image from Nora Carroll
This post may be my most politically relevant and unyieldingly nonpartisan. Some time back, a commentator, who’s been around since Watergate, expressed that he is more concerned about the future of our country now than at any time in his life. Why? We can’t agree on truth. We don’t seek truth. Partisans, on both sides, decry as “Fake News” anything that doesn’t match what they already want to believe. We accept, as gospel, rumors with no evidence. The divide between left and right grows because we have no foundation of shared truth.
And I’m not sure electing more “people with our values” will help—it merely perpetuates might is right. And that works…until the next election. Perhaps we need to return to desiring truth. Regardless of the cost. Regardless of how we might have to change. Regardless of how it might hurt “our side.”
A simple definition of truth: it matches reality. Not our desires, but what is. Why is truth important? Maybe because the Father is called the God of Truth, “…redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth” (Psalm 31:5). Maybe because it defines Jesus, “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). That also applies to the Holy Spirit, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). Notice also the source of lies, “When he (the devil) lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).
Do you desire intimacy with the devil? Then pass on rumors you don’t know are true. Don’t take the time to check them out. Don’t care about the damage that unsubstantiated rumors can do to others. Don’t justify these by saying, “some reports say,” or “I don’t know if this is true, but I’m passing it on.”
Or by contrast, do you desire intimacy with God, with all three persons? Then you better commit yourself to truth. Yearn for it. Cherish it. Pay the price of it. And, most importantly, seek it. “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22, KJV). That involves work and research before we quickly like or share a Facebook post. Here’s a tool I used in teaching argumentation in the university that helps prove things, called the Level of Dispute (LOD).
Image a horizontal line, the LOD, that divides what we disagree on above the line, and below the line is what we agree on. A claim is what we state, above the line, what we want others to agree on. Below the line is the evidence, reality, the truth. Be sure the evidence is good and true, not just more opinion. Be sure the sources are credible. Cross check them. Reasoning is a line connecting them, or how we show the evidence supports the claim, how they’re linked.
Know what they call a claim without evidence or reasoning? An opinion. Not a fact, not truth, until it’s proven, like the Thessalonians verse said we should do with everything. Before you accept a claim, have evidence and reasoning.
Why? Because genuine followers of Jesus commit ourselves to reality. To truth.
Kick Starting the Application
How thorough have you been in checking out rumors and claims? Why? Have you passed on “truths” that you later discovered were untruths? Did you apologize? Do you consciously yearn for truth to build intimacy with God? Will you begin proving things, as God desires you to do?
PS I am very concerned that we focus on seeking truth, not partisan advantage. Any comments that disrespect another side and are partisan will be deleted. Let’s start coming back together now, in a search for truth. And if this post resonates with you, please share it. We need a hunger for truth.