Christians – Does Truth Matter?

How many times have we received an email about something that is presented as truth, hit that forward button only to find out it was a fabrication?  Or we find out that there was some truth to the story but the story has been embellished so that it is a worse scenario than what really took place.  Christians are forever passing around stories about the evil in this world in which we live but do not take time to check out the truthfulness of the story before passing it along.  Does truth really matter to us?

The recent story about the young 17-year-old Muslim girl who converted to Christianity is one such case.  I recently received an email from a Christian stating that we need to get on our knees in prayer, fasting and supplication.  The email had an article attached to it about that 17-year-old Muslim girl and the article’s only truth was that there was a 17 year old Muslim girl who converted to Christianity.  The rest of the story was not true as the facts in the case came to light.  The story that was in the email was that she came from a devout Muslim home.  That turned out to be untrue; she came from a secular Muslim home.  Her life was not in danger as her family knew about her conversion for three years giving them ample time to do an honor killing or return her to their native country.  She was a high school cheerleader, an activity a devout Muslim father would not allow his daughter to take part in.  She also attended church.  I am sure life in her home was difficult and I am sure the arguments were intense.  However, her life was not in danger.

Another story that that has been passed around as truth so that we can come against Muslims is an email showing a young Iranian boy who supposedly stole something.  The punishment was to have a car roll over his arm.  Pictures were on the internet as the car rolled over his arm.  This also had a hint of truth in that the car did roll over the boy’s arm.  What is not true is that it was a punishment for stealing.  The truth was it was a planned stunt for money.  I don’t know how they pulled it off but again, I do not know how stunts are pulled off when I watch a stunt here in the United States.  The boy was not harmed and was, in fact, smiling after the stunt.  Bystanders would pay money to watch the stunt.  There are enough true horrific stories coming out the Islamic world that we really do not need to make them up.

I emailed my friend and informed her that this was a stunt, not a real punishment taking place in Iran.  The reply that I got was “oh good, but they still have evil in their hearts.”  I was left with “and your point is?  What does that have to do with the stunt and the fact that it’s being passed around with false information by Christians, no less.”

Much has gone around about Obama that is not true.  This post could turn into a long novel if I were to list all the false information that is passed around by Christians as truth when it is not.

We have a duty to make sure that what we say is accurate and not slanderous to another party.  To do so is to  gossip.  And if we do pass something around that we find out is not true, do we even bother to correct this error?  To be honest, I do not know when I have ever received an email from a Christian retracting the untruth.  Instead, an excuse is offered.

To be clear, I neither support Obama nor Islam but, in fact, strongly and vehemently oppose both.  However, there is enough evil in this world without having to resort to fabrication.  Evil can stand on its own without Christians adding a spin to it to support their cause.

He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; (Psa 15:2-3 ESV)

Does truth really matter?  Or is it more important to make our case at all costs?  Does evil and wickedness really need the help of Christians or can it not stand on its own?  Really folks, there’s enough evil and wickedness in this world.  We don’t need to add to the story to make our point.  We do a disservice to not only to the body of Christ but to those that we are trying to reach for we end up looking like a reactionary group of people who cannot be taken seriously.

Stop it.  You are hurting my witness.

Related posts:

1. What Is Truth?
2. What is our job as Christians
3. What is it with Christians and Salvation?
4. How are Christians Perceived?
5. Soldiers for Christ