Every year I undertake this foolhardy attempt to discern the most important theology stories of the year. And every year I upset some folks with my selections. But that’s ok. Debate is part of the process. It’s often what makes an event newsworthy and rank on this year-end list. Rarely does a theology story lend itself to clear-cut interpretation. Just look at how many examples on this year’s list illustrate the difficulty of separating rumors from fiction. There’s almost always more than meets the eye.

Remember in your disagreement, then, that healthy debate ultimately serves the cause of truth, which in many of these cases only God knows fully. We’re not omniscient. We’re not omnipresent. So as we look back on 2019, and before you send that nasty email or pass along that rumor, consider the God who knows all and sees all. A bit more healthy fear of God might help us pause before we pass along the latest lie about another Christian.