Christianity Today Says: Repent of Reporting on Seth Rich. But Why?
One of America's leading evangelicals, Ed Stetzer, accuses Christians raising questions as "bearing false witness."
We now have the Christian version of wildly accusing someone of delivering “fake news.” It’s accusing them of “bearing false witness.”
In a column published last week at Christianity Today, Ed Stetzer took to task Christians raising questions about the murder of DNC staffer Seth Rich. A major figure in the evangelical world, Stetzer runs the Billy Graham Center for Evangelism at Wheaton College. His article is titled, “Christians, Repent (Yes, Repent) of Spreading Conspiracy Theories and Fake News — It’s Bearing False Witness.”
Bearing False Witness
Some 20 times in the article, Stetzer uses the phrase “false witness” or a variation. It’s practically a chant.
What you won’t find is how exactly anybody is “bearing false witness.” Or specifically who is bearing this false witness.
Stetzer insists he is “not a defender of the media or the Democratic party.” I believe him. Still, he seems to parrot their five Seth Rich talking points:
- Nothing to see here
- It’s all been disproven
- Leave it to the police to investigate
- It hurts the family
- If you raise questions you are a hateful “conspiracy theorist”
And he criticizes anyone who doubts these talking points enough to investigate the case. He comes dangerously close himself to “bearing false witness” by attacking the motives of those seeking answers. That would include us at The Stream.
I’m totally on board with him on this major point: As Christians we must stand up for truth, we must not act with malice, and we must not make false accusations. Some of what I’ve seen on the internet about the case sorrows my heart, leaves me aghast. And likely annoys me more than him.
Where he goes astray is by conflating a feverish few shouting “Hillary’s behind it!” with those seeking answers. He makes a blanket condemnation. Any Christian investigating, discussing, debating the case or sharing new developments is:
Seth Rich may well have been murdered in a botched robbery. But no one knows. If the public can help solve the case, it’s hardly a sin.
That’s what the Profiling Project is doing. As local ABC7 investigative journalist Scott Taylor reported, this group of George Washington University grad students has been digging into the Seth Rich murder for months.
These future forensic and investigative pros have one goal: uncover one solid clue that will help police solve the murder. Last week, the Profiling Project sued the MPD for records related to the case, including the body camera footage of officers who came to the scene and spoke to Rich.
Taylor’s own FOIA request was rejected. He filed an appeal earlier today.
Does Ed Stetzer think the Christians in the Profiling Project should repent of their work? Are they bearing false witness by asking the questions others are asking too?
- Devaluing the name of Christ
- Inflicting pain on the people involved
- And again … and again … “bearing false witness on your neighbor”
Ouch!
Let’s Talk Truth
Which gets us to the case itself. Stetzer has a curt reply to those who ask “Shouldn’t we investigate it?”: “Yes, police are, and you should not spread lies while they do.” Again, what lies?
But let’s talk about the police. Yes, Metropolitan Police Department initially hypothesized that Rich was killed in a botched robbery. There had been a string of robberies in his Bloomingdale neighborhood. It’s the simplest explanation. But it’s got holes.
Just for starters: Rich’s own father noted that nothing was taken. And Rich expressly denied any concern when his girlfriend heard noises in the background. There’s $500,000 in unclaimed reward money. Rich spoke to police, yet there is no description of suspects. Also, there’s been no new information from the police since October 16, 2016, nearly eight months.
Rich may well have been the victim of a botched robbery. But that is nowhere near settled. The murderers are still out there. If the public can help multiply the force, it’s hardly a sin.
Let’s Talk False Witness
Last week I wrote about the mainstream media’s outlandish assault on those reporting on the case. Now a leading Christian voice joins in — but doesn’t get his facts straight.
One example: He says, “Despite the complete lack of credible evidence toward Rich’s involvement, the most popular conspiracy theory is that his death was connected to the DNC email leak of 2016.”
Complete lack of credible evidence? Hardly. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange strongly intimated that Rich was his source. Famed hacker Kim DotCom, who is connected to Assange, said openly and on the record that he helped hook Rich up with WikiLeaks. Even a cousin of Rich’s first thought the murder was connected to Rich’s DNC work. A federal investigative source did tell Fox News about seeing Wiki-related emails on Rich’s computer, it just wasn’t solidly verified. Rich had been at a favorite watering hole, Lou’s Bar, hours before he was shot. According to One America News, staff say he seemed uncharacteristically “distressed.” But there’s more.
Ironically, Stetzer debunks his own argument. He describes the email release as a “leak.” A leak means the source was inside the DNC. The DNC narrative is that it was the result of a Russian hack. It wasn’t the FBI who determined that. The DNC wouldn’t let the FBI near their computers. (Is it sinful to wonder why?) It was a private firm hired by the DNC called CrowdStrike. And according to the Daily Mail in a story published last week, CrowdStrike is refusing to cooperate with Congress and “has had to abandon key claims in another report on hacking by the same Russians blamed for the DNC attack.”
And don’t forget what those WikiLeaks emails revealed: the appalling, widespread effort of the DNC to cheat Bernie Sanders and rig the Democratic primary in Hillary Clinton’s favor. Sanders’ supporters and anybody in favor of fair play would be furious. Who’s more credible? Everybody who lets it slide or some honest soul who did something about it?
Which leads to another distortion: that staying silent is “preserving Seth Rich’s dignity.” Seth Rich, by all accounts, was a wonderful young man, one of DC’s shining lights. Nobody is saying otherwise. If he was a whistle-blower, he is a hero. And that is precisely how he is being treated.
Which Gets to Christ
Stetzer bases his charges on Exodus 20:16: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”
Jesus was asked, “Who is my neighbor?” He answered with the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37).
It tells of a traveler accosted and left for dead by the side of the road. The religious figures didn’t want anything to do with him. Both left him there to rot. Finally a Samaritan comes by. Samaritans, a people looked down on and called names. Jesus could not even share water with one without his disciples objecting.
Yet, it was the Samaritan who came to the man’s aid, who looked on him with pity. Who fought for him. Who gave of his own time and treasure to see that right was done. To do what was good and necessary.
“Go and do likewise,” Jesus said.
Who today is Seth Rich’s neighbor?
Answer for yourselves. Do the research yourselves. And pray justice be done.
