Seek the Truth

This past weekend, I was watching a protester on social media speaking about why she wanted her voice to be heard, and she said it was because people outside of her village were saying negative things about her community as their leader had made the decision not to accept a certain type of help from the government. However, many of the residents wanted the help being offered. A number of persons, not knowing how some of these residents felt, had said derogatory remarks about this community. The lady had felt bad about this as she recognized many people did not understand her and many of her neighbor’s point of view. It is therefore important not to just hear one side of the story, but to seek the truth by listening to as many sides of the story as possible. Because many times there are more than two sides to a story, it is very important to be quick to listen before voicing opinions or taking sides.

This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger. James 1:19

I understood what this lady was saying. Many times, people have heard things about me or believed certain things about me but never sought to ask or to listen to my side of the story. And there are times when I never even knew there was a story to tell and I would wonder why people are not as warm to me anymore. I know this is a common experience for many who are reading this and as you read, you may even be remembering some situations right now. How did this make you feel? It is therefore essential for us to be wise and to be careful about what we say or believe because the source where we derive our information may be ill-informed, misinformed, or disinformed. There are differences between the three. The Merriam Webster Dictionary describes ill-informed as not having a lot of knowledge especially about current news and events or not based on facts, while Dictionary.com delineates the distinction between disinform and uninform.

Disinform means to intentionally provide or spread false information with the intent to mislead or deceive. Misinform, which is much more commonly used, means to provide someone with false information, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is being done intentionally.

Whether the spread of false information is intentional or not, or people are forming opinions that are based on facts or lack of knowledge, all are dangerous. Reputations have been ruined and even lives have been lost because of people being ill-informed, misinformed or disinformed. Unfortunately, churches split, families separate and even countries go to war against each other when there is a lack of truth. The Bible tells us that the truth sets us free and Jesus Himself is the truth. So why are we not always trying to seek the truth? Too often a lie is believed quicker than truth is sought. We must never forget that the devil comes as an angel of light and may present to us a lie wrapped in a façade to cover his mistruth. The devil is the father of lies, so we must make sure that we find out the truth before sharing what we may not realize is a lie. If we don’t seek the truth or clarification, then the devil may use us to bring more division, when we are supposed to be agents of restoration and reconciliation. I find this happening a lot even as Jamaica tries to rebuild after Hurricane Melissa devastated parts of the island. It is so easy to believe what is first said, until later the other side of the story comes out.  But even then, it may be hard to believe the truth after listening to the lie. Feelings of anger, bitterness, resentment, disappointment and distrust may have already developed so it is difficult for everyone to move forward. This is all a part of the devil’s trap to hinder our progress.

You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.  Galatians 5:7-9

We must be very careful to seek the truth and obey it so that we will not be hindered. In this age of artificial intelligence, it is so easy to be misled. A story just popped up on my social media about a Muslim pilot who called out to Jesus and saved all the passengers and crew on a plane and then he was fired. However, I did some research and could not find the validity of this story. Now, it may be true, but I am not going to disseminate this information not knowing its source, no matter how good it sounds. God is all about the truth. Furthermore, when untruths are spoken about me or assumptions are made, I have learned to be silent and to continue seeking the truth and walking in it, while I let God take care of whatever is being said or whoever is saying it.