“Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’

‘What is truth?’ retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, ‘I find no basis for a charge against him.’ ” (John 18:37-38, NIV)

While some doubt the sincerity of Pilate’s question, it’s an appropriate one to ask in the midst of confusion, anger, and violence. With sincerity in our own hearts, I believe it’s the question we need to wrestle with today before we begin to talk about social, political, and ethical issues. Never before have I had so many conversations with people who were confused about a news item that occurred at a particular time and place.

Events that are public and photographed from many angles can have contradictory explanations, and we cannot begin to talk about a “Christian” or “biblical” response to any news item if we cannot agree on what the truth is about that particular situation.

History is complex, and interpretations about causality and intent in history are what keep people like me employed. We write history books that offer interpretations.

Of course, we sometimes have had strong ideological interpretations of events or even periods of history, and these interpretations often come at the cost of the lives and reputations of people. This tendency is not unique to any one culture. But one well-documented example that comes to mind as a historian of Asia is the so-called “comfort women” used by Japanese soldiers in the Pacific War of World War II. This was not an abstract “idea” but a cruel practice whereby women (often Chinese) were basically enslaved and then used and abused by Japanese men. Often, Japanese textbooks removed this history, as well as the cruelty of the Japanese in places like Nanjing in the Nanjing Massacre.

This happens all the time: telling a history that erases the sins of “our” people while highlighting the sins of others.

When I was growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio, there were riots in the city streets. I remember driving downtown and seeing buildings burned out and cars overturned. We can research the causes of such anger and violence, but we know that it happened. We had three places to find the news in those days, and most were generally reliable because they competed to get the story first and report it accurately: ABC, CBS, and NBC.

Today, we can find “news” in literally thousands of places; in fact, we can curate our news feeds to receive only those news stories that cater to our comfort, prejudices, and predispositions. The “news” we choose can reinforce our prejudices or insecure thinking. We can opt out of listening to or reading what we do not want to hear. This is a serious problem that feeds into our fallenness and reinforces our sinful nature.

The Bible, on the other hand—this is where I like the word inerrancy or the God-breathed Word—is the one source of eternal truth that gives us eyes to see and understand ourselves and the world around us. It is completely reliable. I do not know how best to apply this principle in each situation, but I do know that we are our best selves and most fully human when we read the news through the lens of scripture. What do I mean by this? We read with humility and grace. We read to find the truth and to be patient in finding the truth. We read carefully and in the context of the viewpoints of our brothers and sisters.

When we pray, we are to pray “Our Father,” not “my Father.” We pray and read and study in community. To carry this analogy further, I believe in coenobitic (community) monasticism rather than anchorite (solo or alone). We are made to be in relationship with families and in church communities: two basic human institutions ordained and blessed by God.

Here is my challenge: earnestly search for the truth in the news together with others of various backgrounds and perspectives. If this is done with a genuine openness to discovering the truth, what you discover may not align with your preconceived views or political party. As you do so, examining news sources together, be reminded that Scripture teaches that every person involved bears the image of God and that we are obliged to love our neighbor—and even our enemies. If someone in your diverse group prefers a source like “Uncle Bob’s Fact Check,” take the time to learn about who he is, what is his area of expertise, and why he should be trusted. Then, together, talk about the news item in play and explore how one can know that what is being reported is how the situation actually unfolded. Take this challenge as an act of obedience to Christ, refusing both ideological certainty and a selective understanding that caters to your particular views.

I have been in many conversations where the discussion is stopped short at the beginning because we don’t know which evidence to accept and which sources to trust. It is like speaking different languages; one person is talking about an elephant, and the other is talking about a monitor lizard.

As Christians, we should be seeking the truth in every situation—humbly and together—because we live for the One who is Truth. “Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, NIV)

Let us pray: Jesus, give us patience, humility, and love for others as we seek to be faithful followers of you in this anxious and contentious world. Lead us into your truth, and give us minds to think like you, ears to hear with you, and love for our friends, neighbors, and enemies as we seek to be your sent ones in this fallen world. Amen.

Dr. Scott W. Sunquist, president of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, is author of the “Attentiveness” blog. He welcomes comments, responses, and good ideas.