Hey Pastor! I was reading something online the other day and did you know that…
Probably every week I hear some version of this. I don’t think it is going to stop. The fact is, we live in an information saturated world where anyone and seemingly everyone has something to say. So, how do I know what is reliable?
Even as it relates to media that has generally been held to be reliable in the past, how can we be cautious and discerning Bible Studies, Preacher’s Sermons, Commentaries, Books and other resources?
The truth is, the “old ways” of vetting information are no longer reliable. You once could look at a store, or a publisher, or a video broadcast as somewhat reliable or at least you could identify a stream of thought by who they were. Certain stores avoided the sale of some material; certain publishers only focused on a particular set of guiding principles etc. The very public nature of a church’s ministry spoke into the credibility of the speaker because of the attention given to it by others.
Today, with the rise of self-publishing, the ubiquitous access to platforms like YouTube and other social media sites (including the one you are viewing this article on), and with the affordability of recording and publishing equipment, nearly anyone can have a broadcast, publish a book, or gather a following. A relatively unknown person somewhere in small-town America may never have been heard of before, but today can reach thousands in an essentially limitless number of places.
To further complicate the process, messages can easily be clipped and shared by millions of people that in years past, would have been inherently more difficult. So, how can we have confidence in what we are reading, and what cautions should we consider in our diet of information in the present era? Great questions and the answers are more based in principle and the wisdom of practice than in some concrete formula.
Principle #1- Just because you read it first, does not make it authoritative.
The first to speak in court sounds right— until the cross-examination begins.
Proverbs 18:17 (NLT)
There is almost always a passionate opposing view to whatever you read, so take time to listen to contrary voices.
Principle #2- Hold claims lightly until you verify them.
And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.
Acts 17:11 (NLT)
Of course, the weightiness of the subject determines the amount of homework you put into the fact-checking. You likely would not just start a new and emerging medical treatment without a little research. How much more important is it to vet the information we put into our minds?
So, here are a few practices I use when vetting information.
- Read the Introduction. Authors often tell you what they plan to say and why they think it is important in their introduction. When I know where they are coming from, I can prepare myself for the information.
- Research the author on the Internet. I’m skeptical about medical advice from professional athletes, relationship advice from people too young to marry, financial guidance from people who do not work for a living, and theological advice from people who have not demonstrated some level of mastery of the subject. A quick google search can often give you a resume or a CV from a potential source.
- Take time to assess doctrine. Our spiritual beliefs affect everything. Everything. Everything. So, I like to know where someone is coming from. Who are you reading? Where did you study? Where do you attend church? What does your church believe…both confessionally and practically?
- Hold what you hear loosely until you verify it. This doesn’t mean you interrogate every person and react skeptically about every fact; however, if you don’t know the author well or are not well-versed in the subject, it is important to double check what was said before you adjust your life to it. (See Deuteronomy 17:6 and 2 Corinthians 13:1)
- Pray. God wants you to get it right too. So ask Him. (James 1:5)
- Listen to the little voice inside. This is not in itself authoritative, but if you have questions in your mind, don’t discount them. Listen and look more diligently.
- Look for outcomes when discerning motives. Ask: “If the author is right, does his assertion lead me to a better understanding and reliance on orthodox beliefs? Does the thesis or outcome strengthen faith in and reliance on orthodoxy?
- Consider how this affects God’s glory. Does this assertion glorify God as He is revealed?
- Consider claims in light of Scripture. Does the claim conflict with the Scriptures? If you’re reading something that clearly conflicts with the Scripture or seems to explain away the Scriptures by some theological gymnastics, you should probably just move on to some other source.
Two other practices that prove helpful to others in light of your own sharing of information.
- Beware of lending your credibility to an unknown entity. (I’ve been embarrassed or burned many times in recommending resources (Books, Podcasts, forwarded internet article) without thoroughly vetting them. Just know that you will be painted with the brush that others paint the source with.
- Take responsibility for teaching your tribe to do this as well. Teaching and modeling for our families how to discern is important. Helping those we influence develop a filter to examine information is even more essential that filling their heads with right information. After all, if we wrestle with discernment, given our age and wisdom, how will our children and grandchildren navigate the world they are experiencing and will lie ahead?
Hope it is useful in some ways as we navigate the forest of information together.
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