My sister posted a mock newspaper article on Facebook this morning that caught my attention. The picture was a snapshot of Judy Garland in her role as Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz; almost anyone in North America would recognize the scene. The headline above the photo read:
“Mugshot of runaway girl who killed an elderly woman and stole her shoes, claiming it was an accident, 1939.”
Naturally, I laughed when I saw it. I found it so amusing that I had to show it to my co-workers. My first thought was, this is how the media distorts things. One little shred of “information” is taken and a story is concocted that appeals to our universal sense of right and wrong. It doesn’t matter if the story behind the headlines actually fits the facts or not. The purpose is to sell news and it seems the more horrifying or scandalous the story, the more people want to read about it.
The world we live in is full of information. While I am thankful for the freedom of the press, much that we read, hear, or see in the news is intentionally distorted to promote a certain agenda. The liberal mindset desires to keep people on edge and knows how to frame a situation to its advantage to get a reaction from the public. There is so much contention and strife in our world, so much information to sort through. Can we trust any of it? No wonder that Snopes.com is such a popular cite. In this day of hype and instant internet information one almost cannot be too careful in fact checking before sharing.
In the case of Dorothy, she really did run away from home but she came back before the cyclone hit. She also did drop a house on the Wicked Witch of the West but it certainly wasn’t intentional; she didn’t take the shoes on purpose either. While the caption was meant to be humorous, it can also teach us all a vital lesson; there is always a different way to look at a situation. Whether it be a situation that arises at work, at church, or in society at large, we rarely get all the information we need to make a snap judgment. This is why juries are supposed to be selected at random and supposed to hear all the evidence before reaching a verdict. A first impression can create a false perception.
While I am all for being up-to-date on current events, we would all do well to remember that not everything we read, see, or hear is true. It is always best to listen to another source before taking a stance. Even more importantly, the Christian should remember that the only true and unbiased reports on daily life come from the word of God. If we want to fact-check something it is best to go to the source of ultimate truth. The word of God has never let us down and never will. Its wisdom is priceless and ageless. It is relevant to every culture and every age and will never be obsolete. Are you wandering what news you can trust? Go to the source. God’s facts are always trustworthy!
Blessings,
Spanish Pastor Jones
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