TRUTH INVERSION: in coversation
After publishing an article on the inversion of truth—and reflecting on how a prominent South African missionary raised questions on social media about narratives he considered fake news—I received a gracious response filled with pointed questions and comments. These remarks echoed sentiments I’ve often encountered among pro-Israel supporters: the tendency to conflate advocacy for the people of Gaza with being pro-Hamas or even anti-Semitic. The questions raised are legitimate, and I believe they deserve a thoughtful and measured response.
https://thethirdway.org/weaponizing-doubt-the-toxic-practice-of-truth-inversion/
HIS RESPONSE TO MY ARTICLE
Mike, you write… A well-known South African mission leader recently took to social media, claiming that reports of genocide in Gaza are fake, further claiming that mainstream media outlets have admitted to publishing false information. The following incidents were highlighted in his post: etc.
Of course, I did not research and verify this myself, but merely shared the video that presented the information. In my judgment, the video and its information seemed credible enough to believe.
I find that many people—perhaps myself included—have a very one-sided view of the situation in that war. Just as you apparently experience my perspectives as one-sidedly pro-Israel, it is my experience that I seldom see you explicitly pointing out Hamas’s culpability.
The facts are, after all, that the war was started by them, that they do not care about the Palestinians whom they merely use as human shields… That the war and all the tragic deaths in Gaza could have been stopped long ago, if they had not continued with it.
I’ve found a few video creators whose portrayals of the war I experience as very honest and credible. One is “Son of Hamas co-founder Mosab Hassan Yousef.” The other is Douglas Murray.
What is truth and what is lies?
MY RESPONSE
Brother, first of all, thank you so much for your comments and questions. I wish I could elaborate more on each point, but I will keep it concise and to the point.
Secondly, I would like to thank you for your non-aggressive approach in your dialogue Brother. I really commend you for that in the light of this emotional topic. So here goes:
POINT 1: Of course, I did not research and verify this myself, but merely shared the video that presented the information.
MY RESPONSE: This, Brother, is the sin of our time: posting without researching. You, as a mission leader, have a greater responsibility than most people to research, verify and clarify. I do not post one single post without first verifying the content, the author and the context from reliable sources, and then calibrating it with the life and teachings of the source of Truth – Jesus. I spend hours and sometimes day in doing this. Just because an ex-Muslim or ex-Jew or ex-Hamas leader says something does not validate the content or the context. Brother, you need to be more careful.
POINT 2: In my judgment, the video and its information seemed credible enough to believe.
MY RESPONSE: “Seemed” is the key word, brother. As Christians, we cannot influence the thoughts and lives of others by what “seems” to be the truth. It is simply not good enough. My colleague, Andrew Richards, always jokingly said that if your mother says she loves you, first research it. I have researched every single claim made in your post, and you saw that only one was legitimate. It is deceit Brother, when truth is presented as false – and obviously the reverse as well. Israel and Hamas make many claims that are false – this is war. We need to be vigilant.
POINT 3: I find that many people—perhaps myself included—have a very one-sided view of the situation in that war.
MY RESPONSE: You do have a very one-sided view, Brother, and are extremely biased in your selection of information. This is the challenge for you and for me. We are all susceptible to run with agendas instead of seeking the Kingdom first. Once we do that, we start believing the convictions of other people instead of seeking the mind of Christ. I have written articles about Christianity in Israel and the right of Israel to defend itself. I hope this also shows that I seek the Kingdom in both nations as well.
https://thethirdway.org/christianity-in-israel-5-facts-that-will-surprise-you/
https://thethirdway.org/israels-right-to-defend-itself-the-3-laws-of-a-just-war/
POINT 4: Just as you apparently experience my perspectives as one-sidedly pro-Israel, it is my experience that I seldom see you explicitly pointing out Hamas’s culpability.
MY RESPONSE: You have obviously not read all my communication, so let me make this unequivocally clear Brother, once and for all. The attack on 7 October 2023 was an act of terrorism, not only morally and biblically but even as per the definition by the UN. It should be condemned in the strongest terms. I condemn it in the strongest terms. There is no excuse for taking the lives of innocent civilians regardless of who they are – Jew, Muslim, Palestinian, or Israeli. But, even though there are no excuses for acts of terror, there are always reasons – I’ll discuss this in my next point
Secondly, I find it fascinating Brother, that as soon as I stand up for the vulnerable and traumatised in Gaza, I am seen as a Hamas supporter. Christ in His consecration did not mention that He came to earth to support Jews, the Romans, or the Gentiles but the (Luke 4:18) poor, the captives, the blind, the bruised, and to bring the Good news of the Gospel. He did this by attending to the needs of lepers, Samaritans, Jews, Roman centurions etc. He was branded as a friend of sinners for doing this, like those who weep for Gaza are branded friends of Hamas.
If you really want to find Jesus today, you will not find him in the temple in Jerusalem but in the queue of the hungry in Gaza. This does not mean I support Hamas Brother, but I want to be where my Saviour is.
POINT 5: The facts are, after all, that the war was started by them, that they do not care about the Palestinians whom they merely use as human shields… That the war and all the tragic deaths in Gaza could have been stopped long ago if they had not continued with it.
MY RESPONSE: This, Brother, is the lie of the West, and you believe it.
Firstly, even though there is no excuse for the attack on 7 October, there are many reasons. You know as well as I do that nothing in the Middle East happens in a vacuum. I wish I had time to go into the 74 years of suffering, the occupation, the history of segregation, the desecration of the Al Aqsa Mosque, the world-view of honour and shame, the cultural demands of land and the sovereignty of it – and the list goes on. If we condemn the acts of 7 October, as we should, we should also find answers to why it happened. A simple Western response that Hamas hates Israel is not good enough Brother. Israel is also to blame for the attack – maybe even more. Why do pro-Israel supporters never refer to the issues that led up to the tragedy and only to the tragedy itself?
Secondly, oh my word Brother. The infamous excuse that Israel has the right to kill all the civilians in Gaza because of Hamas. How utterly ridiculous is this? It’s like saying the bully has the right to bully the school children because one child refuses to give him his sandwiches.
Israel also deploys its use of missile defence systems, like the Iron Dome, near or within residential areas. This automatically becomes a legitimate target for missiles fired from Iran and places the civilians in immediate and imminent danger. From Israel’s perspective, placing these systems near population centres is necessary because that’s where the threat is aimed. This is generally accepted by many Western governments and media outlets as a legitimate form of civilian protection.
In contrast, when Hamas operates from within civilian areas, Israel and its allies often accuse them of using “human shields” to fight the war. Critics highlight a double standard in how the conflict is framed.
So, while it is TRUE that both sides operate in densely populated areas, the TRUTH of their actions are often applied unevenly. That’s where the charge of double standards gains traction, especially when the consequences for civilians are so starkly different.
Secondly, releasing all the hostages will not stop Israel from destroying Gaza and we all know that. This is not a theory or an assumption. These are words of the commander in chief of Israel Mr. Nethanyahu himself who declared on 13 May 2025 that there is “no way” Israel will halt its war in Gaza, even if a deal is reached to release more hostages.
So, the hostages is not the issue, and it is equally absurd to say that the war could have been stopped if Hamas decided to do so. Israel has broken peace treaties on numerous occasions. For instance, on March 19, 2025, Israel shattered its ceasefire with Hamas by launching a barrage of deadly airstrikes overnight that killed hundreds of Palestinians across the Gaza Strip — and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that “this is just the beginning.”
POINT 6: I’ve found a few video creators whose portrayals of the war I experience as very honest and credible. One is “Son of Hamas co-founder Mosab Hassan Yousef.” The other is Douglas Murray.
MY RESPONSE: Brother, be careful of Mosab Yousef. He might confess that he has accepted Christ but is very far from reflecting the Christ that he accepted. Yousef once tweeted “If I have to choose between 1.6 billion Muslims and a cow, I will choose the cow.” He has stated: “I have zero respect for any individual who identifies as a Muslim.” This is not the words of the Christ that he confesses and is a real concern.
Walid Shoebat, a former Muslim who became a Christian Zionist, has argued that Yousef presents different versions of his beliefs depending on whether he interacts with Anglophone or Arabic media. According to Shoebat, Yousef has promoted Palestinian liberation theology– which is anti-Israel– on Al-Arabiya and the Arabic show Daring Question. He wore a keffiyeh during his interview with Daring Question, and on Al-Arabiya he stated “we will have our victory against Israel” and that “Israel is the problem and as an occupation it needs to end”.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosab_Hassan_Yousef
Yousef is also a man who asked the IDF officially to kill his father. Can we even begin to calibrate that with the life of Christ. He has become a Western trophy and build his reputation not on peace and reconciliation but on hatred and suspicion. Why in the world would any Christian follow a man of the character? Because he was a former Hamas member of because he says he is a Christian? Be careful Brother.
Regarding Douglas Murray. He was raised in a Christian home but his belief in God waned over time eventually disappearing in his late twenties. He sees himself as a Christian Atheist. Why listen to him? Why not listen to the countless Christians in Israel and Gaza who give us a Christlike perspective of what is happening? I’ll tell you why Brother. Because their truths hurt the West and don’t fit our narratives while the likes of Yousef and Murray perfectly fit our agenda
POINT 7: What is truth and what is lies?
MY RESPONSE: There is only one truth by which all other truths should be calibrated – Jesus Christ, the one who commanded us to love our enemies, to forgive those who sin against us and to take revenge by blessing our persecutor. That is truth.
Let me close with a final scripture which applies to any alignment you or I have made:
Marks of the True Christian
- Romans 12:9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
- Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
- Romans 12:11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
- Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
- Romans 12:13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
- Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
- Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
- Romans 12:16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
- Romans 12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.
- Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
- Romans 12:19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
- Romans 12:20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
- Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.