Ephesians 4:29-32 (ESV)
29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Rumors…Wow! What damage they can cause!!
Today as I was talking with an individual who had heard someone else say…That sentence even starts off ridiculously. Anyway, I heard it said that the reason some people were not supporting First Choice Pregnancy Resource Center was that “they performed abortions down there.” What a lie!!! First Choice PRC is totally Pro-Life. Our goal is to provide the best information concerning the health of the baby as well as the health of the mother and to help the mother make the decision for life. Can you imagine how many people’s lives, present and future, that this rumor can damage?
Earlier I was talking to another pastor about how a rumor had gone around concerning his church. He laughed at how inaccurate the information was. When I heard the original rumor, since I did not know the origin, I called the people involved to find out if it were accurate. I knew everyone that was involved in the rumor, so it was easy for me to do some research about the validity.
How often do I do that though? Some of the time I tell the person I am talking with that I am not interested in hearing what they have to say. Sometimes I listen and question the source of the statement or how true the statement is. I know that I should not even listen to a rumor and I definitely should never spread one. By doing either, we are potentially ruining someone’s life or profession.
Let me give you a couple of questions to ask that could be helpful as you hear people say things.
- Is it true?
- Is it beneficial to know?
- Does it uplift the individual that is being discussed?
- Would you say the same thing directly to the individual?
- Do you love the individual with what you are hearing or saying?
- Is God pleased with what is being said?
As we answer these questions, we should be able to state with confidence if we should be repeating or sharing the information with anyone else. Once a rumor gets out, it is impossible to get it back. We must be very careful with our tongues to give praise and honor to God and edify our brothers and sisters in Christ.
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