Who believes the news?

I was waiting for Beloved Husband while he took a broken tool back for repair. Passed a bit of time reading news, and ran across this AP article by Fort Worth’s Ed Wallace: “How Toyota Can Hurt The Media.”

Basically, Wallace debunks most of the news stories regarding Jim Sikes’ runaway Prius, ABC’s “exposé video, in which Dr. David Gilbert was shown to have rewired a Toyota Avalon so it would accelerate uncontrollably,” dropping values of Toyotas – compared to Hondas and the number of this month’s Toyota sales.

Wallace states: “…every time a sensational story runs its course and the public realizes there was no substance to the scare, it hurts the media. But worse yet it validates those who proclaim loudly that the Mainstream Media are not to be trusted.

"And we can't afford not to trust the free press, not if we want to protect our Federal Republic. Because our only source of information on our society, which in turn is how we form reasoned opinions, comes to us from the Fifth Estate. In a world that is complex and often troubled, knowledge of reliable facts is the most important tool we have to make informed decisions. And Americans both depend on and are at the mercy of journalism to keep us a forward-looking and powerful nation -- a leader in the world's progress."

Would you agree that his title is in error? It is not Toyota hurting the media – the media has turned sensational stories into entertainment to attract audiences rather than reporting “reliable facts.” The media has hurt the media.

Ed Wallace decries the damage done to his chosen field.

So do I when people who call themselves Christian are not. The Catholic church in America felt the scalding of scandals. But America is not alone, as today’s headlines cry out. Nor is this confined to one denomination. Scandals have slashed leading evangelical preachers who seem not to fear what they are called to preach.

But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! (Matthew 18:6-7 KJV)

Did they not believe what they read?

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:31 KJV)

Did they also skip the verse just before that?

For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. (Hebrews 10:30 KJV)

When we lose faith in the media we know things will change in a few days, weeks, months – maybe with the next election.

When we lose faith through a congregation’s shepherd (or worse yet, completely lose faith in God), unless we change through reading and hearing, and regain our faith, the results will last an eternity.

Let me once more invoke my friendly Bereans, who:

… received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (Acts 17:11 KJV)

Verify before accepting sensational reporting, even if it sounds good to you. Same with the Bible.

An eight year old newsie named Gurley. 18th & Washington, St. Louis, Missouri, May, 1910 (Wiki Commons)