Do you know the truth? You hear about something that happened, and your first thought is, did it happen the way you were told? Sometimes we read or hear stories long before the facts are established.
“Do not spread false reports. Do not help a guilty person by being a malicious witness. 2 “Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, 3 and do not show favouritism to a poor person in a lawsuit.” (Exodus 23 v 1-3)
These verses were written for the courtroom, but they reach into every conversation. They raise three questions we all face whenever someone tells us a story.
V1. Is it true, or just a rumour? God doesn’t just forbid perjury in the witness box; he forbids gossip around the story. Passing on what we cannot verify is taking part in a verdict we have no right to give.
V2. Is it right, or just popular? If everyone is saying it, surely it must be true, right? If everyone is doing it, surely I cannot be blamed, right? Is the truth based on the majority decision? It can be. So long as the witness hasn’t changed their testimony under the pressure of numbers.
V3. Is it fair, or just sympathetic? God’s justice isn’t for sale to the rich, and it isn’t won by pity either. The scales are to be held level.
So refuse to join in the whispers. Don’t immediately run with the crowd. Just because your heart is moved isn’t a sign to ignore God’s justice. The crowd will always have a verdict. Make sure yours is the truth.
