Don’t Cut My Throat

I know it doesn’t sound very pastoral, but I have to admit I really don’t like seeing this guy. Every time I get anywhere close to him, he takes my money. It’s gotten to where my blood pressure goes up when I see him coming. I saw him a few days ago and he had a whole list of things he expected me to do. He told me that if he didn’t see the results he wanted he was going to have someone get a knife and cut my throat!

Yes, that’s a true story!

Every fact in the story is technically true. But as you have already guessed, there is more to the story. The details are correct, but I did not give you an accurate context.

I saw my doctor a few days ago. When I go to his office I have to pay $25.00 because that is the copay for my insurance. When I go to a doctor’s office, I usually have what is informally called “white coat syndrome”. That just means my blood pressure goes up a little because those places make me a little nervous. I had an appointment with my doctor because I had a sore throat. He told me to take some antibiotics for 10 days. Based on where the pain was centered, and some other symptoms, he said the worst case scenario might be a thyroglossal duct cyst. If the antibiotics don’t clear up my problem I will have to have a CTScan. If it confirms the need, he will refer me to a specialist who will do surgery on my throat to remove the gland.

It’s all about the context!

When people want to persuade you politically, they often give you information that is technically true, but out of context. Every time someone tells you what their opponent believes, or what they “heard” from an unnamed source, you should assume you are not getting the full story. Most political posts on social media use this kind of manipulation.  It has become the norm in most political conversations. Regardless of how “normal” it is, that kind of behavior should not be taken lightly. It is not clever, it’s dishonest. It is not smart, it’s disrespectful. I refuse to accept the ridiculous idea that “it’s just politics” or “it’s nothing personal.” Manipulating others is harmful and hurtful. It is harmful to the truth and it hurts the people who are being misrepresented as well those who are being manipulated.

I hope you won’t fall for social media posts or news reports that include facts but take those facts out of context or twist them to represent something short of the whole truth. Don’t listen to people who do that. Don’t read their posts and don’t let them influence you. You deserve to be informed by people who are trustworthy. Trustworthy people are honest, and honesty includes facts that are true and are presented in an accurate context. When you get your advice and political insight from honest, wise people, that advice is invaluable.

Proverbs 20:15 reads, “There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.”