Truth Before Tribe

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.