- Some people think ‘either you’re with me or against me’.
- Are we so perfect we can make such a claim? Is there no room for learning or insight?
- Some may think that wining at all cost is okay if it is for the greater good.
- If we give up our morality what have we won?
- Some think it is okay when we forward emails full of slander.
- Once we forward such things aren’t we the one’s spreading gossip?
Oh I know some will be offended by this. I honestly struggled with it. But before any of us get upset, let’s ask ourselves a couple of questions.
- What is the right thing to do?
- Is this an indictment upon us or just a reminder of things we already know?
- What is the truth?
- If this is the truth then should we be offended when it is shared with us?
- Are we doing what we know to be true and right?
Many of us share things we don’t bother checking. So I ask all of us, the next time we receive an email which appears dubious that we’re tempted to forward, when we want to make a stand for what we believe, how many of us rather than forward gossip will “Reply to All” God’s message instead. So here is another political email for everyone and by the way, these things are easy to check.
- Matthew 12:36 But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.
- Titus 3:1 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,
- Leviticus19:16 “‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people. “‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the LORD.
- Psalm 34:13 keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.
- Proverbs 26:20 Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.
- Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
- Titus 3:2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.
- 1 Peter 3:10 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.
- 2 Timothy 2:16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.
Is it possible God was kidding when he was to obey your leaders, remember he was talking about the government? Could it be that God meant that it’s okay to spread lies if you don’t like the person. Or… maybe not and God meant what He said. Perhaps God meant that we should be considerate and show humility toward all men.
P.S. If our first reaction is to think this is an accusation, then perhaps we have missed the point. If our first reaction upon reading this is to say who is he to send this to us? Then I might answer, just a man. One who is not perfect and is full of sin like the rest of us. Someone who, like the rest of us, just want to share a point of view.
May God bless you in all that we do.