It can get frustrating reading and watching the news.  For quite a few years we have heard accusations of “fake news” or the plurality of “misinformation and disinformation.”  Along with these monikers of news headlines, more recently we have been entertaining “gaslighting” and “fraud and abuse,” not to mention the idea of “grifting.” Of course, we can never forget the holy grail of these barbs known as “conspiracy theories” which is meant to shut down all discussion of any topic and label those suggesting the ideas as misguided at best, or liars at worst.

All sides of political discussions use these tactics and often they are promoted with sensationalized headlines beginning with BREAKING NEWS or other such phrases.  Even as I write this today’s headlines include words meant to cause emotional reactions and seek to condemn people who are the targets of the words.  Here are some examples of words in recent headlines claiming that people are:  destructive, sleazy, treasonous, pimping, dumb, vile, corrupt, anti-American, stooge, and too many others to list here!

In the midst of the shrill voices from the left and the right, how do we know what is true?  From the viewpoint of Scripture, Christians and the Church must be diligent to both seek the truth and protect the truth.  Unfortunately, we have been short-sighted in understanding what that really means.

The Pillar and Support of the Truth

In the Apostle Paul’s letter to one of his closest associates, he refers to “the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth” (1Timothy 3:15 NASB).  While the church is certainly the purveyor of truth regarding salvation in Christ by grace through faith (the gospel), I have often wondered if we have inadvertently narrowed the idea of “truth” to only be about faith and topics of faith.  There is no doubt that the responsibility of the Church is to identify and protect the truth about Scripture.  Throughout the centuries Church leaders have produced summaries like Creeds and catechisms to solidify truth for believers.

Yet, I have heard from many teachers over the years that “all truth is God’s truth.”  I’ve heard it so many times I’m not even sure who I heard it from first, or how long ago it was.  Certainly, I agree with this statement and as I consider it in relationship to Paul’s words to Timothy, I have come to realize that ALL TRUTH is the responsibility of the church, which is the “pillar and support” of the Truth.

I am changing my use of Truth, using a capital letter, to cast a broader net for the concept (in a similar fashion to Francis Schaeffer and his conception of “true truth” and “capital T Truth”).  It is my belief that Christians, and the Church, must step up their efforts to identify Truth and to defend it in all areas of life.  The gospel is the key truth for which we are responsible, but as Christians we are also responsible for the broader sense of Truth in all of its forms.

So what should we do?

A Few Ideas to Support the Discovery of Truth

Every Christian, every pastor, and every Church must be willing to search for and defend the Truth.  This is part of our sacred calling and, unfortunately, we have not done well.  Churches are often divided because of one “version” of Truth against another.  Too often Christians dig into their own political biases rather than seeking Truth at all costs.  But there are ways we can seek Truth more fervently.

First, we must rely on the Holy Spirit to reveal Truth to us.  Jesus promised that one of the ministries of the Spirit is to “guide” us into truth (John 16:13).  As He does so, we can trust that He is leading faithfully and skillfully, as well as in the same direction toward Truth for each Christian.  Do we trust Him to do so, even if we must apologize for our own hubris and change our thinking to coincide with His thinking?  Again, in a broader reading of the text, to support this idea we might include those passages in which we are told that our minds will be “transformed” by the work of the Word and the Spirit (Romans 12:1-2 and others).

Second, the Spirit is not in this alone.  We can’t wait around for some kind of mystical affirmation that what we are viewing online is Truth.  While the Spirit may choose to work through a mystical encounter, and has done so in the past, the reality is that we must also do the hard work each day.  Our Christian lives are a partnership, of sorts, and this is clear as both God works in us and through us AND we are to work to be obedient in what He calls us to do (see Philippians 2:12-13).  We can, and should, be diligent in our search to uncover and understand the Truth.

For a third point, then, the hard work comes by paying attention and tracking down the details.  Headlines may confirm what we believe, or what we hope will happen, but we must carefully weigh the legitimacy of what we read.  Is the author credible?  Does he or she have expertise in the area they are claiming authority?  Are they quoting from someone who does have the knowledge and expertise?  Are those, who supposedly have the knowledge and expertise, tainted by political views or driven by a particular agenda, and therefore tainting their “expertise”?

Even though we hope to discover the raw data for a viewpoint from which we can draw a conclusion, the reality remains that data can be altered (and has been all too often) to conform to an agenda.  Big Tech censorship and algorithm manipulation causes clear disruptions in our attempts to seek Truth.  Not only do they shape search results to lead to particular articles, but they bury articles which do not fit with some preconceived narrative which they are supporting (whether willingly, or due to government bullying).

All of this simply means one thing:  it takes a lot of work to find the Truth, to support the Truth, to defend the Truth.  It takes practice and sometimes it means digging and digging to uncover Truth through layers of deception and subterfuge.  Nonetheless it is our task.  As Christians, and as the Church, we must be the “pillar and support of the truth.”

Are you ready to take on this task?