Christians Must Stop Sharing Misinformation

In 2025, the internet isn’t just overwhelming it’s engineered to be. Carefully curated feeds deliver content designed to stir our strongest reactions. Outrage, fear, and instant agreement are just a scroll away. With algorithms rewarding shock over substance and AI generating realistic fakes in seconds, it’s harder than ever to know what’s true.

But for Christians, the stakes are even higher. Our credibility, our witness, and even our obedience to God’s Word are on the line when we post, share, or comment.

“Test everything; hold fast to what is good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21

Discernment Requires More Than Gut Reactions

Discernment in the digital age means more than reacting to what “feels” right. It means testing, questioning, and filtering information through the lens of Scripture and wisdom. When we get lazy with the truth, we don’t just get facts wrong we tarnish the name of Christ in a world already skeptical of faith.

Dr. Drew Dickens, a clinical psychologist studying the crossroads of technology and belief, puts it plainly: “When Christians amplify misinformation, it damages our credibility in the public square. We become noise instead of light.”

So how can believers practice digital discernment with integrity?

1. Always Check the Source

Before hitting “share,” ask. Where did this come from? Trusted outlets like Reuters, NPR, or the Associated Press have rigorous editorial standards. Questionable blogs plastered with pop-ups and dramatic headlines often don’t.

Many fake news sites are designed to look legitimate. A quick search of the site’s name plus the word “credibility” can reveal a lot.

And in today’s world, even AI-generated content can appear convincing but without human accountability, its output can be wildly misleading. According to a 2024 Pew Research Center study, 52% of U.S. adults now get news from social media, and many can’t distinguish between AI-generated and human-written content.

2. Don’t Fall for Clickbait

“Aliens Found Working at Starbucks” might make you click but don’t let it make you share. Sensational headlines are designed to spark emotion, not convey truth. Even if there’s a kernel of truth in the article, headlines often distort the context.

Always read beyond the headline. If a story makes you angry, scared, or overly validated, pause and evaluate before spreading it further. Remember: rage is profitable, but rarely truthful.

3. Investigate the Author

Who’s behind the words? A trained journalist with editorial accountability or someone with a YouTube channel and zero credentials? Anonymity online isn’t always a red flag, but a lack of credentials or transparency should give you pause.

If someone without medical training is writing confidently about vaccines or a non-theologian is claiming to “debunk” Scripture it’s time to close the tab.

4. Cross-Check the Story

Truth tends to echo. If a major event is happening, multiple credible outlets will report on it. If only one suspicious site is pushing the story, be cautious.

Use fact-checking resources like Snopes, PolitiFact, or FactCheck.org. Even a simple Google search can verify whether something is real or just another digital rumor.

Proverbs 18:17 wisely notes, “The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him.” In the age of social media, be that second voice.

5. Analyze the Visuals

AI-generated images and deepfakes are more convincing than ever. A politician “caught” saying something outrageous or a supposed NASA leak may look real but can be entirely fabricated.

Use tools like Google Images or TinEye to reverse-search photos. If an image is grainy, overly dramatic, or seems slightly “off,” it likely is.

6. Check the Date

Old news often gets recycled with a new twist to stir fresh outrage. That viral video might be from 2012. That claim might have been debunked years ago. Misinformation doesn’t always mean fake it can also be out of context.

Always double-check the timestamp before treating something as breaking news.

7. Watch for Bias

Every outlet leans one way or another that’s normal. But if a story is dripping with inflammatory language, portraying one side as pure evil and the other as perfect, it’s no longer journalism it’s propaganda.

Don’t build your worldview on highly biased, emotionally manipulative content. Read from a range of trusted sources to develop a fuller understanding. Confirmation bias is a spiritual blindfold and one Christians are not exempt from.

8. Be Wary of Viral Posts

Just because something has millions of likes doesn’t mean it’s true. Social media rewards the shocking, not the accurate.

That viral conspiracy about a secret takeover? Likely created in Canva by someone with too much time and too little evidence. If a post has no sources, uses all caps, or warns you about “what they don’t want you to know” that’s your cue to scroll on.

“Viral doesn’t mean vetted,” Dr. Dickens says. “And the louder something is online, the more we need to ask: Who’s behind this? What are they hoping I’ll believe?”

9. Trust Your Gut Then Check It

Sometimes something just feels… off. That instinct is a gift. But discernment doesn’t stop there.

Ask: Does this align with reality? Can I verify this elsewhere? Use your gut but follow it up with research, humility, and wisdom.

Why This All Matters

Digital misinformation isn’t just an inconvenience it’s a matter of spiritual integrity. Christians are called to be people of truth. When we share half-truths, conspiracy theories, or AI hallucinations without thinking, we’re not just spreading confusion we’re tarnishing the reputation of the gospel.

“When people see Christians reposting conspiracies or quoting AI like it’s Scripture,” Dickens warns, “it hurts our witness. We’re called to reflect truth not just feel right.”

We don’t need to be experts in media literacy. We just need to slow down. Think. Ask questions. And remember that the Holy Spirit doesn’t need viral videos to convict hearts or prove truth.

Let us be known as those who reflect truth not just repeat noise.

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