The Real Fake News

Fake news is a daily 'sound bite.'  

Translated:  many have concluded that what is reported by the conventional media is suspect, with a high probability that it is just plain false; in other words:  a lie. 

Well, I'm not convinced that all that is reported is a lie.  But I do believe there is often a distortion, of some kind in many news reports.  For word choice, the inflection of voice, what you 'leave in or leave out' of a story, can convey more bias than factual reporting of what has actually occurred. 

But enough on that.  For I believe what we normally identify as 'fake news' is minor, compared to the real fake news. 

The real fake news:  the false witness and manipulated persona of many of us (including our leaders) as we present ourselves as moral persons, but in actuality, live lives characterized by slippery ethics, shady values, and compromising rationalization. 

The dominant reason for this 'fake news' is the utter demise of character.  Translated:  in large measure, we've given up on the idea that anyone would actually live a disciplined, moral life -- replacing such expectation, with a new norm:  everyone 'slips and slides' these days, traveling a broad path -- and not -- a narrow way. 

But nevertheless, persons are crying out for a new revival of 'traditional' mores.  An exchange on Meet The Press this past Sunday revealed this, as three panel members spontaneously cascaded into a passionate cry for character.  Political operative Mike Murphy started the exchange:

"...It is bigger than that [e.g. political 'stuff' as usual]. We are living through [an unprecendented]...screwball...[era]... in American history, where there's careening from one side to another...[the political leaders I speak too] privately... they're terrified...[for] they think there is a chaos factor [at work]..."  

 Continuing, Princeton University professor, Eddie Glaude, Jr. added:  

"...And underneath it all is the erosion of basic norms that in some ways provided the rudder, the stability, the basic...norms that allow us to do what we do. I think those are being tossed in the trash.

And then historian Doris Kearns Goodwin 'nailed it.'     

"...[norms like]... decency, honesty, integrity, credibility..." (emphasis added)  https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meet-press-december-3-2017-n826051

But don't miss my core point.  It's not that just one category of folk (e.g. leaders) lacking "...decency, honesty, integrity, credibility..."  Many folk are lacking these norms and mores.

And therein lies the problem.  Translated:  if 'the majority' appear to not apt for a moral, 'straight and narrow' life -- why should I apt for that path.'   Why I'll appear naive -- prudish -- geeky -- backward -- and not 'cool.'

And not looking 'cool' -- appearing prudish...straight-laced...being 'too good'...too moral -- can suggest 'the kiss of death.'   It's been that way since high school, hasn't? 

But have you noticed: we're not in high school anymore (at least not most reading this blog!).  And so, scripture advises: grow up! 

"...It wasn’t...long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. 

We all did it -- all of us doing what we felt like doing -- when we felt like doing it -- all of us in the same boat. 

It’s a wonder God didn’t...do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy -- and with an incredible love -- he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ…” (Ephesians 2:1-5, The Message, emphasis added)

If there is any season, when we should behold this truth, it is this season, the season of Christmas.  For at Christmas, God does come to us -- immense in mercy and incredible love -- embracing us -- making us alive in Christ.  

It always amazes me how many free-wielding, secular persons, still enter into Christmas. You know:  singing the carols -- including folks in their 'thoughts and prayers' -- attending Handel's Messiah. 

But never comprehending or embracing the Messiah.

Why?  Because we think Messiah, God is prudish...'straight-laced'... too good...too moral.  Translated:  God is not 'cool.'

Frankly, I believe we'd perceive God as 'cool,' if we realized God's 'straight and narrow' is actually liberating and best.

To that end, I've always been fascinated by George Matheson's classic hymn text:

"...Make me a captive, Lord, And then I shall be free; Force me to render up my sword, And I shall conqu’ror be. I sink in life’s alarms When by myself I stand; Imprison me within Thine arms, And strong shall be my hand..." (emphasis added).

So, contrary to the behavior of many (including current leaders), life's best is not found in 'blowing up' the crucible of character -- but -- entering into it.

It's interesting the literal image of crucible is of a ceramic or metal container, wherein substances are melted at extremely high temperatures, to be reformed into something better and new.  In like manner, the crucible of character does likewise.  It provides a container wherein we are melted -- disciplined -- into something better and new.  During the process, it's far from 'cool' -- but in the end -- something very 'cool' results -- as something liberating and best -- emerges, nevertheless.

And so...

• The Ten Commandments -- are actually, ten launching pads, to a higher, more elevated outlook and attitude.
• The Beatitudes -- are actually, 'be happy' codes, that crack difficulty, despair, and despondency. 
• The Fruit of the Spirit -- are actually, flavoring for a contented, satisfied, fulfilled journey and destiny.  

Get the point?  There's no life, in what people normally think, gives life.  There's only life in what God says gives life. 

"...So if you’re serious about living this new…life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.  

"...That means killing off everything connected with [the] way of death…doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That’s a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God… 

...[So] don’t lie to one another. You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire. Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe...All the old fashions are now obsolete…” (Colossians 3:1-11, The Message, emphasis added).

Did you catch that last line:  all the old fashions are now obsolete.  Including the fashion of presenting ourselves as moral, 'all the while' living lives characterized by slippery ethics, shady values, and compromising rationalization.

It is so easy just to character our leaders (political and otherwise) as fake.  In reality, we're all 'fake' unless we are in Christ and Christ's crucible of character.

And so enter Christ's crucible of character this Christmas, and be re-formed.  It doesn't feel 'cool' at all -- but in actuality -- it's the coolest thing you will ever do.

For only the crucible of Jesus distills and produces 'the real thing' -- firing and melting the pretend,  the facade...the fake.