Readings for today: Proverbs 17-20
The truth is almost impossible to discern these days. Every news story has an angle. Every commentator has an agenda. Every social media post has a slant. All of them designed for a particular audience. Just about every day, I scan the headlines of the BBC, CNN, and FoxNews. I read the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. I scroll through Twitter where I intentionally follow a diverse group of people from across the social, political, and religious spectrum. And while my sample size isn’t all that big, it’s also not small and the thing I’ve learned over the years is never take anything at face value. Make sure you try to listen and understand all the perspectives in play on a particular issue before you draw any conclusions.
The same is true for our interpersonal interactions. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been asked to intervene in a conflict between spouses, parents and children, leaders in a church, business associates, even groups of friends. As I listen to the different parties, I often wonder if they’re talking the same incident? Their perspectives can be so different. Their individual points of view filtered through all kinds of internal biases, not to mention the warping effect of self-righteousness and sin. This is why it is essential to make time to listen to all parties. Get all the information on the table. Make sure everyone feels heard and valued. Only then can one begin to talk about forgiveness and reconciliation. Where did I learn all this from? King Solomon. Listen to how he puts it,
“The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.” (Proverbs 18:17 CSB)
We have a tendency to believe the first thing we hear especially if it comes from a member of our tribe or someone we have a personal relationship with. We rush to take sides in a conflict. We are so quick to judge and condemn. We see it in politics. We see it in society. We see it in the church. Think of the animosity that exists between our different political parties or different ethnic groups or different economic classes. It even spills over into the church. I think of a recent case here in Colorado where a group of pastors began attacking their colleagues across the state for not joining them on a particular crusade. It wasn’t that other pastors weren’t engaged, it’s that they didn’t engage the way this particular group wanted them to. And therein lies our problem. We assume the worst of each other. We accuse each other of operating in bad faith. We only consider the evidence that fits our particular narrative. It’s a vicious cycle that can only end one way. Division. Conflict. Even violence. Hatred and outrage ratcheting up to dangerous levels. Because there can be no compromise with the enemy. The only good and just and righteous thing to do is destroy them.
“The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.” As Christians, we are called to discern the truth. We must reject falsehoods or half-truths of any kind. We are not given the option to embrace only that which supports our particular tribal narrative. We must never operate in an underhanded, manipulative, deceitful ways. We must take all the evidence into account. We must walk with complete honesty and transparency before the Lord and before the world. We listen before we speak. We make a complete investigation before we draw any conclusions. We never assume. And we always try to engage in good faith and with the best intentions.
Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays