, the apostle claimed some had "perverted the gospel of Christ" (Gal. 1:6-7). One could rightly say they had begun to accept a fake gospel. The word gospel means "good news," but perverting it makes it bad news or false news. In fact, it caused people to be lost, and therefore the one who preaches it or repeats it is himself lost (Gal. 1:8-9). This is far more critical than fake political news, which can cause a great amount of damage—but it's not usually fatal.

"Faith Only" is Fake Spiritual News

How do we know that the doctrine of salvation by "faith only" is not true? First, not one Scripture teaches such a doctrine. If there was even one verse that made such a declaration, those who believe it would furnish it and end the debate over the matter. "Oh, but there are dozens of verses that teach the necessity of faith." Of course there are, and we believe every one of them. But they do not teach "faith only." In fact, James 2:24 proclaims: "You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only." "Faith only" cannot justify anyone.

"Well, what about the Philippian jailer? All he had to do was believe." Okay. What does the text say?

And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household" (Acts 16:30-31).

"Right! See nothing else was necessary. Salvation is by 'faith only.'" Paul and Silas still did not say, "You will be saved by 'faith only.'" How about if we read the next verse? "Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his house" (Acts 16:32). Verse 31 was not the conclusion/invitation of the message; it was the introduction. For "faith only" to be true, we would expect the next verse to read, "I believe," whereupon Paul would proclaim, "This man is saved because he has believed," but the historical account proceeds quite differently.

After speaking the Word of the Lord to him, the jailer and his family were immediately baptized—even though it had to be at least 1:00 A.M. Those who teach the false gospel of "faith only" would certainly not have baptized them immediately. Only someone who believed that baptism is part of God's plan for a person to be saved would do that.

The second reason "faith only" is fake spiritual news is that the Bible teaches God has other requirements. While it is true that unless we believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, we will be lost (John 8:24), it is also true that unless we repent, we shall all likewise perish (Luke 13:3). That Scripture is about as plain as one can possibly be. Certainly it is just as plain as John 8:24. "Faith only," then cannot be true because there is at least one other requirement—repentance.

But more is required than faith and repentance. When the people asked on the Day of Pentecost what they should do, Peter answered, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins…" (Acts 2:38). "But I've been taught that baptism is not necessary," someone might say. But what does the Bible tell us? Peter preached it in the first gospel sermon; the jailer and his family were baptized in the middle of the night. Peter also wrote that "baptism doth also now save us" (1 Peter 3:21). Faith, repentance, and baptism are all required.

"Once Saved, Always Saved" is Fake Spiritual News

The only thing worse than convincing people they are saved when they have not obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ is to convince them that they cannot ever be lost from that point onward. Such assurances will probably keep them from examining the Scriptures to find out that they have not been saved in the first place. In fact, this is a self-defeating and destructive doctrine for any religious group to teach.

If people believe they cannot lose their salvation, then it will not be long before some begin to think, "Say, if I attend my class reunion and don't attend worship that Sunday, it's not going to matter. It's not like my salvation is in jeopardy." If someone from work invites him to a golf match with a client on Sunday, well, why not? Eventually, he may realize that, even though attending worship would be helpful, it's not necessary to be present at all. Sure, the wife may protest, and the "pastor" may express some dismay, but isn't he the same guy who insists that salvation cannot be lost?

It may take a little longer, but he may decide that a little alcoholic adult beverage would be all right, also. The church might not like it, but most everybody does it anyway. Some denominations actually encourage it. Anyway, he is safe. Others may decide that cheating on a spouse will not cause him to be lost, either. And if he must lie to keep a client or filch a little money from the company to keep him in his accustomed lifestyle, well, he deems himself clever enough to avoid getting caught. Besides, his salvation is secure, right?

Therefore, just on a practical level, this doctrine will cause many to live worldly and unspiritual lives—yet with confidence they will be saved. And various religious denominations go along with it. Everyone who has ever been to one of these group's funerals knows the truthfulness of this statement. The person who died may have never darkened the doors of any church building, never set a Christian example for others to follow, never contributed financially or in any other positive way to the congregation; in fact, many may know of shameful behavior on his part, but the "pastor" will point out that once, 40 years ago, he confessed Jesus and was saved.

To many, it's a comforting doctrine. But the second major objection to it is that the Bible does not teach it. If salvation is absolutely guaranteed, why did Paul tell the Galatians they had turned away from the gospel to another which was perverted? Why did he say those who preached that gospel were accursed (Gal. 1:6-9)? Why pronounce a curse upon someone who could not affect a person's salvation with a lie? And why did he argue that those who tried to go back under the Law of Moses, after having become Christians, had fallen from grace (Gal. 5:1-4)? No one can fall from a ladder or a roof unless he was up there to begin with. No one can fall from grace unless he was in the grace of God. Paul converted the Galatians. He knew they had obeyed the truth but were departing from it. The Christian should not listen to fake spiritual news, regardless of the source.