Oobah Butler, a British writer, created a fake restaurant called “The Shed at Dulwich” in 2017 to reveal how easy it is to fool people online. He staged food photos using household items and got his friends to post fake 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor. The restaurant quickly climbed to the top spot in London, even though it didn’t exist. People desperately tried to book a table, and brands sent samples, but no one checked if it was real. Butler’s experiment revealed how social media hype and positive reviews can easily mislead people, demonstrating that perception often prevails over truth online. (Times of India, 9 July 2025)
Perception and truth: The news indicates that people believe what is apparent or external, or masks, rather than what is real or true in the digital world. Satan uses pretension or a mask to cover himself, but attacks humans. He used, then, the craftiest of all creatures, the serpent, as a medium or mask to speak with Adam and Eve. (Genesis 3:1) The first couple, without discernment, became victims of Satan’s strategy and caused the Human Fall.
Discernment: In the world, there is a need for discernment. It can be defined as both a gift and a skill. There are a few people who could use their reason and logic to understand what is right and wrong. They may not be perfect according to biblical standards, yet they could make some moral distinctions and judgments. However, the disciples of the Lord are different. They could deliberately choose not to follow the pattern, fashion, or trends, or traditions of the world, but could renew their mind by the truth revealed in the scripture. Thus, receiving the gift of discernment, which is spiritual intelligence to discern the will, plan, and purpose of God. Their choice as the Will of God is good, perfect, and pleasant. (Romans 12:2)
Truth warfare: Paul exhorts believers to demolish all arguments and pretensions, take captive every thought that rises against the knowledge of God. (II Corinthians 10:5)
Do I have the gift of discernment to defeat the designs of Satan?