Fake News

Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John14:6

“Fake news” is sometimes also referred to as “alternative truth” although any similarity between them is non existent. President Trump brought the phrases to the fore as he tries to generate his own version of news and truth. It boils down to this: If President Trump says something, you can trust it as the pure truth. This alarms me because of the verse above.

No one likes bad things to be said about them, even if they are true, and the most powerful man in the free world is no exception. So when the media runs any article that he doesn’t like or agree with, he calls it fake or untrue. It then boils down to this: Who do you believe? If you say something long enough and loud enough, it will be trusted as truth. Donald J Trump knows this, and let’s be honest, this is a man who doesn’t like to be wrong. He made his empire by hard business negotiations with similarly hard businessmen. Can the same rules be used when governing a nation?

Here’s what my problem boils down to. If someone claims to be a ‘born again’ Christian, but links truth to things like the media, instead of a person like Jesus, there is something far wrong. Truth is found in the person of the Son of God, and this most basic of all truths has been missed. So my ability to trust that same someone with anything else is reduced to say the least, and it doesn’t matter who that someone is. Jesus knows all about fake news because He suffered from His own fake news and trial before His unjust crucifixion. So, I think He is well placed to judge what truth and justice are, and it will never come under the fake category. Another thought. If you profess to be a Christian, and use or peddle fake and misleading news to your own ends and benefit, God’s perfect justice will take care of it ultimately and eternally. That’s a lot longer than any 4 or 8 year term of office, and worth a long hard look in the mirror.

Crisis

We use the word easily, and it is often repeated in our media. If something is in crisis, it seems to be newsworthy. From poverty to politics and everything in between, we become immune to its real meaning. As a fourteen year old, I remember the Cuban missile crisis in 1963 and the fear it produced in me and my classmates. The threat was real, and today’s teenagers are now faced with another, real crisis. This one, like the last one, is not of our own nation’s making.

The new US President Donald Trump, and North Korea’s Kim Jong-Un are not men to be messed with. Both are proud, yes even arrogant in their own worth and see themselves as a kind of ‘saviour’ (small ‘s’) of their country. One by birth, the other elected in a democratic process. What each says, goes. Consequences are not thought through. Neither will stand down for fear of being humiliated, or seen as the loser. These were exactly the same conditions that prevailed in 1963. As history shows, the missile carrying ships headed to Cuba, turned around. One leader was hailed as a victor, the other slid into the background.

As the saying goes, “One thing we learn from history, is that we don’t learn from history”, so here we go again. I imagine that our youth are fearful, and wondering what on earth is going on, just as it was in my younger day. As the US and North Korea’s leaders lock horns, it is impossible to know what will happen next as the leaders flex their muscles. But as Christians we have the sure words of Jesus, our supreme Lord who is over and above all earthly leaders. We need to take heed of the two fold message. While we are not fearful, we must recognise that time is still available to get onside with the only true winner, Jesus Christ.

You will hear about wars that are being fought. And you will hear stories about other wars beginning. But don’t be afraid. These things must happen before the end comes. Matt 24:6

Tru-lary. The Solution?

I admit it. It’s my own fault. I watched the debates, all three. Since they were aired in the middle of my night, I recorded them and watched the next day. You would have thought one would have been enough, but no, I had to watch all three. It was like seeing a car crash or a train wreck. I didn’t want to see any more, but I watched anyway. I couldn’t help myself, and I am asking why, now that we are down to a few days before the USA Presidential Election. Mind you ‘Presidential’ is one thing neither of these candidates are, but one of them will become President, but neither has behaved in a ‘Presidential’ manner, and as an outsider with no vested interest, that worries me.

I have, and still do, enjoy a good relationship with our American cousins. As a family we had the pleasure to live and work in various parts of the great nation, staying a year or more at a time, over five separate visits and three different States. I found the country, and its people equally kind hearted, friendly, and sincere. Imagine my shock to have followed this election and see the nasty side, not just of politicians, but of ordinary people, some whom claim to be Christian.

Are these two candidates the best this great nation can muster? Let me be clear, we can’t blame the candidates for being where they are. That is down to the voting that took place person by person, State by State to whittle down many starters to the two now left to finish the race. I think that is what surprised me most. The bad blood, rancour, lies, half truths, arrogance, bullying, infantile tantrums, closed mind tactics by the leaders and their followers who will support them in just about anything they say is what got to me most. I am reminded of the truth of these verses by David in Psalm 36:2-4 (NIV):

“In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin. The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful; they fail to act wisely or do good. Even on their beds they plot evil; they commit themselves to a sinful course and do not reject what is wrong.”

Trump-ed

As a family, we were fortunate to live in the USA for some time, over a period of years and in three different States, in the north, east and south. My work took us there and we enjoyed the experience of meeting new people, making friends, some of whom are still in touch, and getting to know and understand our cultural differences. None of that was a problem, maybe in part because we put our roots down into the local churches where we were placed. Most Americans are not loud, opinionated or arrogant. In fact it was easy to like them and be in their company. Talking about politics wasn’t even an issue, because although there were many differing opinions expressed, nothing got in the way of acceptance or friendships. Our last work assignment ended in 1991.

Scroll forward some 25 years, and I don’t recognise the general tone of US society and politics as reported during this run up to November 2016 when the American people will  democratically elect their next president. You would have to be a hermit to have missed the loud, aggressive candidates who are standing, and their supporters. My own recollections just a few years ago, are that debates were open, good and strong, but never personal. Something has changed.

Permit me the openness to say that the speeches and rhetoric of the present candidates who are hoping to become the unchallenged leader of the free world, are nothing short of school playground antics. I watch as the front runner of the Republican party hides behind bar room brawl talk. The kind of stuff that would only be allowed when you are drunk, and among your ‘own’ kind. Trump is a charlatan, who seems to have enough supporters who share his pub lounge antics, to get elected. If Trump is short on integrity, then Clinton is short on truth. She has not been open and honest with the nation she would aspire to lead, and is very short on credibility. Bernie Sanders is still an unknown, but he is viewed as an outsider who may just overtake the Democratic ‘favourite’.

So, the world outside the USA watches and holds their breath while a nomination circus spectacle takes place. The end result scares anyone who watches and follows with interest. Candidates with a chequered and coloured history fight it out to be the most powerful person in the free world. My questions are these: Is this the best of the country’s good people? I don’t think so. My second question, and possibly more significant: How did it come to this in the most democratic country in the world? My third question, and certainly the most significant: Do those many ‘good people’ within the USA care about the worldwide  consequences? We watch. We wait. We wonder. We worry.