|
|
 |
| Only The Truth Can Destroy False Accusations And These Painf |
|
Have you ever been falsely accused? Have you ever suffered as a consequence of rumours, stories and tales about you and you know there is no truth in anything the people are saying? This happens more often than we sometime acknowledge or even want to know. Remember, the only exercise some people get is jumping to wrong conclusions.As as Christian, and I write as a committed Christian, we have a duty in Christ to get at the truth. But what is truth?Truth is the actual state of affairs, as contrasted with rumour, false report, or myth - and truth fits every situation.In the New Testament book of Acts at Chapter 21 we read of this very difficult situation from verse 20 onwards, where Paul was being falsely accused regarding what he was teaching.That remains something which we continue to face and carry today. There will always be those who will try to put words in your mouth. That is why we must be careful as to what we say and how we conduct our lives.If you do what is right in the sight of God, that does not mean you can avoid trouble. If you do what people ask you to do, even in a situation like this, there can still be gossip, anger, rage, uproar, riot.But we see the pattern about when to say "NO" and when to say "YES". We are not to be too concerned about ourselves - our own personal safety and well-being - but we are to be concerned about the welfare and unity of the Church.We have to have the courage to say "NO", and the strength to say "YES", and never do anything which might divide the Church. Of course, this can be applied to any business or family scenario. The principles still hold.Your decision, action and behaviour may divide something, but make sure it does not divide the Church. I have found that to be a most helpful sentence.In verse 27, we read of how some respectable religious people caused trouble for Paul.They saw him in the temple in Jerusalem. They too are in the House of God, but look at what is in their hearts. They stirred up the people saying, "This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against our people and our law and this place." They accused him of bringing Greeks - Gentiles - outsiders - into the Temple - and thereby polluting it.Now, Paul had been seen in the street, with Trophimus the Ephesian - a Gentile - and they assumed that Paul had brought him into the Jewish area of the Temple.They had been misled, again, by people jumping to wrong conclusions. This is why it is so important to check the facts - what actually happened - what was actually said.We have duty in Christ to receive the truth - to arrive at the truth, even though it means digging away at times at things which people may just blurt out.We have a duty in Christ to believe only the truth - to hold to the truth - to share the truth - to speak the truth - to be witnesses to the truth. It is the truth which sets us free and makes us strong - and that truth is Christ Jesus. Most serious issues can be resolved and dealt with fully and adequately from the Scriptures as we have them in the Old and New Testaments.Yes, the only exercise some people get is jumping to wrong conclusions. Do not be one of them.Sandy Shaw
|
|
|
