Are you concerned about the wrong thing?

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A concern people are abuzz about today is the current controversy over “fake news.”

Both mainstream media, and alternative sources of information, have been caught doling out stories that either are fake, or generate false perspectives that mislead people.

Some years ago, before the fake news controversy erupted, Claudia Kalb and E. White reported in Newsweek magazine a side-by-side comparison of “threats” of which people have an inaccurate perception …

    Murders: 14,180 (2008) — Suicides: 33,289 (2006).
    Children abducted by strangers: 115 (1999) — Children who drown in pools: 288 (2006).
    Burglaries: 2.2 million (2007) — Identity thefts: 8.3 million (2005).
    Shark attacks: 28 (2009) — Dog bites: 4.5 million (estimate).
    Americans killed in terrorist attacks worldwide: 33 (2008) — Americans who die from seasonal flu: 36,171 (est.).
    Deaths by allergic reaction to peanuts: 50-100 (est.) — Deaths by unintentional poisoning: 27,531 (2006).
    Fatalities in airline accidents: 321 (2005) — Fatalities in car crashes: 34,017 (2008).

What we see from this fakes news hysteria is this: If you believe the wrong thing, you’ll be concerned about the wrong thing.

That’s not a new idea, it’s something Jesus taught two thousand years ago …

“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy — full of greed and self-indulgence! You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too,” Matthew 23:25-26.

The Pharisees taught everyone that the outward appearance was important, developing a false perspective that misled those they taught. Their concerns were misplaced. Jesus exposed the error of the Pharisees …

“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs — beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness,” Matthew 23:27-28.

With just a passing glance on social media sites you’ll see the same problem today — people concerned about lesser important issues when what really is important is neglected. Like the Pharisees and religious teachers of old, if we believe the wrong thing, we’ll be concerned about the wrong thing.

What concerns you?

Scotty