Over the weekend, news broke that Samuel Sey had been detained by ICE. The situation remains unresolved, but that hasn’t stopped the internet from doing what the internet does best: speaking loudly about things we don’t fully understand. Here’s what we know, or at least what has been reported. Samuel was detained by ICE. A statement attributed to DHS claims that he has been in the country for four years without proper authorization, that there are no pending applications on his behalf, and that he has agreed to voluntary deportation. His family, however, disputes this account. They maintain that this is a clerical error and that Samuel has not willingly agreed to be deported. We also know that Samuel has publicly supported ICE and the deportation of illegal immigrants. He is married to an American woman and has children. He has also been involved in some very public theological and political disputes, including debates with men like Corey Mahler and Dale Partridge. But here’s what we don’t know. We don’t have the complete picture. We haven’t heard directly from Samuel. We haven’t seen the relevant immigration documents. We don’t know exactly what happened, what paperwork was filed, what may have been missed, or whether the government’s account is accurate. In other words, we don’t have enough information to render a definitive judgment. But apparently that doesn’t matter to much of the internet. I’ve watched people rush to declare Samuel a fraud, a liar, and a hypocrite. I’ve seen people make downright wicked racial statements. I’ve seen people who have opposed him politically or theologically practically salivating over his predicament. Some are openly gloating. Others are doing that peculiar thing where they insist they aren’t gloating while making it abundantly clear that they’re enjoying every minute of it. On the other side, I’ve seen people rush to declare him completely innocent, insisting that this is nothing more than a government mix-up. Others are using the situation as another opportunity to attack ICE and their political opponents. And everyone seems absolutely certain they’re right. Brothers and sisters, have we forgotten what Scripture says? “He who gives an answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him.” — Proverbs 18:13 “The first to plead his case seems right, until another comes and examines him.” — Proverbs 18:17 “When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.” — Proverbs 10:19 Consider the possibilities. It could be that Samuel knowingly violated immigration law, misrepresented his situation, and has been dishonest about his status. If that’s the case, then he should be held accountable. It could also be that the government has made a bureaucratic mess of things, that paperwork was mishandled, or that someone somewhere made an error that has now separated a husband and father from his family. It could be that the truth lies somewhere between those two possibilities. The point is that WE DON’T KNOW. And not knowing something ought to produce a little humility in us before we open our mouths. But instead, we take a situation involving a real man, a real wife, real children, and potentially serious consequences, and we turn it into ammunition for our endless ideological wars. Someone we dislike might be suffering? Wonderful! Let’s pile on. Someone on our political team is in trouble? Let’s immediately declare him innocent and blame our enemies. Is this really how Christians ought to behave? Justice requires truth. Righteous judgment requires evidence. And Christian charity requires that we not assume the worst about a brother simply because we dislike his theological or political positions. If Samuel has broken the law, then let the truth come out and let justice be done. If the government has made a mistake, then let that mistake be corrected quickly. Either way, we should desire truth and justice