I grew up with the National Enquirer as a standard item at the end of every checkout line at the grocery store. It was the go-to American tabloid for many people for many years. A typical front-page headline read: “UFO lands at popular tourist spot.” The Enquirer featured stories that captured your imagination. You knew they were made up, but it was a fun read.

When we look for real stories, we usually turn to our local newspapers. We do this when we want to know the latest vote of the Municipal Council. We do the same if we want to know how local high school sports teams performed. When a fire breaks out in an apartment complex or a traffic accident occurs on Main Street, we want to know the who, what, when, where and how.

We don’t want manipulation or opinions. Like Joe Friday in the old TV series “Dragnet,” we want: “Just the facts, ma’am.” If we want the gist of a story, we know we can get it from local journalists. They are our neighbors. People we trust. Yet due to shrinking budgets, many local newspapers are increasingly relying on national news outlets. Can we trust them to tell the truth or will we get what they think we want to hear? That’s the problem.

Do you remember Walter Cronkite? He was considered America’s trusted man. He ended his show with his signature words: “And that’s how it is. » You believed him. Cronkite was chosen in 1962 to anchor the CBS evening news. For the next two decades, he was the authoritative voice of news in America. When he reported on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, you could see tears in his eyes. He was one of us.

Walter Cronkite also walked alongside us during the dark days of Vietnam and during the resignation of a president. He was there to record the first steps on the moon and the grand opening of Disney World. When Walter Cronkite spoke…the world listened. Historian Douglas Brinkley wrote that there was nothing dapper or elite about him. He had a great work ethic and a stable Eddy appearance. He simply looked and spoke like a friend you could trust.

Unfortunately, many believe that Walter Cronkite was the last of his kind. Today, many of our new media outlets display their biases and opinions in every article. Nothing more is alleged. All this is reported as fact. A student of history will tell you that this is nothing new. There have always been partisan newspapers. Both John Adams and Abraham Lincoln knew this. This is why they directed their press releases towards newspapers that sympathized with their cause.

Here’s the biggest problem: many people see truth as multidimensional. Because we only see one side when debating an issue, we usually find the truth wherever it pleases us. This is why you get so many different opinions. We are all different. So where do we go to find the ultimate truth? Jesus said you can find it in the Scriptures. He said that in his words you will discover the truth and it will set you free.

I came across a church website that stood out. In bold letters it read: “Jesus is our main story.” He said: “Jesus is our only story. It holds a prominent place in our hearts and is at the heart of everything we do. I don’t know this church, but I would like to think that any church faithful to Christ is a place where truth can be found. Are you seeking the truth? Turn off the television. Put down your phone. Choose your Bible and start reading. The truth will find you.

The writer is pastor of Westerly Central Baptist Church.