Spreading Good

Malice

It is remarkable by how much a pinch of malice enhances the penetrating power of an idea or an opinion. Our ears, it seems, are wonderfully attuned to sneers and evil reports about our fellow men.

Eric Hoffer 1902-1983, American Author, Philosopher

Proverbs 6:16-19
There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers. NASU

Amazing isn’t it, what am I talking about? I am speaking of rumors and innuendo and how quickly stories spread, and how much people like to spread bad stories. I believe that our 24 hour news services haven’t help things out to much in this area. For the most part when things start smelling they are just minutes away to be the “First” to tell the world of the latest bad or scandalous news.

They are proud of their ratings and want to be the ones that you turn too for the latest and the greatest. But, there are also people that are in our lives, on our jobs, and yes, even in our churches, who want to be the ones with the latest and greatest on those around them. Their main care is to be in the know, and they will go to any extent to know so they can tell. We all know one or two of them, and we may not be doing the best for them when we listen to them.

Wouldn’t it also be great if we as Christians refused to listen to those that wish to spread rumors and gossip? It would be a good thing, as a true friend and brother to those that do those things, to take our time to admonish those with morbid interest in these areas. One way would be to ask them if they spend as much time telling the Good News of Christ as much as they tell the bad news of others.

We need to learn to see the good in others and to spend more time lifting up others rather than tearing them down. The pitiful thing though, is that you can find these kinds of things running in our churches and tearing down the bond of Love that Christ intended to exist in the Body. These kinds of things are viruses and diseases that tear down and sicken the body and prevent it from doing the things needed to change our world.

Do you know someone that does this, well if you do you may be enabling them as a listener…we should seek to help each other in this area, these tongues are so easy to let loose and so hard to stop, let’s give each other a hand in making encouragement the main subject in our churches…not tearing down the church by tearing down each other…God Bless

Pastor William