The Epidemic Of One-Sided Stories
T A L K Informed By Biblical Fair Hearing
By Bishop W. F. Houston Jr. | C H O F Ministry
🎯The One-Sided Stories Epidemic
The average Christian in America is likely to encounter numerous narratives in their lifetime, many of which will be one-sided, incomplete, or outright false. You’ve heard the expression: “There are two sides to every story.” You’ve also likely witnessed what happens when stories are told with only one side.
Fake news, social media platforms, church cliques, workplace dramas, and familial divides—all create a pressure-cooker for opinion-forming and information-sharing based on incomplete pictures. As a result, first coming across a story and then retelling that story have become the normal first response in any situation rather than a violation of God’s original plan for a society steeped in biblical truth.

73% - of people have formed opinions based on a headline

68% - admit to sharing a story or news without verifying its legitimacy

84% - of all conflicts are caused by miscommunication

91% - of people say they want to be heard during a conflict

The first to state their case in court seems right until the cross-examination begins.
— Proverbs 18:17

Impact of One-Sided Stories on Human Relationships
🏛️ Biblical Case for Fair Hearing

📖 The Deuteronomy Principle
"Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of anyone, for judgment belongs to God." - Deuteronomy 1:17
God does not rush to judgment without a full and fair investigation. This principle should be applied not just in courtrooms but in our everyday interactions.

⚖️ The Solomon Standard
King Solomon's wisdom in 1 Kings 3: 16-28 created a space for truth to reveal itself. He did not just listen to both women's competing claims; he allowed the conditions for the real motives to be exposed.
Modern Application: Before forming an opinion or making a decision in conflicts, we must create space for the truth to be revealed.

👂🏿 The James Methodology
"Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." - James 1:19
The three-step biblical formula:
• Quick to Listen: This involves giving priority to understanding what others have to say before they finish.
• Slow to Speak: This refers to the process of taking a few moments to think through what has been said before saying anything in return.
• Slow to Anger: This is about controlling emotional responses during conflicts.
The Biblical Fair Hearing Process
🎭 Anatomy of Modern Character Assassination
In our digital age, character assassination can go from hushed hallway conversations to headline news in a matter of seconds. The typical anatomy of one form of character assassination is this:
🎯 The Assassination Process
1. The Original Event: A real or perceived offense occurs.

2. The Initial Sharing: Only one side of the story gets shared.

3. The Echo Chamber: Like-minded individuals or groups reinforce the narrative.

4. The Character Leap: One incident or attribute is extrapolated to define the whole person.

5. Digital Immortality: The story lives on online even after it's been addressed.

6. The Defensive Shell: The person accused or affected withdraws or reacts defensively.
This one-sided process not only violates multiple biblical principles; it often destroys relationships that proper biblical conflict resolution could restore.
Social Media's Impact on Story Sharing

💡 Philosophical and Theological Reflections
The one-sided stories epidemic is not just a social issue. It is also a theological one that goes to the very heart of how we understand truth, justice, and human dignity.

🧠 Epistemic Humility
True wisdom always recognizes the limitations of our perspective. Epistemic humility (the acknowledgment that our understanding is always incomplete) should motivate us to seek further information before making judgments. This is a biblical principle because it reflects the character of Christ, who “sees all things” even as we still “see as through a glass, darkly” (1 Corinthians 13:12).

⚖️ Restorative vs. Retributive Justice
God’s model for justice (mishpat) is not retributive but restorative. It seeks to set things right rather than inflict punishment. One-sided stories tend to fuel retributive desires, while the biblical principle of fair hearing creates space for the former.
👥 Imago Dei and Human Dignity
Each human being bears the image of God (imago Dei), which means every person deserves to have their full story heard before any final judgment is made. When we make judgments based on limited information, we are not honoring the image of God in that person.
🎯Practical Action Steps for Biblical Fair Hearing
🛑PAUSE Before Reacting: When someone shares a story about someone, we should always pause and ask: “Have you spoken to them directly?”
❓ASK Clarifying Questions: We should ask questions like: “What might be their side of the story?” “What context might I be missing?” “What good can come out of this?”
🤝FACILITATE Reconciliation: Rather than taking sides, offer to help facilitate a conversation between the parties involved.
🙏🏿PRAY for Discernment: We should pray for God’s wisdom and perspective on any given conflict situation.
📱RESIST Social Media
Sharing: Don’t contribute to the viral spread of one-sided stories on social media without verifying facts and getting all parties' permission.
💬SPEAK Life-Giving Words: When speaking of or about a conflict situation, we should always choose words that bring life.
🌍 Cultural Transformation Through Biblical Fair Hearing
Imagine a world in which Christians lead the way on the principle of biblical fair hearing. What if churches became known not for our ability to quickly judge and reject but for our commitment to seek out the whole truth? This is not only an idealistic Christian dream; it’s a biblical command and a practical possibility.
The Ripple Effect
When believers commit to biblical fair hearing:

• Families experience less drama and more healing

• Churches become safe places for confession

• Communities see Christians as peacemakers, not judges

• Workplaces benefit from our conflict resolution skills

• Social media becomes less toxic by our example
“In a world where everyone speaks but few listen, the believer must become a sanctuary of biblical fair hearing—not to validate our own opinions but to honor the image of God in each person’s story.” — Bishop W. F. Houston Jr.
🎯 Becoming Agents of Fair Hearing
The ministry of fair hearing is not optional for followers of Christ—it’s essential. Before you go, I challenge you to:
📝This Week's Commitment:

• ✅ Make a commitment to hear both sides before forming an opinion or conclusion on any given conflict situation

• ✅ Practice the "24-hour rule" before sharing any story that involves other people

• ✅ Commit to asking, “How can I bring healing?” rather than, “Who’s right?”

• ✅ Seek to become known as a peacemaker in all areas of your life

🌟Igniting Faith, Elevating Wisdom, Transforming Lives 🌟

C H O F Ministry: Where Truth and Grace Meet
© 2024, C H O F Ministry. All rights reserved. Original content by Bishop W. F. Houston Jr.