There are moments when silence becomes complicity. I firmly believe we are living in one of those moments.

We are living in a time when truth is not merely contested, it is routinely discarded. Falsehood is no longer something to be ashamed of; it is wielded as a tool of power. Lies are seen as an acceptable means to an end. Perhaps most troubling of all, many who claim the name of Jesus have grown comfortable with it.

We live in a time where one of the most visible (and powerful) political leaders made over 30,000 false or misleading claims in his first four years in office! As this leader entered a second term, that pattern did not slow. Reports have noted that this leader is consistent in keeping pace with false and misleading statements the second time around. On his first day of his second term, he told at least 20 lies. 

Let’s be honest…we’ve all told our fair share of lies. But 20 per days is dizzying. How can one even keep up with that volume of lies?

This isn’t partisan commentary. This is a crisis of truth. The deeper crisis is not simply that a political leader lies…it is that so many are willing to accept, defend, and repeat those lies. 

Here’s the deal…Jesus does not leave us wiggle room here. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6) Not a version of the truth. Just the truth. To follow Jesus is to commit ourselves to truth in word, in spirit, and in practice.

Scripture is unflinching. In John 8:32, Jesus proclaims, “You shall know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” The author of Ephesians, in the 25^th verse of the 4^th chapter says, “Putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors.” The wisdom literature of the Bible is full of thoughts on telling the truth, including Proverbs 12:22 which states, “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord.” 

The biblical witness does not treat truth as optional. As followers of the Way of Jesus, neither can we.

Here is a hard truth we must face: The greatest threat is not that politicians lie. The greatest threat is that the Church stops caring.

When Christians excuse dishonesty because it serves their preferred outcomes…When we share misinformation because it confirms what we already believe…When we defend what is false rather than confront it…We are no longer bearing witness to Jesus. We are bearing witness to something else entirely.

That should trouble us. Once truth is sacrificed, everything else eventually follows…justice, compassion, integrity, even faith itself become optional.

Scripture commands us not just to tell the truth, but to discern it. “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” (1 John 4:1)

Discernment requires effort. It requires courage. It requires a willingness to resist the pull of our own biases and the pressure of our communities. It requires the courage to admit when we are wrong. It requires the humility that allows others to change. It requires a commitment to be a people of honesty and integrity. 

Paul writes: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God.” (Romans 12:2) In the spirit of honesty, let’s go ahead and admit that many of us have been conformed more by cable news, social media, and political talking points than by the teachings of Jesus. We have traded discernment for outrage. We have traded wisdom for foolishness. We have traded truth for talking points and slogans.

If we are serious about following Jesus, then we must reclaim truth as a core practice of our discipleship. We must tell the truth, even when it costs us. Integrity is not situational. If something is false, we name it as false…even when it comes from leaders we support.

We need to stop spreading what we have not verified. If we would not stake our reputation on its accuracy, we should not share it. Period. We need to examine and name our own biases. We are all susceptible to believing what we want to be true. Discernment requires humility and self-examination.

As followers of the Way of Jesus, we must stay rooted in Scripture, not slogans. God’s Word is not a prop for our opinions. It is a light that exposes them. Psalm 119:105 reminds us, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” 

We need to quiet the noise around us so we can listen for the voice of the Spirit. Jesus promises: “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” (John 16:13). We must be willing to listen and willing to be led somewhere we did not expect. We must be willing to stand apart and even alone. Truth-telling will put you at odds with people. Even people in our own churches. Faithfulness has always carried that cost.

The Church does not exist to echo the culture. The Church exists to bear witness to the truth. Not a watered-down truth. Not a convenient truth. But the kind of truth that sets people free. Too many churches and church leaders just share “happy go lucky” messages that keep people content and feeling good about themselves. Maybe there is a time and place for that. But this simply is not the time!

This is not the time to soften our language or blur the lines. If we cannot name lies as lies, we have already lost our way. If we cannot discern truth from falsehood, we are not being formed by Christ. If we cannot commit ourselves to truth, we cannot claim to follow the One who is Truth.

The world does not need more noise. It needs a Church that refuses to trade truth for power. A Church that refuses to baptize falsehood. A Church that still has the courage to live and speak in the light.