Truth Before Tribe
From the reading for September 27Proverbs 1:28–33 · 2 Corinthians 12 · Isaiah 15–17 I don’t like talking politics or controversial topics, because honestly, I already have a full plate. But these headlines aren’t always something you can run from anymore. They’re coming into our homes, our churches, our phones, and our families.
It reminds me of Goliath.
Every day, Goliath came out shouting, mocking, intimidating, and defying the armies of the living God. Everybody heard him. Everybody saw him. And everybody kept backing away.
But David said, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” — 1 Samuel 17:26
David didn’t fight Goliath with Goliath’s weapons. He met him with what God had already placed in his hand.
That’s how I want to approach the headlines.
Not with rage.
Not with partisan talking points.
Not with rumors.
Not with slander.
I want to hit the headlines with the rock of God’s Word and confront lies with “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” — Ephesians 6:17
And one giant I particularly want to come against is slander.
My God, even within the Church there is so much of it.
People repeat headlines without reading the story. We share accusations without checking sources. We hear something about somebody and immediately pass it along as fact. Research takes time. Truth takes patience. Sometimes the truth is less exciting than the rumor, but followers of Jesus are not called to spread what is exciting. We are called to speak what is true.
“You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people.” — Leviticus 19:16
“A false witness who breathes out lies” is listed among the things the Lord hates. — Proverbs 6:16–19
And James warns us about the incredible destructive power of the tongue, saying that “the tongue is a fire.” — James 3:6
Before I speak about somebody, I want to ask:
Is it true?
Have I actually researched it?
Am I repeating an accusation or reporting an established fact?
Would I say this if that person were sitting across the table from me?
And most importantly, does what I’m saying reflect Jesus?
Because Scripture tells us, “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” — James 1:19
And Paul says, “Speak the truth with his neighbor.” — Ephesians 4:25
So I’m not interested in becoming another angry voice screaming into the culture.
I want to question the culture.
I want to slow down, investigate, compare claims with evidence, compare ideas with Scripture, correct misinformation when I find it—even if it came from somebody I agree with—and refuse to destroy another person’s name just because a headline made me angry.
David didn’t defeat Goliath by becoming Goliath.
And Christians should never fight lies by becoming liars.
We overcome darkness with light, deception with truth, hatred with love, and accusation with careful, righteous judgment.
Jesus said, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” — John 7:24
So if I’m going to speak about the difficult things happening in our world, that’s the standard I want:
Truth before tribe.
Scripture before outrage.
Research before reposting.
Love before slander.
Because the goal isn’t to win an argument.
The goal is to glorify God and tell the truth.
Life is short. Where are you going?
None of us knows how much time we have. “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:14). One day this life will be over — so the most important question you will ever answer is this: do you know where you are going when it is?
The Bible says, “Man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). If you died today, would you be ready?
Are you a good person?
Most of us think we are. But God doesn’t measure us against other people — He measures us by His Law. Look honestly at the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3–17):
- You shall have no other gods before Me.
- You shall not make for yourself an idol.
- You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
- Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
- Honor your father and mother.
- You shall not murder.
- You shall not commit adultery.
- You shall not steal.
- You shall not bear false witness.
- You shall not covet.
Have you ever told a lie — even a small one? Have you ever taken something that wasn’t yours? Have you ever used God’s name as a curse word? Have you ever wanted what belongs to someone else? Jesus said that anyone who looks with lust “has already committed adultery … in his heart” (Matthew 5:28), and the Bible says “everyone who hates his brother is a murderer” (1 John 3:15).
If we’re honest, we have all broken God’s Law — and “whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it” (James 2:10). “There is no one righteous, not even one … there is no one who does good, not even one” (Romans 3:10–12).
That leaves every one of us guilty before a holy God. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), and “whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:36). This is why our world is full of tragedy — and without Christ, every life ends in the greatest tragedy of all.
But God made a way
“God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Jesus lived the perfect life we never could, and on the cross He took the punishment we deserved: “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Three days later He rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3–4).
It’s like standing guilty in court when the judge steps down and pays your fine himself. Forgiveness is a free gift — you can’t earn it: “It is by grace you have been saved through faith … it is the gift of God, not by works” (Ephesians 2:8–9). “The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.” Jesus — John 10:10
What will you do with Jesus?
“Repent and believe in the gospel!” (Mark 1:15). Turn from your sin, and put your trust in Jesus alone — “if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). Don’t put it off — “now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation!” (2 Corinthians 6:2).
And when you turn to Him, you won’t be met with a frown — you’ll be met with a celebration. Jesus said, “there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10). God says, “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked should turn from their ways and live” (Ezekiel 33:11). He is “mighty to save. He will rejoice over you with gladness … He will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17). Like the father who ran to embrace his lost son, He is waiting with open arms — and heaven throws a party when you come home (Luke 15:20–24).
If you died today, where would you spend eternity? Today you can be forgiven, made new, and have real, abundant life — now and forever.
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