The Clickbait Jesus | FaithBiscuit.org

Finding the Real Jesus in a World of Distortions

In our digital age, the truth often wears a disguise. The phenomenon of “clickbait”― sensational headlines designed to attract attention and get visitors to click on a link―has infiltrated not just news media but also the way some present the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Recent studies suggest that the average person encounters 6,000 to 10,000 advertisements daily, many of which utilize clickbait tactics to lure viewers. This bombardment of information distorts our perception of reality, including our understanding of spiritual truths. Amidst this digital cacophony, how do we discern the message of Christ from the misleading “Clickbait Jesus” messages used to support various political or social agendas?

Today, politicians and social activists, among others, twist Jesus’ teachings to serve their own biases and agendas. Jesus Christ was a historical person whose core message was repentance and redemption. His message had vast implications about how people should behave once redeemed. The problem is that everyone seems to want to reshape Jesus’ teaching to bolster their one-sided views. Their bizarre interpretations of the teachings of Jesus have become little more than clickbait.

The Pelosi Case

Using Jesus as clickbait happens regularly, but there is a case study when then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Catholic, was banned from taking communion because of her abortion views. She appeared on the Joe Scarborough show on MSNBC when it happened.

The appearance would have been comic if it had not been so ungodly. Scarborough, a lawyer before he was a broadcaster, went to Catholic schools and once wrote a musical about televangelists called “The Gospel According to Esther.” Even with his apparent antipathy towards matters of faith, he felt qualified to deliver a mini-sermon on Matthew 25, which he interpreted as Jesus’ approval of killing the unborn.

For the record, Jesus talks about acting humanely toward each other (please read it for yourself), but “Morning Joe” twisted it into a license to kill.

Scarborough then introduced Pelosi, who agreed that Jesus endorsed her position based on Matthew 25:31-40. It was pure clickbait; she was clearly clueless about what Jesus said or meant and grabbed the words, devoid of any historical or spiritual meaning, to buttress her view. According to her, Jesus said it is okay to kill babies as they develop in the womb.

I’m surprised that she did not quote Matthew 19:14, where Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven,” to support the premeditated death of the unborn. With her malformed opinion, she could have argued that more abortions would please Jesus because they would not be hindered in going to him. Such ideas are not beyond the distorted Marxist-Progressive minds of the people who disdain faith and are out to crush life.

Pelosi’s interpretation of Matthew 25 was incomplete enough to be false, but her opinion made good clickbait. Of course, she is not the only politician or activist who has twisted the message of Jesus to generate misinformation. Yet, in this case, she became the poster child for such abuse of the teachings of Jesus in modern times.

The Magnet of Misinformation

Misinformation thrives where sensationalism reigns. It’s crucial to scrutinize sources, seeking truth beyond the allure of dramatic headlines. Beware anytime you see or hear the reduction of complex biblical narratives into catchy, out-of-context quotes that distort the essence of Jesus’ teachings.

Likewise, a Clickbait Jesus often plays to emotions rather than fostering genuine spiritual understanding. True faith involves the heart and mind in equal measure. The Bible guides Christians, and distorting its meaning by putting the focus on the emotional aspect is a crime against the soul. Yes, emotion has a role, but fact comes first, then reasonable faith and emotion come last. Christians who put facts over feelings allow themselves to be led astray by evil.

If we are to avoid the attraction of misinformation, we must look at the agenda behind the attraction. Recognizing the underlying agendas in Clickbait Jesus headlines helps us avoid being swayed by the winds of shifting cultural fads and remain anchored in truth. But that is not enough. Christians must know the teachings of Jesus and be prepared to push back when biased people use them to further their own agenda.

Returning to the Source

In a world of distortions, the antidote is a return to the authentic source, the Bible. By engaging with the Scriptures, Christians can discern the real message of Christ amid the noise. Here are some ways Christians can combat the counterfeit claims of politicians, activists, and others.

Christians are often given to complacency. We fall victim to Clickbait Jesus tactics because we drop our guard. That means we sometimes need to go back to basics to sharpen our spiritual discernment (Ephesians 5:10).

Scriptural literacy is our first defense. Understanding the Bible in its entirety equips believers to recognize and reject Clickbait Jesus distortions. It’s about knowing both Jesus and what he said in the Bible. We must be able to see error when the words and thoughts of Jesus have been hijacked for nefarious purposes. As Paul said, “Let no one deceive you with empty words” (Ephesians 5:6). If you know the Word, you can quickly and clearly identify deceit.
Don’t be afraid to push back. We Christians do not want to go into a rage when politicians or activists abuse the teachings of Jesus, but we want to speak up. Christians often fail in this regard. Too often, we turn a blind eye to the injury and don’t push back against people who misrepresent our Lord. It would be wonderful if we could open a dialogue with these people, but they most often refuse to hear.Psalm 2:1 asks, “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?” The answer is that they frame the world by their solidly embedded narcissism. Self-righteous power is the name of their game. Since that is the case, we want to pray for them, but we also must, as individuals, raise our voices against them. That may mean calling or writing news outlets, advertisers, or people in authority. Their misappropriation of our faith for clickbait cannot be allowed to stand.
The Christian community must reject the Clickbait Jesus phenomenon. The voices of individuals must be heard, but we should speak out together as a local church or group of churches. The strength of numbers matters. We need our collective voice to fortify us against individual misinterpretation by politicians, activists, and others who twist Jesus’ teaching to support their agenda.

The Holy Spirit empowers believers with discernment, a crucial tool in distinguishing the valid message of Christ from misleading clickbait. 1 Corinthians 2:14 is significant in this regard: “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”

Be a Beacon of Truth

As followers of Christ, we are called to be beacons of truth in a world marred by misinformation. Here are three actionable steps to combat the Clickbait Jesus phenomenon and uphold the authenticity of our faith.

As I have described, Christians can effectively counter the misuse of Jesus’ teachings and be a light to the world. Christians must take a stand against those who create a Clickbait Jesus that distorts our faith.

In navigating the treacherous waters of misinformation, our anchor remains the unchanging truth of Christ’s teachings. By committing to a deep, discerning, and devoted approach to our faith, we can counter the misadventures of those who promote a Clickbait Jesus and radiate the genuine light of his truth in a world desperate for clarity and hope.