All your commands are trustworthy;help me, for I am being persecuted without cause.In the original Hebrew language, David puts the word for trustworthy (literally faithful) up next to the word for without cause (literally falsehood). Putting them back to back emphasizes they are direct opposites.
Psalm 119:86
The faithfulness of God's commands stand in direct opposition to the false witness of the persecutors who oppose his commands - and his people. This is a highly important concept in today's culture of "truthiness" and "fake news".
What distinguishes fake news from true news is not whether it lines up with your preconceived notions. It's not about whether it supports your agenda or your politics or even your religious opinions.
It might be better to describe the conflict as faithful news versus unfaithful news.
- Is this information faithful to actual truth, actual facts?
- Will this information continue to prove faithful to actual truth, or is it too dependent on current culture and popular opinion to reliably stand the test of time?
- Is the person sharing this information basing it on actual knowledge or research? Or is this second or third hand news.
- Does the person sharing this information place a high value on faithfulness to the truth? Or are they more faithful to their agendas, platforms, and prejudices?
It's pretty easy to read that list of questions and begin pointing fingers at those people. You know, those people who you disagree with.
But you'd better take another look at the list and make sure your own faithfulness to the truth isn't compromised.
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