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The truth seems to be more hotly debated now than ever, leaving people around the world confused about how to live their lives. In his book, The Devil’s Newsroom: Muting Satan’s Fake News & Tuning in to God’s Truth, Jeff Schreve, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Texarkana, identifies the source of all lies—Satan—and exposes his tactics. At the same time, The Devil’s Newsroom exalts the supremacy of God’s Word and Christ’s victory over the sin and lies that enslave millions. Schreve recently shared with the Texan why the battle for truth is so urgent and about the incredible opportunity that exists for the church today.
“Fake news” is an oft-used term these days, and it seems harder than ever to know what is actually true. How do you believe Satan has counterfeited seemingly helpful tools such as mass media, educational systems, social media, and even AI to discredit the idea that absolute truth exists?
Jeff Schreve: The devil is not just one liar among many liars. He is a master liar and the father of lies (John 8:44). It has been said that the enemy works to deceive us not between right and wrong, but between right and almost right. Thus, we must be careful with mass media, social media, and AI to check and double-check to see that what we are being told is indeed accurate and true. To be sure, the devil wants us to think truth is subjective (residing in the subject) rather than objective (residing in the object). Objective truth is absolute, whereas subjective truth is basically personal opinion. God’s Word gives us objective truth, a truth that is universally true and one that sets us free (John 8:32).
While Satan’s tactics haven’t changed, it can often feel like the battle to proclaim the truth of God’s Word is more fierce and urgent than ever. How have you seen this battle change in our culture over your more than two decades of ministry, and why do you believe this battle is as urgent now as it has ever been?
JS: The battle for truth has definitely heated up over the years. When I first began in ministry, virtually everyone in the church and in the country agreed that homosexuality was sinful. Now it is a different ballgame, as more and more people turn aside from the truth to embrace myths and falsehoods (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Sadly, people want God to be who they want Him to be. The Lord told Moses at the burning bush, “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14). It is critical that we accept the truth of God’s Word as it is given to us. We are to believe it, walk in it, and preach it without stutter, stammer, or equivocation if we want to experience the power and blessings of God.
You write in detail about Satan’s many lies, but there’s one you single out as “the world’s most believed lie.” What is that lie and why do you feel it, more than others, is one of Satan’s most effective tools of deception?
JS: The world’s most believed lie is simply this: Good works, in whole or in part, determine a person’s eternal destination. Many people believe that faith in Jesus is optional—it is not. They believe that all “good” people go to heaven. What they fail to realize is that there are no “good” people. All of us are hopeless, helpless sinners in desperate need of a Savior—and that Savior is Jesus. The Bible is crystal clear that good works have nothing to do with salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). Salvation comes by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. And once a person is truly saved by Jesus, good works are a natural outgrowth of that relationship. But good works are not the root of salvation. Good works don’t produce saving faith; saving faith produces good works.
What are a few practical ways followers of Christ can shield themselves and those they love and care about against Satan’s lies?
JS: The only way to combat the lies of the devil is with the truth of God’s Word. Jesus prayed to His Father in John 17:17, “Sanctify them in the truth; your Word is truth.” The more time we spend reading, studying, memorizing, and meditating on the truths of Scripture, the more we will be able to recognize the subtle lies of the devil. Spiritual babies can only tolerate the milk of the Word—the basics of the Christian life. God wants us to grow from a milk diet to a meat diet. Hebrews 5:14 tells us, “Solid food is for the mature who, because of practice, have their sense trained to discern good and evil.” As we spend time each day in the Word of God, we become adept at sniffing out the devil’s lies—lies that come only “to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10).
Though statistics regarding Christians deconstructing their faith are prevalent and troubling, you also point out the incredible opportunity that exists regarding an increasing number of people—especially younger generations—being open to spiritual things. Why do you believe this opportunity exists right now, and what can pastors and church leaders do to seize upon it?
JS: There are great numbers of people today who have drunk liberally from the devil’s well of lies and find their lives the poorer for it. Many are searching for real truth that can bring hope, genuine fulfillment, and satisfaction. Since that hope can only be found in Jesus, we have a great opportunity to share Him with people disillusioned and depressed by the lies. It has well been said, “You’ve got to get folks lost in order to be saved.” Once a person realizes they are lost and in great need, they are much more receptive to the truth that can set them free. Our job as Christians is to speak the truth in love to a lost and dying generation. As we shine for Christ—walking the talk—and share the good news of Jesus, those who are open and ready to hear are much more likely to respond to the Lord and come to Him.
