Understanding The Times - What is Truth?

Understanding the times – What is Truth?

John Amalraj K

Published in AIM magazine of EFI –April 2019 Issue

“What is truth” asked Pontius Pilate at the trial of Jesus.  But Pilate did not do anything beyond that to find out the truth.  On the other hand insecure of his own political position, he went ahead and condemned an innocent man to death on the cross. (Jn 18:38).  The religious authorities like the chief priest and the elders conspired together to bring false accusations, false testimony and in the end spread a false story on the resurrection of Jesus.   When the guards who witnessed the resurrection reported to the Chief priests everything that happened, they bribed the soldiers and told them to spread a rumor that the disciples came during the night and stole him away, while we were asleep.  (Matt 28:11-15).  Matthew goes on to say that this false story was widely circulated among the Jews even when he was writing the gospel narrative. Luke writes that Jesus himself gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. (Acts 1:3)  After much academic and historical scrutiny and witnesses who died defending the truth of the resurrection of Jesus, we still have many ‘doubters’.  Jesus taught his disciples that if you know the truth, the truth will set you free (Jn 8:32).  

We now live in an era of post-truth.  Some argue that it was post modernists who deconstructed truth to bring us into a society – where we end up questioning historical facts that have been believed for long. (https://newhumanist.org.uk/articles/5296/have-postmodernist-thinkers-deconstructed-truth)  Steph Curry, a famous basket ball player in the US, publicly commented that he has doubts whether man actually landed on the moon.  More than 50 years after the landing of Neil Armstrong on the moon, we have people who believe it was all a conspiracy and fake news.  NASA is trying its best to put out more evidences of the moon landing for ‘doubters’ (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/steph-curry-doubts-u-s-landed-men-moon-nasa-wants).  From creation, human beings have questioned the truth, distorted truth and denied truth.  It is in our human nature to instantly believe what is false and refuse to believe truth. 

Fake News:  A recent survey by Microsoft Company warns that India has the largest circulation of fake news.  The survey reported that more than 60% of Indians have claimed to have seen fake news online against the global average of 57%.  The survey also found out that the spread of online risks is more by the family and friends circle than others.   The problem of misinformation and fake news in India is real.  Last year BBC research also reported that nationalism was driving the furry of fake news in India (https://www.businessinsider.in/india-has-more-fake-news-than-any-other-country-in-the-world).  One of the report said that since the year 2015 more than 90 people were killed by mob lynching due to the spread of fake news circulated on whatsapp by cow vigilantes and others. (https://www.thequint.com/quintlab/lynching-in-india)  Rumours of kidnappers entering the village ended up in the lynching of two innocent men from the neighbouring region and turned ordinary villagers into murderers.  Fake news on vaccinations resulted in one district in Kerala where parents refused to vaccinate their children based on rumours risking the health and well being of their beloved children (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-45140158).  The government has now brought in several measures to contain fake news from spreading.  Recently the social media like whatsapp have taken steps to monitor the spread of fake news and limited ‘forwards’ to just a few.  

A political analyst Yatish Rajawat writes in an article social media is very powerful much more than the traditional media to sway public opinion.  Politicians in recent elections in India and in many other countries have successfully used the social media to win elections.   Just public outrage is not enough to stop the spread of fake news. Hate content or motivated content combined with the power and the reach of social media can sway the narratives unless self regulation or governmental regulation is brought into force (http://www.forbesindia.com/blog/public-good/to-stop-fake-news-outrage-is-not-enough).  

False Accusations, Witnesses and Evidences:  The trial of Jesus by Herod and Pilate was a mockery of all that the Mosaic Law believed by the Jews and the Roman laws laid down by the empire.   The Mosaic Law especially the ‘ten commandments’ specifically mentions that God’s people were told not to give false testimony against their neighbours (Ex 20:16).  The Roman Empire boasted itself of its process of justice given to its citizens.  Yet the chief priests and the elders plotted together to bring false accusations, witnesses and evidences against Jesus (Matt 26:57-67).  Justice was denied to Jesus.  Joseph was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife and had to spend many years in prison before he was released (Gen 39).  The prophets of the Old Testament and the apostles in the early church have often faced false accusations and had to defend themselves.   Many were killed because of false accusations.  The story continues.

In today’s world, accusations of mismanagement, corruption, exploitation, nepotism can easily be spread using social media.  This leads to character assassination of individuals and institutions.  A few decades ago, a famous cricketer Kapil Dev was falsely accused of engaging in match fixing.  He broke down on national television when responding to the allegations and defending himself.  A tearful Kapil Dev has said that a lifetime of his service to cricket ``has been finished by an irresponsible allegation of match-fixing by third parties''. He said ``I will commit suicide rather than take a bribe''.   (https://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/2000/05/07/stories) In the end, he was vindicated but his image was tarnished by those who spread the news.  There are many such stories of those who have been successful but targeted by others out of jealousy by making false accusations. 

The Indian court of law follows the British tradition by asking every ‘witness’ who is to depose in the court to take an oath in the name of God saying that they will “state the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth”.  There are many documents in which solemn affirmations, affidavits, self-attestations and declarations are made by us in the course of our daily life – that many times we forget the Scripture not to speak a lie, give any false evidence or make false declarations. 

The high profile murder case in Delhi of model Jessica Lal was an illustration of how the convicts were able to intimidate the witnesses to their advantage resulting in the High Court delivering a judgment saying that the convict was ‘not guilty’ based on the witnesses and evidences produced in court.  The murder was in 1999 and the judgment in 2006 acquitting all the accused.  Public outrage, mass protest ensured that the High court had to reopen the investigation and trial.  Finally the accused were awarded life terms in the year 2013.  The false witnesses were prosecuted by the courts later.  There are thousands of court cases that do not have the media attention and succumb to false witnesses and evidences.

Freedom & Limitations:  The constitution of India provides freedom of speech as a fundamental right but the right is not absolute (Article 19 of the Indian Constitution).  There are restrictions placed on the same that any speech that attacks the (1) the sovereignty and integrity of India, (2) the security of the State, (3) friendly relations with foreign States, (4) public order, (5) decency, (6) morality, (7) contempt of court, (8) defamation and (9) incitement to an offence etc.,  (https://www.livelaw.in/columns/does-the-constitution-protect-fake-news-142596 ).      Governments around the world have reacted to this menace of fake news in different ways.  Malaysia enacted a law that made the spread of fake news a criminal offence.  It raised a huge controversy since there was no proper definition of what is ‘fake news’ resulting in the likelihood of authorities abusing such power for their own agendas.  The European Union has brought in regulations but encouraged individuals and companies to impose self regulation.  The US government is investing in technology that can detect false information at the source.  The Indian government made an attempt to bring a new regulation but had to withdraw the same due to the controversial clauses introduced.  Last year, in a famous incident an actor cum politician was accused of sharing a derogatory Facebook post on women journalists and the Madras High Court refused to grant anticipatory bail. (https://www.livelaw.in/forwarding-social-media-posts-equal-to-endorsing-it-madras-hc-denies-anticipatory-bail- / )   

Legal Provisions: The provisions under the Indian Penal Code make any spread of false information that results in violence or breakdown in the law and order situation where a criminal action can be initiated by the authorities on a complaint.  When there is character assassination, spreading mis-information and rumour mongering those who are affected must act to protect themselves.  The Indian Penal Code provides a process to prosecute people for defamation as a criminal act under the section 499 and 500.  There are provisions under the law of torts for claiming monetary compensation for defamation as a civil action.   Defamation cases are sometimes used by the powerful to intimidate people who speak the truth and suppress their voice.  But at the same time it is a provision for those who are falsely accused to defend themselves. 

The Information Technology Act passed in 2000 has provided for action against those misusing electronic devices to spread fake news, make false accusations and provide false evidences.  These are used along with the Indian Penal Code depending on the gravity of the action.  Many cities have cyber police appointed and complaints can be made to them to take action against unlawful activities.

The Indian Penal Code section 193 deals with the issues of false witnesses and false evidences.  But it has been very rare that the courts have taken action against individuals who bear false witness or false evidences.  A situation has also risen when witnesses do not come forward to speak the truth as they are intimidated by powerful politicians and anti-social elements and are threatened with death.  Witnesses turn hostile in many cases because of lack of police protection.  In a high profile case from Gujarat called ‘best bakery case’ many witnesses turned hostile and the Human Rights Commission and the Supreme Court had to intervene in the matter.   Many witnesses in criminal cases have been killed since the protection of witnesses is very weak in our nation.  Finally in December 2018, the Supreme Court approved a ‘witness protection scheme’ and asked the governments to follow it until the same is made into a law. (https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-witness-scheme-programme-supreme-court-)

False Prophets:  The church has been faced with its own unique problem.  The increase of false prophets who sway the believers with half-truths and false doctrines have become a menace.  King Ahab of Israel wanted to wage war against the King of Aram.  When the young King Jehoshaphat of Judah came to visit him, he asked him to partner in this battle.  King Jehoshaphat asked the King of Israel to seek the counsel of God through a prophet before going into battle.  King of Israel summoned his prophets who numbered around 400.  They all prophesied “the Lord will give it into the king’s hand”.  But King Jehoshaphat realized that these were false prophets.  So he persisted and found the one true prophet Micaiah, son of Imlah.  However King Ahab hated him for telling the truth.  Reluctantly the King sent for him.  Many advised the prophet Micaiah to speak favourably to the King and speak success.  But the prophet Micaiah said that he will only speak what the Lord tells him. The prophet prophesied death of King Ahab during the battle and was promptly put into prison.  Prophets were known to be either true prophets or false prophets depending on their predictions of the near future.  Surely, Prophet Micaiah was justified and proved to be a true prophet in Israel (1 Kings 22:1-28).  

Jesus warned his disciples that in the last days there will be many false prophets and false messiahs who will come in sheep clothing to deceive all the people even the elect by performing signs and wonders (Matt 7:15; 24:11-24).  Peter warned that there will be false prophets and false teachers who will secretly introduce destructive heresies and deny the lordship of Jesus (2 Peter 2:1).  Apostle John warned that we are not to believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because there are many false prophets (1 Jn 4:1).  

Let us watch out for false prophets among us who attempt to deceive us.  We need to be like the Jews in Berea. Luke writes that the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true (Acts 17:11)

Prophetic Voice:   The church is called to be a prophetic voice to our nation.  We the Christians are called to speak the truth in love to our nation (Eph 4:15).  As the general elections in India draw near, it is the calling of those who worship and follow Jesus Christ to discern the truth from the false.  We are called to bear testimony in a world that wants to believe in fake news.  Paul warned the early believers of falling into the trap of indulging in gossips within the faith community.  He lists gossip as one of the sins that believers must be wary of (Rom 1:29; 2 Cor 12:20).  Proverbs exhorts us that without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down (Prov 26:20).  The scripture taught God’s people not to spread false reports or be a malicious witness, or follow the crowd in doing a wrong, or give testimony in court to side with the crowd (Ex 23:1-3).  

We have a responsibility to stop fake news and information from spreading.  We need to take pre-caution when we use social media and not become instruments that spread false news and accusations.  A popular saying “See no evil, speak no evil and hear no evil” is helpful.  Paul exhorts the early Christians by writing “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Phil 4:8). 

John Amalraj, studied Law, Management and Theology and has served in corporate and mission organization leadership for more than 25 years.  He lives with his family in Pune and reflects on leadership and current affairs to serve as a resource person for churches and missions at large.  

The views expressed in this article reflect the author’s personal opinions and are not necessarily the views of the publisher, editor or any of the associated church, society, institution or organization.