“Who Told You That?”
— Exposing the Lie Behind the Lens and the Pulpit
By Dr. John Roberts THD
In a world wired with instant information, there’s something more dangerous than a power outage—it’s a truth outage. What we’re witnessing today in the news media is not merely biased reporting or incomplete data—it is an intentional strategy of misinformation, disinformation, and deception, often cloaked as journalism. The aim is not to inform but to influence. It’s not truth-telling; it’s narrative-spinning. And beneath the well-tailored suits, expensive studios, and polished teleprompters lies something ancient and sinister: the art of the lie.
🕊️ Opening Prayer
Righteous Father, Holy and Just,
We come before You today longing for truth, not opinions. Open our eyes, Lord, that we may see clearly through the fog of falsehood that clouds our world. We acknowledge that You alone are Truth—unchanging, eternal, and pure. In a time when many voices clamor for attention, help us to discern Yours above them all.
Let Your Word, revealed by Your Spirit, be the lamp to our feet and the light to our path. Guard our hearts from deception, and give us the boldness to stand for what is right. As we read and reflect, may the scales fall from our eyes and our minds be renewed. Expose every lie, and exalt Your truth, that we may be sanctified by it.
In the name of the Only Wise God—our Savior and Shepherd—Amen.
God Has Always Had Something to Say About False Witnesses
The sacred Scriptures are not silent about such matters. Long before “fake news” became a hashtag, God spoke through the prophet in Proverbs 6:16–19:
“There are six things that the Lord hates,
seven that are an abomination to him:
haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that hurry to run to evil,
a lying witness who testifies falsely,
and one who sows discord in a family.”
Did you notice something? Lying is mentioned twice. Not by accident. God is holy, and holiness demands truth. Lies are not just casual infractions in God’s eyes—they are abominable. And when those lies are crafted with purpose—to sway public thought, to incite fear, to control minds—they become tools of oppression, not just poor reporting.
When people in power, whether behind news desks or on government podiums, manipulate narratives to fit agendas, they stand condemned by the holy standard of the Most High.
In Isaiah 5:20, we are warned:
“Ah, you who call evil good and good evil,
who put darkness for light and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”
Isn’t that the very definition of media manipulation? It’s not ignorance—it’s inversion. It’s not error—it’s evil.
The Spiritual Mirror: When Pulpits Become Platforms for Control
But it would be easy to wag our fingers at news anchors and corrupt officials while ignoring the greater spiritual crisis unfolding: What about the shepherds who have used pulpits the same way pundits use platforms? What about those who’ve traded divine commission for denominational comfort and applause?
In Jeremiah 23:1–2, the Lord declares:
“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord.
Therefore, thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people:
It is you who have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them.
So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord.”
This isn’t merely about bad theology—it’s about spiritual malpractice. When preachers use emotionalism to manipulate, when denominations demand loyalty over liberty in Christ, and when traditions become cages instead of channels, the sheep remain stunted, sheared, and starved.
They’ve kept the saints in sanctuaries of ignorance, muzzled by man-made doctrines, and paralyzed by fear of leaving what’s comfortable. The strategy? Keep them docile. Don’t empower them. Don’t equip them. Just repeat the narrative.
It’s no different from the media machine. Different stage. Same spirit.
So, What’s the Solution?
1. Return to the Standard of Truth — God’s Word Alone
God’s Word is not merely a truth, it is the truth. Jesus prayed in John 17:17:
“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”
We must re-learn how to test what we hear, see, and are taught—whether it comes from CNN or the church pulpit—through the lens of Scripture. Truth is not decided by majority vote or denominational creeds. Truth is what God says.
2. Cultivate Discernment Through the Spirit
1 John 4:1 admonishes:
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God,
for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
Discernment is a weapon in these days. Without it, you’re not just uninformed—you’re spiritually disarmed.
3. Speak Truth Boldly, Live Faithfully
We cannot be silent in the face of either political lies or spiritual deception. Silence is not neutral—it’s agreement. It’s time to rise with conviction, even if our voice shakes.
As Ephesians 5:11 declares:
“Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness; rather, expose them.”
Not with slander. Not with venom. But with truth, grace, and fearless clarity.
The Final Blow to the Lie: “Who Told You That?”
When Adam and Eve fell in the garden, do you remember God’s first question to Adam after he tried to hide?
“Who told you that you were naked?” (Genesis 3:11)
That question pierces to the root. Who told you that? Who informed your identity? Who framed your reality? Who authored your belief?
Was it God? Or a distorted lens?
Today, God is still asking that question—of us, of the media, of the pulpits, of every heart molded by falsehood.
The good news? Jesus Christ didn’t come to adjust the narrative. He came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8) and reveal the truth that sets us free (John 8:32).
Let This Be Our Cry:
“Lord, strip away the lies.
Show me truth. Make me bold to walk in it.”
We don’t need another commentator or preacher with an agenda. We need voices who tremble at His Word (Isaiah 66:2), who live in the fear of the Lord, and who walk in the light as He is in the light.
In a world of well-crafted lies, truth is revolutionary.
And truth isn’t just a concept—it’s a person. His name is Jesus.
🙌 Closing Prayer
Faithful and Holy Lord,
Thank You for shedding light in the darkness and calling us out of confusion into clarity. May the truth we’ve embraced today take root deep in our hearts and bear the fruit of boldness, wisdom, and love. Teach us not only to reject lies, but to live as ambassadors of truth, both in word and in deed.
We pray for those caught in deception, both in the world and in the church. May Your mercy reach them. May Your Spirit convict, correct, and restore. Use us as vessels of Your truth—humbly, boldly, and without compromise.
Keep us anchored in You, the Rock that does not move, and send us forth with courage to speak truth in love. All glory and honor belong to You, now and forever.
In Jesus’ name—who is the Truth—Amen.
Grace & Peace
Dr. John Roberts THD