Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Galatians 6:1 Character assassination is cheap. It’s like a drive-by shooting when bullets are sprayed at random in the dark. But when it comes to our words, they can be almost as devastating as a bullet from a handgun.
I’m thinking of a certain pastor who was doing his very best to preach the word. Someone, however, in the congregation didn’t like the man, so he would send anonymous notes to him through the offering plate. The rhetoric grew more intense and the pastor grew more frustrated. Finally, the pastor received one which had a single word scrawled on it in large letters filling the entire page. It read, “STUPID!”
That was it. The pastor had to do something. The next week the pastor announced, “Recently, I have received several letters from people who didn’t sign their name, but this past week, I received a letter from a person who signed his or her name, and forgot to write the letter.” He then held up the page with the word STUPID written on it and everyone had a good laugh. Recently, I’ve been deluged with faxes from an anonymous person or group which are directed against the head of a ministry known for combating cults and abuses. The messages accuse the man of graft and corruption, and raise questions about his integrity. But, keep in mind, there are no signatures--only allegations.
Never give any credence to charges which are so weak that the instigator refuses to put his name to them. Historians tell us that John Hancock, one of the signers of the American Declaration of Independence, signed his name in very large letters, and when he was asked why he wrote so large, he replied that he wanted it large enough that the king with failing eyesight could see his name.
I have news for you, friend. The King of Kings never has trouble with his eyesight, and He beholds everything that you write--whether you put your name on it or not. ”Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” says Hebrews 4:13 in the New Testament.
How should matters be handled when you sense that someone is doing wrong? Write anonymous letters? Make telephone calls? Casually mention what you think in conversation? Or none of the above?
The Bible gives us a framework for dealing with such issues, and you find it in the words of Jesus in Matthew 18:15. Here Jesus says when you sense wrongdoing, you are to confront the individual directly. But most of the time we dislike doing this. We would rather roll in a bed of ground glass, or take castor oil for a month of Sundays than confront.
Confrontation, though, can be positive. You can chose the time, the manner, and the place, which means you are in control. When something has the appearance of wrongdoing but isn’t actually wrong, the person whom you confront can correct the situation.
Jesus said that if this doesn’t resolve the issue, take someone with you. This gives you a witness and also helps you interpret what happens. But if that doesn’t work, Jesus said confront the larger group--the church, the board, the governing body.
Long ago Solomon said, “Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you” (Proverbs 9:8). But never are you given license to assassinate a person’s character through inferences, gossip, and innuendoes. It is beneath the lowest of the low. It’s a cheap shot any way you look at it. Never forget it.
Resource reading: Proverbs 6.
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“The preceding material was written by Dr. Harold J. Sala, and is copyrighted. Reproduction for sale or financial profit is prohibited. Permission to reproduce this article was granted by Guidelines, Inc.”
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