A FACT is information without emotion.
An OPINION is information shaped by experience.
IGNORANCE is an opinion without knowledge.
And STUPIDITY is an opinion that rejects facts.
My Commentary:
“A fact is information without emotion. An opinion is information shaped by experience. Ignorance is an opinion without knowledge. And stupidity is an opinion that rejects facts.”
Those words are provocative, but they point toward an important truth: we must learn the difference between what we know, what we believe, and what we merely want to be true.
We live in a time when facts and opinions are often treated as interchangeable. Social media allows everyone to have a microphone, but having a microphone does not make everything we say true. Repeating something thousands of times does not transform falsehood into fact. This is what we see happening in our world every day.
Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” He also declared, “I am the way and the truth and the life.”
But Christians must be careful. Loving truth does not mean arrogantly assuming that we possess every truth or that everyone who disagrees with us is ignorant. Humility requires us to listen, learn, examine evidence, admit mistakes, and sometimes say three difficult words: “I was wrong.” I cannot remember the last time I heard a person say, “I was wrong.” It has been years.
Faith should never make us afraid of facts. If something is true, we should not fear it. Truth ultimately belongs to God.
And there is another Christian requirement: truth must be joined with love. We can be factually correct and still be cruel, arrogant, or dismissive.
Perhaps before speaking, posting, or arguing, we should ask:
Is it true? Do I know it, or merely believe it?
Am I willing to change my mind if the facts prove me wrong?
A University of Michigan study 8 years ago found that people who believe “truth is shaped by politics” and rely on gut feelings rather than evidence are significantly more likely to believe what their favorite TV host or podcaster tells them is true. And when confronted with the absolute black-and-white truth, they then rely even more strongly on the “truth” that is BASED ON THEIR GUT FEELINGS.
A question remains — can I speak the truth with love?
A wise person does not need to win every argument.
A wise person wants something greater:
To discover what is true — and have the humility to follow wherever truth leads.
How willing are YOU to change your mind if the facts prove you wrong?
YOUR GIFT TO GOD IS HONESTY! GIVE IT!! GOD’S GIFT TO YOU IS THE TRUTH! TAKE IT!!
