Fake News - by Greg Steggerda
I sit this morning with two thoughts.
First, after an unexpectedly amazing Easter Sunday, I’m blown away once again by what Jesus did and how much God loves us. Pastor Tim made me realize that Easter is even more impactful in the storm and isolation than when life is wonderful.
Second, after reading some of the mockery of atheists and humanists about what they call the superstition of Easter, and seeing all the bunnies and little chicks, I’m sad that so many refuse to believe.
The chief priests, willing tools of Satan, were the original naysayers. They were the first to call the resurrection fake news (interesting that Pastor Tim and I independently stuck on similar themes!) Here’s Matthew’s retelling in Matthew 28:11-15:
“While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, ‘You are to say, “His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.” If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.’ So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.”
Traditional Jews still don’t believe Jesus was Messiah. Dozens of other faiths hold up their own depiction of God, but not one of the sacrificing Savior. And post-Christian nations like most in the west have moved on from the faith of their fathers and mothers. From the very beginning, the ancient devil began practicing the art of disinformation; we think it came with the internet, but it’s been around forever. Why do you think he’s known as the Father of Lies?
This is the weekend of Christianity’s greatest triumph, the time we remember the ultimate display of love, and we walk away determined to make our lives worthy of the sacrifice. And today I’m convicted that the best way to do that is to love and tell the truth. Habitual liars aren’t God’s people; that’s one of the first marks of the ones who believed Satan’s fake news
First, after an unexpectedly amazing Easter Sunday, I’m blown away once again by what Jesus did and how much God loves us. Pastor Tim made me realize that Easter is even more impactful in the storm and isolation than when life is wonderful.
Second, after reading some of the mockery of atheists and humanists about what they call the superstition of Easter, and seeing all the bunnies and little chicks, I’m sad that so many refuse to believe.
The chief priests, willing tools of Satan, were the original naysayers. They were the first to call the resurrection fake news (interesting that Pastor Tim and I independently stuck on similar themes!) Here’s Matthew’s retelling in Matthew 28:11-15:
“While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, ‘You are to say, “His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.” If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.’ So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.”
Traditional Jews still don’t believe Jesus was Messiah. Dozens of other faiths hold up their own depiction of God, but not one of the sacrificing Savior. And post-Christian nations like most in the west have moved on from the faith of their fathers and mothers. From the very beginning, the ancient devil began practicing the art of disinformation; we think it came with the internet, but it’s been around forever. Why do you think he’s known as the Father of Lies?
This is the weekend of Christianity’s greatest triumph, the time we remember the ultimate display of love, and we walk away determined to make our lives worthy of the sacrifice. And today I’m convicted that the best way to do that is to love and tell the truth. Habitual liars aren’t God’s people; that’s one of the first marks of the ones who believed Satan’s fake news