The Terrible Power of Personal Truth

The tag line for the once popular American television series, “The X Files,” was “The truth is out there.” Sadly this is the tag line for life in the Internet age.

I say sadly because the truth is out there somewhere, but no one can be certain, beyond one’s own interpretation, what exactly constitutes the truth. Were this simply a scholastic exercise it would be fascinating. Unfortunately the alarming rate at which the truth is brought to us in contrasting forms leads inevitably to societal mistrust, distrust, and dissatisfaction. Individuals, causes, and governments have every opportunity, thanks to these societal ills and the easy access to the Internet, to guide the thoughts and feelings of the public.

Reporters covering the February 2014 eruption of violence in the Ukraine complained that it was very difficult to find the truth because both sides in the conflict were using modern technology to falsify events. One reporter said the government ignored or played down unrest during news broadcasts. Another discovered that a photo ostensibly featuring Ukrainian protesters linked arm in arm across the landscape in a display of solidarity had actually been taken during an event in Spain years earlier. It seems the end justifies the means.

Also disturbing is the increasing trend to cover events ideologically. Both the left and the right sift through reports from the field, printing or airing only those that support the outlet’s ideological underpinnings. With the nation split fairly evenly between conservatives and liberals this serves to widen the gap between the two sides. For the most part this leads to hate mail, insinuating tweets, and blogs feeding vitriol to the choir. But where might this lead?

One television commentator, after watching footage of the conflict in Kiev, asked the question, “Could this happen here?” Following the Boston Massacre, Paul Revere created an engraving that historians believe was less than accurate. His depiction of the event, with British soldiers in formation apparently under orders to fire into a crowd of civilians, was proof enough for those in Boston who were already predisposed to believe the worst of the British. Revere’s engraving, along with accounts by Sam Adams and others, fomented hostilities between Britain and the colony.

Today’s engravings are photo-shopped images, the accounts blogs by professed experts and impartial bystanders. The battle is already being played on the Internet, in the blogosphere, and in the twitterverse.

Love the Sinner

There are those who believe that homosexuality is not a sin. They may listen politely to arguments that the Bible insists that it is indeed sin, but then respond with “Oh, those references are to cultural norms of the times the books of the bible were written in. Those verses don’t apply anymore."

There are those who see homosexuality as a sin, and rail against those who practice it, and condemn them publicly. Their revulsion to homosexual behavior overwhelms them to the point that they elevate the sin so much that it seems worse to them than so many other sins.

I would suggest a third option.

Homosexual activity is sinful in the eyes of God. We cannot pretend that parts of the Bible do not apply anymore, or claim that anything we disagree with falls into the category of ceremonial law when it obviously doesn’t. But neither is it more sinful than adultery, fornication, or any other sin.  Sin separates us from God. In its bondage we are all equal.

I would not tell the homosexual community their activities are acceptable, but I would not tell them they are any less worthy of Christ’s love either.

And while its not our place to condemn the sinner, its not our place to accept the sin either.

Where are you, Google?

I have never really given any thought to Google as a corporation. I’ve used the Google web browser so often and successfully that for me, like many, Google has become a verb and a noun. Don’t know the answer to a question? Google it. When our son-in-law and I are talking and we can’t agree on the particulars of a given topic its not surprising to the family to hear us say to each other, “To the Googles!” as we whip out or smart phones and begin a web search.

But Google the corporation is much more than a web browser developer. Google has its tendrils wrapped around software and hardware for phones, computers, and your home. It had gross revenues of nearly $60 billion dollars last year.

The Menlo Park corporation, has a reputation for innovation not just in the marketplace, but in the workplace as well. Employees are encouraged to take time out of their day to enjoy the amenities installed in their headquarters, like billiards, ping pong, video games, and more.

But Google is not satisfied with being an influence on their employees. Google is intent on influencing society. In 2008, it publicly opposed Proposition 8 in California, which banned same sex marriage.  To prove they were serious Google donated $140,000 to the cause.

And now in a show of support for homosexuals in Russia, the Google logo has been decorated with the colors of the homosexual rainbow flag, ostensibly to show opposition to violence against homosexuals in the former Soviet Union.

Please note: I oppose the violence as well. While I believe the Bible teaches that Homosexuality is a sin, I also believe that since it is so we are to show compassion on those involved in it. I believe God’s word makes it clear: We may hate the sin, but we are commanded to love the sinner, regardless of the sin. Homosexuality is no more sinful than adultery or theft, or anything else that is contrary to the will of God for our lives. I would not condone mob attacks on adulterers or thieves anymore that I would on homosexuals.

But I want Google to answer this.

Where is their support for the thousands of Christians left homeless by rampaging jihadists in the Middle East and Asia? Where is the outrage over the thousands who have lost their lives simply because they do not worship Allah?

C’mon Google. As the old British saying has it,  “In for a penny, in for a pound.”