False Prophets and Itchy Ears: Why People Fall for Fakes
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Throughout history, in both religious and non-religious areas, there have been false prophets. These are charming people who make promises, play with feelings, and end up leading others astray. Although it is sad that we have so many false prophets with a platform today, this is not so shocking as the Bible tells us that this is what we will see in the end days. The church has been mocked and challenged and many have said they do not go to church because of these false prophets. I generally disagree with any form of stereotyping and in this case, not all churches are false and not all church leaders are deceitful. Nonetheless, there is a problem in Christianity however, it's not just about deceitful prophets; it's also about the people who are willing to believe them. Why do people still get tricked by these frauds, even after so many warnings?
The Bible, in 2 Timothy 4:3-4 , gives us a reason;
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
A biblical example from the book of Jeremiah
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In chapters 26-28 of the Book of Jeremiah, we see a narrative that deals with themes of prophecy and how people often choose to believe in things that make them feel better, even if they're not true, instead of accepting difficult truths.
Chapter 26 introduces us to the prophet Jeremiah, who is commanded by God to deliver a message of repentance to the people of Judah. Despite the threat of death, Jeremiah courageously proclaims God's warning that Jerusalem will face destruction if the people do not turn from their wicked ways.
Chapter 27 continues with Jeremiah wearing a yoke as a symbol of the control that Judah will face under Babylonian rule. He warns the neighbouring kings to submit to Nebuchadnezzar and cautions against listening to false prophets who contradict God's messages. These false prophets promised liberation and the return of exiled items from the Temple, preying on the people's desire for reassuring news rather than the grim truth.
Chapter 28 presents a direct confrontation between Jeremiah and a false prophet named Hananiah. Hananiah publicly challenges Jeremiah's prophecies by declaring that God will break the yoke of Babylonian rule within two years, a message that pleases the crowd but is a blatant lie. Jeremiah responds by stating that true prophets are recognized when their predictions come to pass, not by the immediate comfort they provide. The chapter concludes with the death of Hananiah, a divine judgment for his false prophecy, confirming Jeremiah's warning about the consequences of misleading God's people.
This story isn't only about old times; it's a pattern that keeps happening even today, making us ask – why do people easily fall for these "fakes"?
The Allure of the Easy Answer
Life is like a roller coaster; it has its highs and lows, and we can't always predict the next turn. We all face hard times, say goodbye to things or loved ones, and search for something solid to cling to. Sometimes, people who say they've got it all figured out use our desire for stability to mislead us. They pretend they can navigate us flawlessly through life's unpredictable moments.
Jeremiah was an honest prophet who warned the people about tough challenges ahead. His words were hard to accept because they weren't what the people hoped to hear, but they were honest. Meanwhile, some dishonest prophets told people comforting lies, promising that everything would be fine, offering false hope while ignoring the real problems Jeremiah highlighted. This tendency to prefer easy answers is still common today. It's the reason why misleading information can go viral online, with catchy titles that draw more attention than the complicated, true stories.
The Power of Confirmation Bias
People often prefer information that agrees with what they already believe. In the time of Jeremiah, false prophets made the Israelites believe even more in their own greatness and future. This is similar to what happens today with social media. The way social media works, it often shows us news and opinions that just repeat what we already think.
People usually like to hear things that match their own beliefs. In Jeremiah’s time, the false prophets told the Israelites that they were great and would have a bright future, which made the Israelites believe in themselves even more. This is kind of like what happens with social media now. Social media often ends up showing us posts and ideas that are just like our own thoughts. This happens because of something called confirmation bias, which is when people pay attention to the things that support what they already think and ignore anything that doesn't. It's easier for us to accept ideas that make us feel good, rather than facing facts that might be tough to hear.
How to avoid itchy ears and being deceived
The scriptures show us a strong example;
Acts17:11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
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The Bible tells us about the Bereans, who were diligent in verifying the teachings of Paul by consulting the scriptures daily. This teaches us the value of engaging with information critically. To emulate the Bereans, we should not take everything we hear as the absolute truth without question. Instead, we should ask questions and seek the truth with an open mind. By doing so, we can gain a deeper understanding of the teachings/revelations presented to us.
Conclusion
In a time where there's a lot of misleading information and people ready to believe it, being able to think critically and stick to the truth is really important. It's good to remember that even if the real truth isn't always what everyone likes, it will stand up to questions in the end. We should aim to be like the Bereans, always careful and searching for what's really true.
