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| "I shall consider it." |
I have two recommendations for Christian disciples as they interact with information in the fractured information maelstrom that surrounds us:
1. Assess information from a variety of alternative sources with different perspectives. A sober assessment of their claim and the underlying source material will be helpful in making well-reasoned inferences, allowing one to approach the truth of some current event. We should afford one another the liberty to share what we find with others, to discuss it, and to consider one another's opinions, alongside what scripture has to say on the matter (Proverbs 11:14). By this we may, "Prove all things: hold fast that which is good." (I Thessalonians 5:21). Approaching the truth may take some time given the sheer volume of information that surrounds us and the inconsistent or unreliable nature of many sources.
2. Resist the zealous urge to quickly declare some new information"good." To credibly endorse something as "good" requires a measure of due diligence on our part to ensure we're not putting our stamp of approval on milk that's well past its expiration date or, worse still, offering it to others for a hearty swig. I've seen people reverse Paul's admonition to the Thessalonians by insisting, "Here's something GOOD!" long before they've proven any such thing. When encountering some idea on social media we should mimic Spock's measured response to Kirk in Mirror, Mirror: "I shall consider it."
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