Rumors
Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2
This passage is a good example of what happens when rumors get started. In the apostle Paul’s day, someone started a story that Paul was teaching that Jesus had returned and taken the Christians with Him to heaven. The only problem with that was that the Thessalonians were still here. They became unsettled and alarmed by this message and who wouldn’t? So, when word got back to Paul of the rumors that were going around about his teaching, he quickly wrote a letter to the Thessalonian church to assure them this story was not true.
The same thing happens today. I’m sure all of us have become unsettled, angered and even hurt by a story we were told that wasn’t exactly accurate. Especially if it was said that it came from someone we trusted. It happens quite often that people will repeat part of what a pastor or teacher said and then those who hear immediately jump to the wrong conclusion. Many public ministries suffer damage due to rumors that are started because someone disagreed with something that was said or twisted it’s meaning. What about when someone predicts when the LORD will come? That really gets people upset. Everyone seems to want to argue that it isn’t time yet. Almost as if they are not even looking for Him. I agree that these predictions are not necessary, but let’s face it, in the world we live in, He could come at any time now.
The point of all this is, rumors start even about the best ministries out there. Paul’s ministry team was probably the greatest team ever since the church began, and there were many determined to bring him down. This is an excellent opportunity to recognize that just because you have seen or heard it on the internet (aka facebook) doesn’t necessarily mean it is true. Don’t believe everything you see and hear. Search it out for yourself and by all means, DON’T REPEAT IT!! There is enough damage done without you adding to it. The saddest part about it is the judgment that will be faced someday for spreading stories about God’s ministers. Whether true or not, it is not the place of a believer to condemn or put down any ministry.
Today I want to encourage you to not repeat rumors or bad reports for that matter. Don’t be the person that searches for what they can find wrong with a ministry. Look and rejoice about what God is doing in them instead. We are all imperfect people which means there are no perfect ministries/ministers. Pray for those who are in the public eye and scrutinized for everything they say and do. Just because you hear stories doesn’t mean they are true and if they are true, let God take care of it. He’s pretty smart and He will avenge those who are wrongly using His name.
Today’s scripture reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4
The Daily Dose 