I have a Facebook page, called “Good News to Share” where I post my stories. That page makes it easy for people to find my stories. I can also comment using my own account name and include a link to my page, but that is less effective. Facebook will only send my posts to a limited number of my friends, so I don’t expect to get many “Likes” or “Shares.” Every day I post one of my stories on different pages, as comments or visitor posts, and to groups I belong to in order to reach a larger audience.
Recently I noticed a drop in responses to my posts. Facebook added a filter to the comment section called “Most Relevant” and it considers my “Good News to Share” posts irrelevant! That filter is automatically used, so most users won’t notice some comments are hidden. I don’t know how they determine relevance, but they pushed most of my posts out-of-sight and out-of-mind. I returned to posting under my own account, to make sure my stories are seen. I get more likes, but it is harder to invite people to like my “Good News to Share” page.
Facebook wants me to pay to boost (distribute) my stories across a wider audience. That makes my limited funds another filter. In addition, they have become stricter about what they will post. That is like much of the news media, who have taken sides in the political and cultural wars, they only give their audience the “most relevant” news. Everything goes through their filter, and the news comes out matching their side’s views. It reminds me of Communist China. The news media used to be sources of truth, but now they are partisan hacks. Yes, if you have a fortune, you can buy airtime or purchase adds to get around the filters, but that is ineffective against the mainstream media giants. Social media briefly overcame the filters, but now they too have taken sides. They distort, restrict and filter what the public sees, again like China.
Unfortunately, the Church is also filtering the “Good News” and only presents versions of the truth. If you ask what a Christian Church believes, they should say the WORD of GOD. Sadly enough, you will be presented a list of filters that limit their beliefs. One sprinkles, another dunks, some believe in salvation, one is certain, while others avoid absolutes. I know we can have different opinions, but GOD’s truth is what counts. There is a warning for those who filter GOD’s word, “If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life” (Rev 22:18-19 KJV).
Filtered truth is a lie. This is serious business and your eternity in Heaven or Hell hangs in the balance. Read your Bible and find out what the truth is. JESUS is the WORD, and He will help you understand what you are reading. Verify what anyone tells you by GOD’s WORD. When you share with others, don’t add to, or subtract from (filter) the truth and encourage them to verify what you tell them. We are told “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil 2:12 KJV) because it’s important! “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32 KJV). Freedom is found in JESUS CHRIST and that’s the truth!
Wayne Lance (2018)