Hi everyone,
I recently had a disagreement with someone who only watches CNN and MSNBC (Channels that seem to be biased against Trump). Throughout the conversation, they repeatedly insisted that Trump is a “bad person.” As we talked, it became clear that their view was largely shaped by the news sources they rely on—sources that often present only one side of the story. Interviews and coverage usually feature voices that already oppose Trump, and little effort is made to offer a fair or balanced view. This kind of repeated, one-sided storytelling can deeply influence how we think about someone.
As Christians, I believe we need to be very careful here. Scripture warns us not to bear false witness (Exodus 20:16), to avoid gossip and slander (Proverbs 10:18, James 4:11), and to speak truthfully. If there’s no real, clear evidence that a leader is doing wrong, I think we should either remain silent or even offer our support, because to speak against someone based on filtered or biased impressions could cause us to unintentionally spread slander.
That said, we also need to be careful on the other side. It's easy to say that if media builds up a leader, at least it's not gossip. And that’s true—praise isn't slander. But even then, we can't leave our discernment at the door. Just because a leader is being praised by the media station that we prefer doesn't mean they're righteous. History reminds us of this painfully.
The German people, for example, were also swept up by positive portrayals of Hitler. They listened to state-controlled media that praised him as a national saviour. Many supported him enthusiastically without asking deeper questions. Over time, that blind endorsement helped enable one of the greatest evils in history. So we need to recognise that the danger cuts both ways—biased negativity can lead to slander, and biased praise can lead to complicity.
So here’s the heart of the matter for me:
1. When does it become our responsibility to discern truth for ourselves and stop blindly trusting what we’re told,- whether that message is for or against a leader?
2. And if the media we're listening to is constantly negative about a leader, at what point do we become responsible for spreading lies, slander or gossip?
We live in a world full of information and opinions. As followers of Christ, we are called to seek truth, walk in humility, and avoid careless speech. That includes what we say about political leaders. I'd love to hear your thoughts on where this responsibility begins and how we can guard our hearts and words in this area.
Grace and peace,
Nathan
Great topic and one I have been thinking about. Your points are all valid though perhaps your criteria to speak is more restrictive.
"In his iconic Gettysburg Address, Abraham Lincoln uttered the now-famous quote, "Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth." These words encapsulate the essence of democracy and serve as a reminder of the fundamental principle on which nations are built: the
power and authority lie with the citizens."
Abraham Lincoln: 'Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.' — The Socratic Method
This is so unlike the many scriptures that imply obedience to the King. Even the US government is divided into branches. Thus, the President is not a King, and thus can and should be subject to constructive criticism even opinions are reasonable speech. Most opinions or preferences that people have too are typically supported by other members in authority. This could be a Governor, The Supreme Court, even a District court judge, or any member of Congress or in some cases a Bureaucrat. Some in government themselves defy other branches. Currently, a Federal District Court does have legal ramifications over what a law and ultimately policy may entail. This irritates many who think power is being usurped. However, until the higher courts rule, the district court still has some power. When the courts especially, the Supreme Court is defied by another branch, it is a constitutional crisis.
In all things, I think that any U.S. citizen should follow the bible first, then the Constitution over any specific leader. However, the caveat is that it is NOT our own interpretation, but rather the highest ruling court at the time.
If one thinks the Supreme Court is wrong that too is subject to change. Congress could be pressured to do something, an amendment can be made, and a future court may overturn that decision as well. Some might also suggest violence as a defense, but that would be rare and up to an individual's Christian conscience.
Ultimately it may be your duty to speak up for the betterment of society. Free speech, though not absolute, is a right afforded to all Americans.
I would say our duties to God are more cumbersome in speech than what the U.S. government allows. We are not to lie, mislead, deceive or have any unwholesome word proceed out of our mouth. We have a conscience and the the Holy Spirit to guide us and we are judged for every word that is spoken. As our duty to God it is important to tame our tongue, to not curse, to not speak evil of any man.
Titus 3:2-3 (KJV)
2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers,
but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful,
and hating one another.
I should mention that gossip is about "Gossip is often defined as sharing information about someone who is not present, typically without confirmation of its truth and often intended to harm their reputation."
I have a great friend who will not allow anyone to speak about another without that person being present. That is a bit extreme but actually better to be silent than to run into trouble. In politics there is much being said that is unknown but as it is about policies or the government and not a person, thus I do not think it is gossip. Opinion too is not gossip. If I say I do not think tariffs will help America that is an opinion. If your opinion contradicts the President I do not see a problem biblically. There are many in power that agree with that.
Silence when government goes wrong can be as bad or worse than any opinion. As you should know many of the things government leaders say are opinion or even false. The idea that leaders are required to lie to advance the interest of the government is embedded in many politicians. Thus, the term "noble" lie. Sadly, it is what they think is noble. Some things about Covid were handled this way.
Speech that causes division in the church is also wrong. In politics though lots of speech is divisive. One might consider the purpose though. "Divisive people tend to draw undue attention to themselves, serving their appetites for recognition."
How To Spot Divisive Speech, Both In Yourself And Others
If self interest, greed, lust, or something outside of love your neighbor is present you probably should remain silent.
Still, do you have an obligation to speak up on occasions? YES All sourced from
Bible Verses About Justice - Justice in the Bible- Shared Hope International
“Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute,” (Psalm 82:3).
“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, and please the widow’s cause,” (Isaiah 1:17).
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).
“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others,” (Luke 11:42).
These scriptures show that you have an obligation. As a citizen you should know policies and what they do. For instance, few may think that putting ethanol in your car promotes starvation.
Food vs. Fuel: Diversion of Crops Could Cause More Hunger - PMC
To me that is bad policy. I rarely speak about it because my opinion does not matter much but I do try to always use pure gas whenever possible.
1. When does it become our responsibility to discern truth for ourselves and stop blindly trusting what we’re told,- whether that message is for or against a leader?
Never blindly trust especially news or government. You don't have time to discern or research everything, but if you have a check in the spirit, look for reasons why.
Micah 7:5 (KJV)
5 Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.
2. And if the media we're listening to is constantly negative about a leader, at what point do we become responsible for spreading lies, slander or gossip?
Politics is a social science where science is dependent on probabilities. it is never exact and rarely if ever is anything proven, because all humans may behave differently and no test can be generalized to "prove" it. So lies are hard to discover if they are based on behavior. Much of what you get is opinions. Having some knowledge helps. The majority opinion is not always right though. Gossip in politics about a person should be avoided unless there is at least some evidence. Today I wrote elsewhere that foriegn policy appeasement switched from Ukraine to Russia under Trump. In a sense I believe that is truthful but maybe I should not have said it? Later, if I find out that Trump gave Ukraine more aid for a rare earth deal, then I probably was wrong. It is not libel though. No one can be sued. I just looked it up and there are opinions about this on both sides. The Guardian calls Trump, Putin's stooge.
Being Putin’s stooge won’t win Trump a peace prize. The Order of Lenin, though, is in the bag | Simon Tisdall
Everyone should adjust their opinions as they have information. Generally, I use qualifiers too. Something like " It seems Trump appeases Russia in regards to the Ukraine conflict.
A better example would be on Biden's mental health.
Americans should have demanded more information and press conferences. Any lack of honesty could harm the nation. Still, it was gossip because most of us could not make a definitive diagnosis based on what information was public at the time.
To sum up, politics and words are hard because everyone has their own biases. The best case is to be objective and not too subjective in what you say. It seems fine to state your opinion especially if you are not doing it for your own self-interest or any party. Never trust any source except God. You never know what is behind the curtain of man's heart. Sadly it is deceitful, who can know? (paraphrase Jer: 17:9)
