The post-truth

"Truth has stumbled upon the public square." Isaiah. 59: 14

The term "post-truth" was chosen in November 2016 as the word of the year by the British Oxford Dictionary. It designates a current which extends, according to which the veracity of facts has no value in argument. The act of lying, intellectual counterfeiting or deceit is not sanctioned by any subsequent consequences, in terms of image or credibility. Tell what you know is wrong ; Even if others prove that your words are wrong, they will not be believed by those you have persuaded! Lying becomes an "alternative truth."

The campaign for the presidential elections in the United States, the debates that preceded the Brexit referendum and the polemics raised by climate-skeptics, are some recent examples of patently opposing truths. They were then relayed by social networks and some tendentious media ; They have ultimately contributed to the success of their promoters. It has been said what many wanted to hear ; They have been reinforced in their prejudices ; They were convinced that contrary opinions were manipulated ...

What to do in such a context ? First, do not be surprised or destabilized. Satan is the "father of lies" and nothing more pleases him than spreading error. His evil activity will culminate in the future when a man under his direct influence, "the iniquitous", will come with strong lies (2 Thes. 2.11).

Then, stand firm to the truth. We have a "sure norm" (cf. Prov.22.21), the Bible, the Word which is the truth. Our faith rests on irrefutable facts, historically based : the coming of Jesus, his death and resurrection. We know that there is "the spirit of truth and the spirit of error" (1 John 4: 6). All our presuppositions must be verified in the light of Scripture and we must be prepared to challenge them in the face of the clear biblical assertion.

Finally, let's say the truth. Let us never believe that we promote our cause by skewing, even a little, with the truth : "We can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth," Paul said (2 Cor 13: 8). Let us be gentle and humble teachers who hope in the action of God to "acknowledge the truth" (2 Tim. 2: 24,25).

Source (To pleasing the Lord)