When I was growing up, we watched the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite. Walter Leland Cronkite Jr. was an American broadcast journalist who served as anchorman for the CBS Evening News from 1962 to 1981. During the 1960s and 1970s, he was often cited as “the most trusted man in America” after being so named in an opinion poll.
Walter Cronkite’s famous saying, used to close his nightly broadcasts on CBS News for nearly two decades, was “And that’s the way it is.”. This phrase emphasized his commitment to objective reporting and is often cited as a key factor in his popularity and the high ratings he achieved.
Back then, the news was not manipulated by corporate interests like it is today. The corporate narrative is intended to manipulate viewers to a particular mindset that supports a certain agenda. Now, much of the news contains half-truths. We are warned against such deceit.
David recorded by The Holy Spirit in Psalm chapter 35:
20 For they do not speak peace, But they devise deceitful words [half-truths and lies] against those who are quiet in the land (those who mind there own business).
And David also recorded Psalm chapter 101:
6 My Eyes will be on the faithful (honorable) of the land, that they may dwell with Me; He who walks blamelessly is the one who will minister to and serve Me.
7 He who practices deceit will not dwell in My House; He who tells lies and half-truths will not continue [to remain] in My Presence.
8 Morning after morning I will destroy all the wicked in the land, That I may cut off from the city of the LORD all those who do evil.
Manipulation is a form of deceit. Manipulation is the act of influencing or controlling someone, often unfairly or dishonestly, to one’s own advantage. It involves using tactics to persuade, deceive, or coerce others, often by exploiting their vulnerabilities or weaknesses. Manipulation is closely related to negotiation.
Negotiation is a process where two or more parties, with differing interests, engage in a discussion to reach an agreement or resolve a dispute. It’s a form of communication aimed at finding a mutually acceptable outcome or compromise. Essentially, it’s a “give-and-take” where parties may make concessions to achieve a desired result.
Does Our Heavenly Father negotiate? No! HE is the Source of absolute Truth and reality. Everything else is a compromise and subject to manipulation.
Wisdom spoke in Proverbs chapter 6:
19 A false witness who breathes out lies [even half-truths], And one who spreads discord (rumors) among brothers.
And in chapter 12:
17 He who speaks Truth declares righteousness, But a false witness, deceit.
In other Words, Truthfulness marks the righteous, but the habitual liar can never be trusted.
Once you catch someone is speaking “half-truths”, you cannot trust anything they say, especially in the media. We must guard ourselves from allowing outside influences to distort our mindset. As we are led by The Holy Spirit, we are able to discern the Truth from lies. We will get a check in our spirit about what is being said.
Pay close attention to the “check” or you may be pushed off course in your walk. We must place our trust in the Truth from Above and not allow man’s influence to affect our mindset in any way.