Jesus said, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:31-32 NRSV)
When I worked in conflict mediation in congregational settings I learned that in the absence of truth, people quickly made up their own truth. In other words, unless the congregation’s leaders were willing to be honest about whatever the conflict issue was, congregants were quick to supply their own version of events. This version, whether it was accurate or not, then became “truth” to those who adhered to it. It is always better, even if things are ugly or messy, to share the truth than try and shield others from it. Those who bury or hide the truth from others will usually wish they hadn’t. Once an “untruth” has taken form and set up like finished concrete, it’s pretty difficult to dislodge.
I’m thinking about this, as well as the maxim so often ascribed to Jesus – “The truth will set you free” – because in our world today it seems to me “truth” has become a rare commodity. Perhaps this has always been the case to some extent among those who seek to manipulate and maneuver people into their way of thinking or toward adoption of their agenda. But it seems that the disregard for truth, in favor of lies, untruths, partial truths or “my own truth”, has exponentially multiplied in contemporary society. Political leaders unashamedly espouse untruths repeatedly to gain favor with the electorate. Elected officials acquiesce to parsing words over versions of the truth. Even religious leaders look the other way when it comes to the propulsion of truth’s missiles being lobbed and landed.
Continue reading
danielcash 