How We Have Lost Our Desire For Truth

What has happened to us? Have we really lost our desire for the truth? If current social media platforms and even traditional media outlets are any indication, the answer is a troubling: “Truth no longer matters”. Controversy after controversy comes, gets blown into a complete distortion, and then serves as the basis for protests, riots, viral posts on social platforms, and further divides. This isn’t a new problem. It is an evolution of an old one, fueled by a media complex that profits directly from division and controversy, and by political and social movements that have long relied on attacks but now possess the means to spread propaganda and false narratives with little accountability or consequence.

HOW is this possible? Because we have become a dumbed-down culture easily triggered by rage bait and propaganda.We have become so intellectually lazy that we simply believe whatever we read online—provided it validates us, reinforces our agenda, or dehumanizes those we already dislike.

When I moved to Polk County, Texas back in March, we arrived to find a political campaign like none I had ever witnessed for the job of County Judge. The degree of claims, trash talk, and unfettered (and often fact-lacking) accusations was mind-blowing. So I quickly set out to try to wade through the trash to find the truth. While I did find bits of truth behind the bluster, most of it was mischaracterized or twisted in ways that turned the narratives into something far beyond reality. Yet both “sides” believed what bolstered their candidate and rejected that which made their preferred candidate look bad. Human nature, right?

Yet even this incredibly-negative campaign pales in comparison to the current flood of twisted truth, blatant lies, and wild fictions blown into epic “truth”. For far too many, “I heard…” has become enough evidence to convict. Rumor has replaced evidence. And we have become comfortable repeating what we have never bothered to verify.

But I am especially concerned with how I find it necessary to remind folks that Christians have no biblical permission to traffic in rumors simply because they are politically convenient or personally satisfying. Far too often we participate in the very sins Scripture condemns—gossip, slander, and bearing false witness—while convincing ourselves that sharing someone else’s accusation somehow absolves us of responsibility.

Seriously, when did “I heard…” become a valid substitute for “I know”?

The Disease: We No Longer Value Truth

What we designate as “truth” is what we prefer to be true. Evidence no longer matters – except to the accused. Current events become ripe and fertile grounds to inject more division. Case in point: two weeks ago, Indiana experienced some very strong storms. Trees were downed, structures damaged, and power lines shredded. Current media is trumpeting a massive “racial discrimination” related to the restoration (or lack of) for a community named Gary. Gary has a predominantly Black population. Therefore, the current narrative is “the power has been off for two weeks because we are Black”. Many are blaming the President of the United States (no disaster declaration by the Governor has been made, so what can the Federal Government do?). But more pointedly, is the slow restoration of power due to the skin color of the majority of residents, or could it possibly be related to the power company crews and linemen that showed up soon after the storm were shot at by residents, putting lives directly in danger and damaging equipment? It doesn’t take much thought to put 2 + 2 together and get 4! If I were responsible for organizing and managing power restoration, where will I prioritize? Maybe the neighborhoods where my workers aren’t getting shot at?

Another recent example is a fairly regular wild horse roundup and distribution by the U. S. Department of the Interior for the BLM. While the recent roundup and auction was a bit larger than usual, there is nothing new about the roundup and sale. It reduces the wild population of horses to protect the native species and habitat, as the horse population regularly exceeds the capacity of the land. This is both established fact and a regular occurrence. The rules regarding the disposition of the wild horses (and burros) are strict, with the sale to any individual or entity associated with slaughter, or processing for other purposes is strictly forbidden. But a story began with a page that only posts conspiracy theories and inflammatory (often explicitly fictional) stories, that these horses were being sold to meat processors in Mexico (the story has grown to match wherever meat is being imported to the US from…). At minimum, the claim is implausible. But it quickly began to get traction, becoming fully viral after the announcement of a temporary lifting of import tariffs on beef. Soon the story morphed into these horses being processed and returned as “ground beef” under this “deal”. So an utterly improbable and illegal claim based on an un-cited “report”, which has now changed its facts repeatedly, is the foundation of widespread claims that have even been picked up by local major network affiliates. Yet almost none bothered to fact-check the claims, instead copying and pasting nearly identical language from the original social media posts.

The truth doesn’t matter. I could continue with the whole “Beef” controversy, but it is every bit as filled with propaganda and bovine “byproducts” that I don’t even want to get into the crazy misinformation and blatant lies being published in the name of major players in the Beef industry. Because apparently for many, truth no longer matters.

The Symptoms: Believe Before We Verify

Say something ugly about President Trump publicly, and I can pretty much guarantee, without a shred of evidence, the claim will spread. And people will believe it. Why? Because it matches what they want to believe. So they “believe it” without any concern for validation. This is exactly the reason behind slander and libel laws. A reputation or name is damaged easily. And in our politically-charged world, doing damage to those you don’t like is far more important than any concern for truth. And since the slander and libel laws are quite difficult to enforce, requiring costly litigation for questionable gain, and when reputation isn’t something that can be repaired with a paycheck, we see accusations and claims go on without consequence.

I saw a recent news story of a church staff member who is the first person arrested under Kentucky’s new legislation to deal with “child grooming”. I pray the man gets a fair trial, and if guilty, he receives the condemnation of the justice system he deserves. But at the same time, replies to same new report included claims by people that his crime (assumed guilt) is common in EVERY church, without exception. And a startling number of people agreed and even began reposting that claim. When you hate “church”, then any negative claim will be easy to believe, because you want to believe it. Facts don’t matter.

Another story of a young black man, who has spent the last 6 years of his life going through the legal processes due to being accused of rape. He was a promising high school senior when he was accused and arrested. But now, the charges have been dropped and he has been set free. 6 years, all based on a now admitted false accusation by the claimed victim. Too many were willing to believe he was guilty with nothing more than a claim (by an unreliable witness). Might it have been his skin color? Maybe. But that doesn’t negate the injustice of many who were willing to consider him guilty before he even went to trial, and the fact that he can never get back that 6 years taken from him, nor fully restore his reputation. So much for “innocent until proven guilty in a court of law”.

The Fuel: Pride, Tribalism, and Intellectual Laziness

We want to make “our side” the winner. And when confronted with facts, we deflect and refuse to admit our error because we are prideful creatures. Ever had an argument with someone who, when presented with the receipts, avoided admitting they were wrong, instead going on the attack resorting to personal attacks, name calling, or general ugly behavior? That’s from pride. This was put on great display in the “COVID Period”, and is the reason that those now proven wrong in their words, claims, and actions rarely apologize, rarely repent, and almost never admit they were wrong. Pride won’t let them.

But there is also this thing called tribalism, or in the case of a larger demographic or national division, called Balkanization – where massive division has been used to radically separate groups along political, ideological, or other lines. Our nation is a troubling example of this, where those labeled “right” and “left” or “Socialist” vs. “MAGA”, or any other set of labels you can come up with, are targets for anything that will inflame and rage one side or the other. And our nature is, if it makes the “other tribe” look bad, then we believe it by default. The broadcast/mainstream media has mastered this division and fuels it constantly as a means of both intentional division, and to bolster viewership (or website hits). There is a direct conflict of interest, but those consume with tribalism don’t care. And the cycle continues. Big Oil vs. Consumers. Big Beef/Meat Packaging conglomerates vs. consumers. Data Centers vs. rural communities. And among the most egregious in light of Scripture: the hate based on skin color or ethnicity. Regardless of the dichotomy you are on, propaganda and rage posting of claims and stories that make the “other side” look bad are, by default, treated as gospel truth.

The Enablers – Social Media and Modern “Journalism”

There was a time when it was difficult to hide behind anonymity while attacking others. And while the media in this nation has never been free from bias and even active participation in propaganda and narrative control, current technology and platforms have removed almost all inhibition regarding posting questionable or baseless claims and nonsense stories. The media now hides behind “unnamed sources” and generic “sources report”, without any a need for actual citation of said sources. There is nearly zero accountability for the media of today. So when we add in the perceived anonymity of social media platforms, we have heartbreaking examples like the unfolding scandal surrounding G3 Ministries and Pray’s Mill Baptist Church. In 2025, the ministry rightly condemned its founder, Josh Buice, after discovering he had operated anonymous social media accounts to attack fellow pastors and Christian leaders—a practice the ministry itself described as sinful, divisive, and slanderous. Yet a year later, (and no small irony) allegations surfaced that members of the very leadership who had condemned that behavior were themselves involved in anonymously distributing damaging accusations against another pastor while concealing their identities. The resulting fallout has been devastating, including the resignation of the Pray’s Mill elders who were directly involved in spreading the attacks. (Protestia)

My point is not to relitigate every allegation. Others will do that. My point is much simpler: if Christians—especially pastors and church leaders—become comfortable with anonymous accusation, rumor, and trial by public opinion, we have abandoned the very truth we claim to defend. If anyone should be known for careful speech, honest evidence, and refusing to bear false witness, it should be those who bear the name of Christ.

The Cost: A Society that Cannot Trust

This rejection of truth, and intellectual laziness that refuses to discern before becoming willful distributors of lies, propaganda, and false accusations, makes us among sinners with a problem. Christians are supposed to present a hope of something better than the wicked disdain for truth of the lost world around us. We wonder why churches no longer have a significant impact on our culture – and often are more distrusted than even our government institutions. Could it be because many have failed to be lighthouses of truth? Could it be because we don’t hold ourselves or each other to a higher standard?

If our society can’t trust Christians and the church, then should we expect them to trust… anything? When what we see in the media is so frequently misleading or even flatly wrong – what can we trust? or are we content to just keep regurgitating lies, myths, libel, and false witness to suit our agendas?

The Cure: Love Truth More than a “Win”

In a culture where we like to “win”, what cost are we willing to pay to score a “victory”? Whose name or reputation are we willing to destroy, even using lies to do it, for the sake of winning an argument, an election, a personal win?

I have witnessed way too many marriages, families, communities, and churches divided and destroyed because truth no longer mattered to them. But we should want and seek the truth, no matter where it leads – even if it proves us wrong. And if we truly “love the LORD our God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, and all your strength“, and also see Christ’s follow-up second “Love your neighbor as yourself”, then we don’t blindly accept every claim, every story, every statement as truth. Because if we love the LORD, if we love His church, if we love our neighbors (with a right understanding of that term), then we won’t be so ready to accept every clickbat, rage post we see on the internet.