Dealing with Internet Rumors
When we read rumors and stories on the internet, we do notknow if they are true. Here are my comments. First, the Scripture:
“One witness is not enough to convictanyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter mustbe established by the testimony of two or three witnesses” (Deut. 19:15).
“Surely God is good toIsrael,
tothose who are pure in heart.
But as for me, my feet hadalmost slipped;
Ihad nearly lost my foothold.
For I envied the arrogant
whenI saw the prosperity of the wicked.
They have no struggles;
theirbodies are healthy and strong.
They are free from common human burdens;
theyare not plagued by human ills.
Therefore pride is their necklace;
theyclothe themselves with violence.
From their callous hearts comes iniquity;
theirevil imaginations have no limits.
They scoff, and speak with malice;
witharrogance they threaten oppression.
Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
andtheir tongues take possession of the earth.
Therefore their people turn to them
anddrink up waters in abundance.
They say, “How would God know?
Doesthe Most High know anything?”
This is what the wicked arelike—
alwaysfree of care, they go on amassing wealth.
Surely in vain I have kept myheart pure
andhave washed my hands in innocence.
All day long I have been afflicted,
andevery morning brings new punishments.
If I had spoken out likethat,
Iwould have betrayed your children.
When I tried to understand all this,
ittroubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God;
thenI understood their final destiny.
Surely you place them onslippery ground;
youcast them down to ruin.
How suddenly are they destroyed,
completelyswept away by terrors!
They are like a dream when one awakes;
whenyou arise, Lord,
youwill despise them as fantasies.
When my heart was grieved
andmy spirit embittered,
I was senseless and ignorant;
Iwas a brute beast before you.
Yet I am always with you;
youhold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
andafterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
Andearth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
butGod is the strength of my heart
andmy portion forever.
Those who are far from youwill perish;
youdestroy all who are unfaithful to you.
But as for me, it is good to be near God.
Ihave made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;
Iwill tell of all your deeds.”
(Psalm 73)
“Do not fret because of thosewho are evil
or be envious of those who do wrong;
for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away….
Hope in the Lord
and keep his way.
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.
I have seen a wicked andruthless man
flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,
but he soon passed away and was no more;
though I looked for him, he could not be found.
Consider the blameless,observe the upright;
a future awaits those who seek peace.
But all sinners will be destroyed;
there will be no future for the wicked.”
(Psalm 37:1-2, 34-38)
Personal opinion: Where thereis smoke, there is fire. However, sometimes there is much smoke and very littlefire. The devil is often on both sides in a public controversy. And thedevil is a liar (when he lies, the speaks his native language). If you have nomeans of checking the veracity and no means of knowing the original source ofthe information, then believe me some of it is not true. However, even if itwere all true, it is often written in a way to get the reader to make certaininferences. This is the way lynch mobs happen. It is not the Christian way tocommunicate information. It may be fun to participate in, but it is dangerousfun.
The next post will also be on this subject. It is an article written by my son which I recommend.
Written 10/5/1998.
How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships
