Are the people in this cartoon being influenced by misinformation? They certainly didn't understand the information they were given. The sign is factual, but the people seem to be misled. Should the makers of the sign be banned from society for misleading the people? What goes on in the world of information? This bog is not at all about the election, but using the context of how people have responded to make a much broader and profound point about society.
Let's look at what "misinformation" is, and then see if it is not a subtle movement of the culture to cancel Christians who walk by faith. You might think I'm intoxicated by conspiracy theories, but hang with me and let's see.
The 1828 Webster dictionary defines "misinformation" as a false account. The definition has been upgraded to include the caveat of "with an intention to mislead." So, today not only does misinformation attempt to advance ideas that are not true, there is a questionable motive attached to the action of spreading the misinformation. By adding motive, those who want to use "misinformation" to control others are not as interested in the issue of truth. They now wish to minimize or eliminate the influence of those who have motives that they judge as intentional deceit.
This subtle change in the meaning is profound in its implications. Seeking truth has always been a process of challenging untruth. This has never threatened democracy at all but has served to advance the freedom of sharing perspectives so that the right view can be uncovered. This is democracy at its best, according to our founding fathers.
Today, weaponizing "misinformation" to silence those whose motives are in opposition crosses the line and begins to destroy democracy, not protect it. However, if you are a Christian, there is a greater issue or concern with the advance of "weaponizing misinformation."
This now becomes another tool for the culture to assault people of faith. You see, faith by its very nature is truth that cannot be defended by what we observe. Enemies of God used to try and debate truth questions, such as does God exist? Notice that this type of historical debate has achieved desired results so it isn't of interest anymore to those opposed to God. They have a new approach to discrediting Christianity.
When the motives of Christians are seen as ways to sway the political thinking of liberals, then Christians are viewed as intolerant, elitist, and even unjust. Their message to the world is considered misinformation. Their presence in the world is cancelled. This happens not because of any debate on truth, but because evangelicals' goal is to deceive people as to who and what they should trust.
Faith becomes misinformation. The world doesn't need to prove the things of God to be untrue. To persuade people to trust something they cannot see shifts control to "those evangelical Christians", who are mean and ugly to others. The thinks that when Christians use their faith for political purposes, they are deceiving people of the right path their life should take.
Teaching our young people proper Christian worldview and theology is not a bad thing to do, but it's shooting at the wrong target. Weaponizing misinformation doesn't care about truth anymore. While it may appear to attack key tenets of democracy, it is actually the newest form of the ageless fight human nature has against its very Creator. Imagine that!
Ponder not what you see, but what you see it is .....
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