By Scott Hilgendorff / Cowboys of the Cross

Having an opinion about information and situations that are true or real is good. It’s especially important that our opinions are shaped by our understanding of scripture.

Having an opinion about information we don’t know is true is bad and likely we aren’t even applying our understanding of scripture when this happens.

It makes us untrustworthy.

If we’re untrustworthy, any message of hope from us about the gospel and a saving faith in Jesus is going to be lost.

1 Peter 2:12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

First, we have to understand our primary purpose for living is to glorify God. Second, we have to understand that Jesus gave all believers the task of sharing the gospel: how a saving faith in him gives us an eternity in Heaven.

If we don’t understand these two points, then this short series will mean little and those who don’t understand, will carry on doing as they please without letting scripture guide them. If that’s the case, then it’s important to re-evaluate your understanding of the gospel and whether or not you’re going to heaven or hell. It’s a harsh reality but too many people call themselves Christian without ever experiencing a desire to be more like Jesus. If you aren’t sure of your salvation, that’s something that gives you personal proof that it’s real. You know whether or not you care to both know and apply what’s in the Bible to your life.

When we do understand these two things, then many of us need to start taking the rest of this message more seriously.

By Scott Hilgendorff / Cowboys of the Cross

How we think and act on information is influenced by our culture, our attitudes, our upbringing and the people we put in our lives. For Christians, how we think about the world around us needs to be one that’s influenced by our faith in Jesus and knowledge of scripture.

That’s called a “world view.”

It’s how owning a gun can be natural to many Americans but in Canada and England, far fewer people even think about owning one. As similar as the countries are, there are different worldviews influenced by their cultures.

Our world view as Christians MUST be grounded in scripture and influenced by a desire to live the way Jesus wants us to live.

There is no other way.

Having a Christian world view means we are going to want to seek out what is true.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Paul is encouraging us to look for what is right and good in the world around us and focus on that.

We live in a time where false information spreads like wildfire across social media platforms. When we aren’t operating from a Christian world view, we are going to have strong opinions about issues that affect us that aren’t shaped by truth. The false information is put out there by people who are putting their own interests first, wanting to shape how you think about the issue, person, circumstance or situation they are talking about, often for political or financial gain. They’ve formed their opinion without a Christian world view and often can’t be trusted. Their motivations are to get you to think the way they do. Some don’t even believe what they have shared or put out there. They simply say what they think you want to hear to collect views, clicks and likes for financial gain.

By Scott Hilgendorff / Cowboys of the Cross

Proverbs 12:22 The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.

We may not be intentionally lying but often what we are doing is willingly spreading false information because it supports a strong view and opinion we have. It doens’t matter to us if the information is correct, we believe it is because it supports what we already think.

God wants us to be trustworthy.

In fact, we need to be trustworthy if we’re going to be able to tell people about Jesus and having any hope of them believing us.

The most important truth we can share is that of who Jesus is and what it means to have a saving faith in him.

1 John 3:18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

How we behave should line up with what we believe in terms of our faith. That needs to come from a solid understanding of what the Bible teaches and unfortunately, many of us these days know more details about false stories that circulate or false gospels (beliefs that sound Biblical but aren’t).

Here’s just a little bit to help you navigate what is real, particularly on social media. Most of this only takes seconds or minutes before

1.First, look to the original source. If it’s something that sounds Christian, look up the preacher or teacher or church it came from and see if their beliefs are rooted in the gospel and right teaching of scripture. That’s why you HAVE to know more of what’s in the Bible yourself to help you catch these things or ask someone you trust to verify it for you.

If it’s from the realm of politics, news and social issues, look at the original sources. Take the time to follow the post back to where it came from. If you can’t find a source, chances are it’s not true at all or at best, is misleading.