Good News in a Fake News World
Adrian Thornton

We live in a world where truth is constantly questioned, shaped, and distorted. But this isn’t new. In Genesis 3, we see the first moment of “fake news” as the serpent asks, “Did God really say…?” and then declares, “You will not certainly die.” It was a lie. Adam and Eve didn’t die immediately, but they did eventually (something humanity was never meant to experience).

From that moment on, humanity has lived in a world where truth is twisted, and reality is blurred. As Jesus says of the enemy in John 8:44, “for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

When we’re not feeding on truth, we will consume whatever is put in front of us. Adam and Eve had a whole garden to enjoy, yet their attention was drawn to the one tree they couldn’t eat from. And I wonder—if they had been fully satisfied by what God had given, would the lie have looked so appealing?

The same is true for us. When we aren’t feeding on the truth of God, we become vulnerable to the lies the enemy wants to whisper into our ears.

Henri Nouwen describes three core lies we often believe:

These aren’t just ideas—they are false gospels that lead to a false sense of self.

The first lie is about performance: I am what I do. Paul confronts this in Galatians 3:2–3, “Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard?” The Galatians had been deceived into thinking they had to earn their place with God.

The second lie is about status: I am what I have. In Galatians 5:2, Paul warns that adding status markers like circumcision empties Christ of all value. We believe that once we achieve something—status, title, success—we become more valuable.

The third lie is about approval: I am what others say about me. In Galatians 4:6–7, Paul declares that we are no longer slaves, but God’s children. The subliminal message was that they were worthless to God unless they became Jews. The lie says: I am only as good as what others say about me.

Paul’s concern in Galatians is clear: “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?” (Gal. 3:1). They were living in a fake news world, and Paul was shocked they had so quickly bought the lies of a false gospel.

So what is the good news amongst all the fake news?

This is the truth that cuts through every lie. Think about Jesus when He was baptised. Before He did anything (miracles, ministry), the Father spoke: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Mat. 3:17).

Jesus’ identity was established in love, not performance, status, or the approval of others. His identity was in the love of the Father.

And the same is true for us.

The fake news says: God doesn’t love me as I am.
The good news says: He does.

You are not what you do.
You are not what you have.
You are not what others say about you.

You are the beloved of God.