Navigating a Post-Truth World

“And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do”

1 Chronicles 12:32

I remember the first time I heard Dr. Chuck Missler read this passage. He was laying out the contrast between finding out what the Word of God says and finding out what is really going on in the world. Knowing what the Bible says is relatively straightforward. “Be like the Bereans of Acts 17:11”, Chuck would say, reading the flagship verse of Koinonia House.

The Word of God is proven to be steadfast and true; a solid rock we can rely on when the vicissitudes of life threaten to darken our way. No matter the storms we suffer, we can trust in the Anchor that holds within the veil.

Coupled with that supernatural trust, we need people ‘ like the famed children of Issachar ‘ who have an understanding of the times, to know what must be done. This matters not only as citizens of our respective countries, but especially as members of the Body of Christ.

The problem, as Chuck would point out, though, is that finding out what is really going on is not a simple task. We may think that with the technological advances of the last century, reading the news from across the globe has become as easy as turning on the TV or scrolling through your Twitter feed.

Unlike the Scriptures, however, the shifting sands of the mainstream news media are not a fit foundation on which to build an accurate and useful worldview. The reasons for this are manifold. For one, humans are subject to an epistemological quandary: we are incapable of perceiving, let alone communicating, the objective truth of an event with complete accuracy.

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A Conversation About Conversations

Paul exhorts his readers to “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” This verse, first committed to my memory and meditation in 1980, has influenced countless interactions ever since. For any spoken words or uttered phrases to edify, to be gracious, and to address the need of the moment, there must be a genuine conversation. It is necessary to know the other person's needs and perspectives in order to know what word or thought will edify and encourage them.

In a recent conversation I had with a friend, I asked, “What is your objection to Jesus?” The response, “I object to everybody who says, ‘you do not believe like me, you are condemned!’” I reassured my friend that the people I know do not overuse this theme – in fact, many Christians are reluctant to be so blunt and bold. Through conversation I understood his perspective, and I responded, “No doubt you are familiar with John 3:16 which quotes Jesus saying, ‘Whosoever believes will have eternal life.’ Did you know that two verses later Jesus continues by saying ‘he who does not believe is condemned already?’” The conversation changed from what his unnamed people said to what Jesus said. What a different conversation than simply going through a checklist of verses or reciting some rehearsed phrases!

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