We live in weird days. No one can safely predict where the world is headed.
We’re anxious about the future and want to escape it. Ukraine, Israel, Gaza,
Artificial Intelligence, the rule of law, the health of democracy, the shaking of institutions,
the U.S. elections and what follows. Nothing seems stable and dependable. We
thought that when Covid-19 was over, much of our anxiety would ease, but
mental distress is still at pandemic levels. Is it any wonder?

For me, the most troubling feature of modern life is that we have gone full ‘post-truth’.
Since the flourishing of the Internet, we all have access to limitless sources of news.
Further, each of us can, with a bit of tech knowhow, become ‘expert’ commentators on
national and international events, declaring our well-researched and unbiased truth to
the world. (If only the world were smart enough to believe me.)

There are obvious dangers for Christians who venture into the digital marketplace of
ideas and free speech. Arrogance, anger, and divisiveness come to mind. One of the
gravest is the temptation to bend and even disregard truth. We can be so certain of
our beliefs that proclaiming them loudly and clearly becomes a bigger priority
than our allegiance to the truth.

“Misinformation is worse than an epidemic,” says Marcia McNutt, president of the US
National Academy of Sciences.” It spreads at the speed of light throughout the globe
and can prove deadly when it reinforces misplaced personal bias against all trustworthy
evidence.”

Jesus said he was “the Truth.” At the very least this should drive us to think
deeply about the things we read, hear, and post. But with so much information out
there, how do you know what is true and what is either mistaken or, worse, simply
fabricated with malicious intent?

Enter the Sift Strategists! This is collection of digital experts who have created a nice
mnemonic to help us normal folks test the truth of things we read online. They are the
subject of a fascinating and helpful article by Amanda Ruggeri on BBC.com.

Sift stands for Stop – Investigate (the source) – Find (better coverage) – Trace (the
claim to its original context).

So, when you read something on your Facebook or news feed, and it sounds just a bit
too wild to be 100% true, before you believe it or re-post it, SIFT it.

1. Stop reading and think. Does this sound true? Does it challenge your beliefs
or confirm them? (If it confirms your beliefs be aware of ‘confirmation bias’ – we
tend to believe things that confirm what we already believe.) Resist the urge to
rush to judgment and spread the ‘news’ before undertaking the other three steps.

2. Investigate the source. Get onto the Internet and find out more about where you
read it. Are they a reputable source? In other words, do they strive to tell the
truth, and correct themselves when they get it wrong? What expertise does the
person have for making their statement? If it is an organization, do they have a
possible ulterior motive?

3. Find better coverage. Go to a trustworthy fact-checker. If what you have read
is from a left-leaning source, see what the Wall Street Journal or the Washington
Times are saying about that subject. If it is right-leaning, check what the New
York Times or Washington Post say. (These are reputable sources who operate
under traditional media ethics and correct themselves when they are factually
wrong.)

4. Trace the claim to its original context. We want to know whether anything
was taken out of context. Does a photograph state its date and location? If it is a
quote from someone, was anything edited out or taken out of context or, when
you see their full interview or speech, does it seem like perhaps they misspoke in
that moment?

It’s a vast cauldron of information spaghetti out there. But let’s follow the man
who is the Truth and try to speak it, defend it, and expose error. And may God
have mercy on our souls!