Don't Jump to Conclusions

Question: Do you believe everything you read on social media? Answer: Of course not! But why is it then that so many people descend into the wormholes of conspiracy theories, simply because they've stumbled across something that fed their own prejudices? How often has someone been hung out to dry in the court of public opinion, only for us to discover, when the facts eventually came to light, that they were completely innocent? Come on, how often have you done that? Alfred Dreyfus was a Jewish French army officer. In 1894, he was falsely accused of treason. The evidence against him was flimsy at best, but the army, the public and the media rushed to judgment. They didn't seek out the full facts; they simply accepted what they'd been told. Meanwhile, the real traitor remained free. It took years of perseverance, careful investigation and courageous voices to uncover the truth and exonerate Dreyfus. But by then, deep wounds had been inflicted on French society. Proverbs 18:15-17 Wise people want to learn more, so they listen closely to gain knowledge … The first person to speak always seems right until someone comes and asks the right questions. We're all, at times, tempted to rush to judgment; to accept opinion as fact; to bolster our self-esteem by accepting something as truth, simply because it supports what we've always suspected. But wise people always want to learn more, so they listen closely to gain knowledge. The first person to speak always seems right until someone else comes along and asks the right questions. Be a learner. Be a listener. Ask the right questions. That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.