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Our focus this week is from Philippians 4:8, which tells us to think about whatever is admirable. Another translation could be “whatever is a good saying or a good report about someone.” To really understand a word, we often look at the opposite. For this word, the opposite is defamation. Defamation is the act of injuring another’s reputation without justification. In the legal realm, it involves slander or libel. We also know it by the term character assassination.
Wow! When I look at the current political climate in the United States, and what we have endured for several years, it all seems to be the very definition of “injuring another’s reputation without justification!” Tweets, posts, quotes — it feels like all sides in politics only sling mud! I know you don’t like to admit your side in politics does this, I know I don’t! But it’s true. They all do it.
With this climate, we must not take our cue from our culture which accuses, slanders, targets, cancels and seeks to destroy the reputation of others. We must take our cue from Jesus. He didn’t slander people. Oh, he warned his disciples about his enemies, but he did not defame them. His focus was on caring for people, not character assassination! Follow his example. In speech and social media, focus on caring for and encouraging others. May you be a source of “good reports!”
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Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.