Transparency in all things.

Gossip and slander have been weapons of the enemy since the beginning of time. Every major religion condemns them as a core teaching, and scripture is filled with sobering warnings and cautionary tales about their power to destroy.

The damage caused by lies isn’t restricted to those who intentionally mean harm. Sometimes well-meaning people become useful idiots for evil, perpetuating falsehoods that they genuinely believe. But even in the eyes of God, that doesn’t excuse it. It is our responsibility to verify information BEFORE we spread it, even if it comes from a “trusted source.” Every single time.

”A lie can travel halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to put its pants on.” Our media overlords understand this well and they use it against us. They know people readily share things that haven’t been substantiated, and by the time the truth arrives, it rarely travels as far.

This is true whether it’s about politics or people. We must be deliberate and accountable for every word that passes our lips, because sooner or later, we’ll answer for all of them. It might feel harmless to share something unverified with a few people, but as this clip demonstrates, you can never predict the total impact of your actions. And we are fully responsible for every fruit we bear, whether they were intentional or not.

The antidote is transparency. Handling things out in the open, where honest discussion is possible is how we combat the insidious nature of deception.

Truth doesn’t fear the light. Lies do.