Who do we trust? YouTube and video content are devouring everyone’s attention. The beautiful thing is that information, education, and exposure to a multitude of viewpoints are free and available to anyone with a smartphone; information isn’t scarce these days. The negative? There’s so much information that we don’t know who to pay attention to or trust. Conspiracy theories are in your queue next to legitimate science; malicious character assassinations pop up next to legitimate news reporting; bona fide experts who have spent thousands of hours in a specific field are ignored for the charlatan with a slick video. Case in point: Are these drugs helpful or is Big Pharma profiting off people? Or is this homeopathic remedy scientifically legit or just an old wives’ tale?
As we drown in opinions, there is an increasing need to grab hold of a buoy or have a filter that strains out the bogus stuff. Proverbs 1:5 captures our need not only for knowledge but also for discernment: “let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.” (Bolding added for emphasis.) In today’s world, we have a lot of information, but we need discernment to navigate the minefield. What is real, truthful, wise, and life-giving?
1. There is Truth in the World
The biblical view of the world does not believe humans or material existence are the blind products of happenstance, chance, and random evolution. Rather, rational order, mathematical constants, precisely designed molecular machinery, human nature, and moral absolutes are observable realities in the world (Romans 1:18–20). In other words, there is truth out there. If God is true and the source of truth, then we will only find Him through the truth (John 14:6). Therefore, we need to think clearly and critically to live in the truth and to “put off falsehood” (Ephesians 4:25).
2. There Are Credible People
If truth is objective, then some people teach it more accurately than others (1 Timothy 1:3), and some groups of people conform to that standard more accurately than others. There’s a reason, for instance, that Beat Bobby Flay was a popular TV show. If world-class chef Bobby Flay is so good he bests everyone in blind taste tests, then maybe his food expertise is credible, and others can learn something from him. Philosophers, apologists, artists, technicians, scientists, teachers, doctors—some people earn more influence and respect in their field because of the knowledge or acumen of their craft.
Sure, some scientific institutions may be diminishing, or religious institutions may be eroding. However, there are still credible universities, hospitals, and scholarly journals that continue to stay rooted in the truth in their field. Look for institutions and scholars who aren’t just avant-garde but also do expert work with integrity.
3. Find a Credible Guide
Start second-guessing the loud voices and opinions, and look for institutions and scholars whose compass is oriented toward the “truth.” Try to dig below the hype and listen to who the experts take seriously and why. Are they pedaling an agenda? Are they being honest with the public? What are their motivations? As users, we want to be careful who we trust. Who is your spiritual guide? Are they attempting to accurately report their findings for the advancement and service of others or for their own personal gain?
Honest people are usually quick to share their pathway with others for the benefit of others, not for personal gain. If it’s just a “How to fix the plumbing in your house” video, you can quickly detect who they are and how they know what they know. But if it’s signing up for this fitness program by an expert who knows what no one else knows, be skeptical. The fields of science and health, for example, are full of second and third opinions because one person doesn’t have a corner on the market. If someone is trying to convince you that they alone have the secret to success, be skeptical. Truth is something we share, not exploit for our own private gain.
4. Triangulate the Truth
We don’t embrace something as true just because one person said so, or because many people said so. We embrace it because it’s true. Conversely, truth should be something that is openly available for the community to test and observe. It is in the overlap of communal perspective that science generally flourishes. One “how-to” plumbing video probably isn’t enough to help you make your home repair, but four or five “how-to” videos will usually show an overlapping pattern of skills you should be paying attention to. In criminal law, we confirm evidence based on two or three witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15). In science, a theory is confirmed when independent scientists can replicate the process and produce the same results repeatedly. Or, in sociology, a theory is given more weight when other experts confirm the same observations. It’s in the overlapping data where we, generally speaking, confirm something is trustworthy. It’s at the perimeters, generally speaking, where theories are tested and disproved. The more a theory stands up to scrutiny the more acceptance it receives.
5. What Stays and What Goes?
A filter strains out what you don’t want to keep. Every field of human knowledge has a testing process to filter out and throw away information or theories that aren’t true. This acceptance process is also true in the fields of biblical interpretation and theology. Paul himself taught us to “test and approve” God’s will (Luke 11:48; Romans 12:2). Test ideas. And throw away the bad ones. That’s critical thinking.
What do we keep and what do we throw away? As a user, you want to be constantly asking that question. What is accurate and why? What is misleading? What is fact and what is spin? What is personal bias and what is expertise? When gold is refined, you keep heating it and removing smaller and smaller sediments that don’t belong to the purity of the gold. The same is true of our theories and interpretations. Maybe this article contains a lot of truth, but certain statements weren’t entirely accurate. Maybe this theologian has wonderful insight into biblical texts, but his political applications and opinions are suspect.
6. Interrogating
Detectives interrogate criminals. What is this criminal’s alibi? What is the evidence that supports their alibi? Does the criminal’s interpretation of facts synchronize? Detectives probably have their own suspicion of guilt and innocence—who did what, and why? But ultimately detectives need to interrogate the evidence to unearth more data and arrive at a true interpretation of the crime. People with a discerning worldview are in the habit of interrogating. They observe, gather evidence, organize, eliminate, question, and test evidence. They probe for hidden assumptions, alternative explanations, and compelling reasons to change their mind. Lies should have nowhere to hide from the searching light of the truth.
7. Breaking Rank
What price are we willing to pay for the truth? Are we willing to sacrifice anything? Are we willing to feel uncomfortable, embarrassed, disrespected, or abandoned by colleagues or endowments? Are we correctable and accountable? Are we willing to admit and ungrasp our own biases to cling to truth? Are we willing to defy the coercive pressure of others to explore the truth for ourselves: outrage from the media, or our own political party, or a religious supremist, or a family member? Truth will cost you something; it is not free, but it promises to set you free (John 8:32).
We can’t be so naïve that we refuse to give audience to a theory, nor can we be so attached to believing a thing that we can’t expose it to the acid test of interrogation. The ground of propaganda shifts and moves all around us. We have to dig, dig, dig, beneath the assumptions, prejudices, lies, narratives, and weaponized talking points to hit solid, immovable truth. We are searching for the best explanation of the evidence.
8. Conspiracy Theories
Finally, conspiracy theories aren’t devoid of facts. They carefully curate certain facts, yet conveniently neglect others. Popular conspiracies like QAnon, flat earth, or anti-Semitic tropes about a Palestinian genocide are popular because these theories subconsciously feed something that people want to believe—a fear narrative, for example, or a prejudice. This is why we need to listen to our doubters and honest friends, to expose our prejudice and challenge our superstitions.
Conclusion
More than ever, we need critical thinking skills. AI is only accelerating the blurring of the line between what is simulated and what is empirical reality or interpretation. It’s healthy to ask confrontational questions and challenge the process. Christianity is a faith system that embraces the challenge because its truth claims are observable and testable. It’s in the discomfort and struggle that we are forced to search and grow stronger. Our texts teach us to seek and live the truth at all costs. More than ever, that requires that we be discerning and wise. Don’t let others do all your thinking for you. Stay connected to a healthy community. Follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Be deeply rooted in Scripture. And think critically.
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