2017: The year of Alt-truth? You have a choice.

Will things look different in 2017?

Some people say they were glad to see the back of 2016.  The cry went up: ‘The Curse of 2016 Strikes Again’ whenever yet another well-loved celebrity died.  It was also a year of political developments which left lasting scars on our nation, not least in allowing those who wish to abuse migrants or their descendants to believe this is justified by the Brexit referendum result (much to the horror of many who voted for Brexit, it must be said). Something in the air has changed. On a practical level, there is continuing uncertainty about our future relationship with Europe, but there is also a new tone emerging in political debate, and not only in the UK.

We allegedly now live in a “post-truth” era. Politicians can, with a straight face, disparage the idea of taking advice from experts.  The phrase ‘Brexit means Brexit’ is said as if there is agreement about what the exact outcome of Brexit will look like. Being caught in mistruth after mistruth was no barrier to Donald Trump becoming President-elect of the USA.  Whatever our political opinions, shouldn’t we be worried about this revision of the honoured place of truth in political discourse?
At his trial, Jesus explained to Pontius Pilate, “For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.” (John 18:37b).

Cat unimpressed with lying food labelling:
Did not contain any actual tiger.

Christians know Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life.  Accepting that there is such a thing as truth is important.  It reminds us there is something bigger than ourselves, and if we take truth seriously it will inform our attitudes and actions.  Truth offers something solid, something to be relied upon, something to anchor our lives to.  So, do we accept that truth is something worth pursuing, worth allowing to set the course of our lives? Or, as Pilate did in response to Jesus, do we simply shrug dismissively and say, “What is truth?” (John 18:38) and allow the loudest, brashest, most populist voices to set the tone and direction this year, telling people what they think they want to hear, unencumbered by the notion of truth?   And on a personal level, if we follow The Way, The Truth and The Life, we allow something bigger than ourselves, bigger than the times and tides of human history to set the course of our lives.

As we peer into the beginnings of 2017, we don’t know what lies ahead. But we should walk onwards determined to take truth seriously.  My advice? Be well-informed. Question the truthfulness of what you hear and read, whether it be from politicians, pundits, broadcasters, the press or that bloke down the pub.  Do not assume that someone is telling the truth simply because you agree with what they are saying.  And if 2017 reveals itself to be yet another flaky, unreliable year and our world changes in ways which make you feel trapped by events way beyond your control, I commend Jesus, The Truth, to you.  If you follow Jesus and keep his words, then, Jesus says, “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31b-32). So choose truth, choose freedom, this coming year and forever. Amen.

Written in December 2016 for the Masham & Area Parish Magazine (Jan-Feb 2017 edition). Decided to publish it online after receiving positive feedback and seeing how President Trump, Iain Duncan Smith and others have proven my worries that this would be a growing theme were well founded.