“WHO CAN I BELIEVE” and who is telling the truth?
While writing this article, I had to pause and ask myself why the truths I hold so dearly sometimes differ so sharply from other believers. And how do I know that the truth I claim is truly authentic, truly reliable, and not merely echoing my own biases.
Do I calibrate my personal convictions to the Source of truth, or have I allowed my biases to be navigated by content that sometime contradicts my beliefs? What is the framework I hold to shape my understanding of the truth I believe to be absolute? Simply put, with all the noise out there, with all the different interpretations of truth, what does truth actually mean – not my truth, not your truth, but THE truth?
I have come to the conclusion that truth is found in the Container, not in the content. Or, to put it more bluntly, truth is found in the One who is righteous, not the ones who are right.
Let me explain…
INTRODUCTION
For more than two years — ever since 7 October 2023 — every conversation about the Middle East has carried the relentless undertones of anger, accusations, suspicion, and a deep uncertainty about who to really believe. Meetings, interviews, church gatherings, advocacy circles, even casual conversations all seem to circle back to two persistent questions: Who can I believe? What is the truth?
In an age where videos can be fabricated, testimonies can be scripted, and entire narratives can be engineered by Artificial Intelligence to win our sympathy or our outrage, the ground beneath our feet feels increasingly unstable. The questions that confront us on a daily basis are:
- Who is telling the truth? Is it the pro‑Israel lobbyists or the pro‑Palestine activists? Both claim to be the victim with reliable sources proving both to be so.
- Who can we believe? Which geopolitical giant is “winning the war” — America or Iran? Both claim the same with ample proof.
- Whose narrative do we trust? All are compelling and speaks of justice. And how do we know that what we see, read, or hear has not been shaped by algorithms, agendas, or artificial intelligence?
- What is the truth? Is Hamas and Hezbollah responsible for killing their own people and Israel simply a victim of regional hatred or has Israel become like the people they accuse – a nation in unprovoked conflicts with all her neighbours
These are not small questions. And as they appear most readers would be quick to respond with answers that they have already predetermined to be the truth. The reality is that our predetermined truths often lies at the heart of our moral dilemma of whom we support and how we respond. Does it reflect the truth we believe or the Truth we follow.
The question therefore needs to be reframed: Before we ask what truth is, we must ask who carries truth. Facts, evidence, and statistics alone does not prove truth. Integrity, humility, and moral weight do.
Because truth is not merely a claim — it is a character. It is not merely a statement — it is a source.
Once we identify the Container of the truth, the content becomes self explanatory . And for those of us shaped by the Christian story, truth is ultimately not an argument but a Person:
“I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)
Jesus did not present Himself as merely a revelation about truth; He declared Himself to be the Container of truth: “I AM the Truth.” This is not permission for us to take our own beliefs, biases, and interpretations as a container and force Jesus to fit inside it. It is a call to do the opposite — to place our truths inside His life, His character, and His teachings.
When Christ is the container, the content of our convictions can be rightly discerned. But when the container is not Christ, even accurate facts and correctly quoted Scriptures can be twisted, distorted, and weaponized in the hands of the enemy.
Truth is safe only when it is held in the Container of Truth.
FOUR LAYERS OF TRUTH
In a world drowning in information, outrage, and algorithm‑shaped narratives, we often ask the wrong question: Who is telling the truth? Should be replaced with “Who contains the truth?”
But truth has layers — and not all layers carry the same weight.
There are four layers of truth:
- The Communicator of truth — Who is selling the truth?
- The Consumer of truth — Who is buying the truth?
- The Content of truth — What is the substance of truth?
- The Container of truth — Who holds the truth? This is the deepest layer of truth – The framework that shapes everything else
1. The First Layer: The Communicator of truth
Who is selling the truth?
Here lies the biggest mistake we all make. We all have our preferred sources. And the more we indulge into what we believe to be true, the more we are fed the same narratives over and over again. Our algorithms will never aim to broaden our perspectives, only to solidify them. We start measuring truth by repetition of content with disregard for source and communicator. This layer of truth exists purely because of facts, claims, credibility, and evidence. Little attention is given to the communicator.
Yes, content matters — especially in a world where misinformation fuels conflict, fear, and dehumanisation.
But this layer is still the surface of the ocean. You can win an argument about who is “right” and still lose your neighbour, your compassion, or your humanity. You can gain theoretical truth but still betray theological truth and deny the heart of Christ
We can listen to anyone for information, but inspiration and wisdom require discernment.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (Proverbs 9:10)
2. The Second Layer: The Consumer of truth
Who is buying the truth?
Make no mistake, whether we want to believe it or not, media outlets, influencers, and political commentators see you and me as a COMSUMER, not a seeker of truth.
Media sources are not interested in transforming us into better human beings by providing wholesome Godly perspectives with unbiased reconciliatory information. They are selling a product — truth – and they will use algorithms, emotional triggers, and confirmation bias to keep us buying.
Even Christian commentators are not immune to this. They rely on our bias to keep their product alive. The danger is simple: If we let the world treat us as consumers, we will eventually consume a version of truth that looks nothing like Christ. And when we forget that we are called to be seekers of truth and instead allow ourselves to become consumers of truth, several dangers emerge:
- We stop discerning and start purchasing
- Algorithms begin discipling us
- Emotion replaces discernment
- Even Christian voices can unintentionally exploit our bias
- We risk forming Christ in our image
When we consume truth instead of seeking it, we begin to shape Jesus around our preferences, fears, and political loyalties. This is the opposite of discipleship.
3. The Third Layer: The Content of truth
What is the substance of truth?
Who can we trust with news: Is it CNN? FOX News? Al Jazeera? Amir Tsarfati? Tousi News? Joel Rosenburg? Jerusalem Post? Haaretz? If this is the question we ask, we have already placed truth inside a container that can hold nothing more than opinion.
The failure is not in searching for truth — the failure is in framing the truth we accept into a container that confirms our predetermined narrative.
Jesus did not say He teaches the truth and gave us a moral container to place our own truths in. He said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” He therefore presented himself as THE Container. So whatever we call “truth” must fit within the parameters of Christ – love for enemy, pursuit of peace, overcoming evil by doing good – all the virtues that fit in no other political, religious or cultural box. Only the Container of the risen Saviour
Here is where the Container metaphor becomes essential:
Truth is like a box with foam cut‑outs.
Only certain shapes can fit inside. If the foam is cut in the shape of a hammer, you cannot force a screwdriver into it.
If your container is labelled: “Who is guilty?” your foam cut‑outs will fit comfortably with:
- your biases
- your preferred facts
- your algorithm‑fed narratives
- your prejudices
But if your Container is labelled: “Christ the Container” then only certain foam cut‑out shapes can fit:
- love for enemies
- love for neighbour (Samaritan, Hamas, Jew, Muslim, Hezbollah, anyone)
- prayer for those who seek our harm
- care for the orphan and widow
- forgiveness
- mercy
- justice
- dignity
Suddenly it becomes irrelevant:
- who broke the treaty first
- who killed how many
- who “started it”
Because the container determines the content — not the other way around.
The major challenge when trying to discover truth is by not listening to those who make truth their container and then try and fit Jesus into their molds. The challenge is to listen to those who make Jesus the container and then fit their truths into the molds He created.
4. The Deepest Layer: The Container of truth
What truth leads us toward life, justice, and mercy?
The container is the most important layer of all. More important than content or who communicates it. Our content may differ. Our interpretations may differ. Our sources may differ. But the container must be consistent — and for Christians, that Container is Christ.
The content says: “Fight evil.” The Container says: “Yes — but overcome evil with good.”
Like any container, there are only foam cut‑outs for certain tools.
In the Christ Container there is no foam cut‑outs for:
- fear
- hatred
- bias
- prejudice
- anger
- disunity
In the Christ Container there is only foam cut‑outs for:
- dignity
- compassion
- wisdom
- mercy
- justice
- love (yes, even for enemy)
This is the truth Jesus keeps pushing people towards peace and reconciliation
So, the question remains: What is the truth?
- the “truth” that justifies hatred is not truth
- the “truth” that blinds us to suffering is not truth
- the “truth” that divides neighbour from neighbour is not truth
The truth that matters most is the one that:
- looks at souls before nations
- heals rather than harms
- humanises rather than divides
- calls us to responsibility rather than comfort
- aligns us with God’s character rather than our tribe’s narrative
Or in Scripture’s language:
“The truth that sets you free.”
Not the truth that wins the argument. Not the truth that proves your side right. The truth that frees you to love.
CONCLUSION
Commentators like Tousi TV, Amir Tsarfati, Joel Rosenberg, and countless others may offer informational content. But they must never be allowed to shape the transformational Container of truth.
Only Christ can do that.