Over the years, we all have witnessed fast moving events when rumors overran hard, reliable news. My first experience with prolonged rumors was during the Detroit riots in 1967, when I was in high school, living two blocks from Detroit.

 Among the stories I recalled hearing, that were verified as false included “hundreds of bodies lined up like fire wood”, “A specific intersection, close to home was on fire” and “thirty firefighters were killed by gunfire”. I can’t remember everything else I heard.  These specific rumors were all false.

Often, when disasters hit, rumors fly, often giving the wrong information. King Solomon wrote, “Only simpletons believe everything they're told! The prudent carefully consider their steps.” (Proverbs 14:15 NLT) Acting on false information may be worse then acting on no information.

Establish a process of determining how reliable the information, before acting. Use simple clarifying questions like, “What exactly did you see?”  will help. Ask specific follow up questions. Often, what is reported, as fact is second hand information, not an eyewitness account.

Other useful questions include, “Where did you hear this?, What was your source?,  What were the specific words used?”  Often as accounts move from person to person, hear and remember everything. The “facts” change, partly by excitement, and partly by human nature, we just don’t understand and remember everything.

Next, ask “What can you confirm, and by whom?” Some sources are far more reliable, epically those with first hand accounts.

Going back to my Detroit experience, I recall several responses. First, when told of the fires burring out of control eight blocks away, my Dad asked, “Where is the smoke? A big fire would create a lot of black smoke?” He quickly dismissed the rumor, and when the same person brought new news, he discounted everything said.

The rumor of a thousand shot, but not disclosed went on for a long time. While I heard this from many people the story was always third or fourth hand. While fire fighters were under gunfire and several shot, there was no mass killing of firemen.

The Christian Emergency Network strives to obtain valid, verifiable and reliable information. We need to do the same. Start by taking the Ready Christian track here: http://bit.ly/ohUZV8