Keeping in mind that I work on several posts for several weeks (sometimes months) before they are done and almost all of these are in regard to things the Lord has convicted my heart of.....many of which I'm so embarassed of it's hard to confess. But here we go....
assumption- (noun) A thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof. slander- (noun) The action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person's reputation. (verb) Make a false and damaging statements about someone. I have been thinking on these things a lot lately. Just, how hurtful they are. How many times have I made assumptions about people and without checking with them first to make sure my assumption was correct, just shared my assumption? Many, many times. I had some people make completely absurd assumptions about myself a couple years ago and treat me differently according to these assumptions and it really hurt my feelings. Let's think of some scenerios here: - Seeing a homeless person on the side of the road and drawing a conclusion without knowing the details. - Hearing a brother or sister in Christ share a silent prayer request and spending too much brain energy trying to figure out what the prayer request actually is. Maybe even brainstorming with others about what it might be. - Seeing someone at the alter in church praying fervently and deciding that they are finally conquering that pet sin of their's. - Seeing a mom with one of her children with mixed matched shoes on and assuming that she is a permissive hippie mom that doesn't believe in instructing her children. (That's right people! I know you're making assumptions about me! Ha!) - A friend is in a gruff mood. Leaving all his friends to sit around and talk about what they think is wrong. When does an assumption become slander? When does making assumptions become busybodiness? Do we really have time to draw conclusions about others? Isn't all this just gossip? Yes. But I think in the church we have fooled ourselves into thinking that gossip only starts with, "I heard...." when really it can start with, "I'm worried about her, I think....". Well, if you're worried about her then talk to HER! Obviously there can be instances where we need to seek counsel, but I think we need to be very careful to not "seek counsel" with everyone for months on end before checking out our assumptions. We should not make assumptions about people. We should not slander or gossip about others. As christians we know this but are we really guarding our speech? For me, illiminating Facebook from my life has made a HUGE leap in the right direction regarding this. If I'm not exposed to little snipits (ie: random picture, status update) from people then I don't feel the urge to assume about them. Where as before I would lay awake at night wondering if "so&so" was doing "such&such". Would feel compelled to check their facebook, not because I wanted to check on them, but because I wanted to be in their business! Business that I lack the emotional energy to deal with! I should be spending my emotional energy on sticking my nose into what my kids are feeling, what my husband is doing or needs prayer for! Obviously, facebook is not evil. I think it's just me, I lack the maturity to deal with it right now. So I will remain away for a while longer. And happily, I might add. Me and the kids are tighter this way. I'm less stressed and have less noise in my head when I hit the pillow at night. The flip side of this is gaurding against worry over what other people are thinking or assuming or slandering about us. This, I would say, is my biggest problem. Or has been. I feel more freed from it now. Thank you, Lord! BUT, what was I doing when I was so worried about people assuming wrongly about me? Idolatry. That's what. Seems harsh, yes? Well, so it is. When I waste time worrying over what someone believes about me (whether right or wrong) I am saying that what God believes about me is not enough. And do you know what God believes/sees regarding me? Righteousness, perfection, Holiness through His son, Jesus Christ. I tell myself this a TON through out the day. Anytime I find myself thinking about what someone else might judge me for or if someone else supports this decision or that, or if they think I'm a good enough mom, or a good enough cook, or a good enough house keeper. I am redeemed. On every subject that matters, I'm covered by the Blood!!!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
LindseyI'm the mama and wife. Updating you on our life! Archives
January 2022
Categories
All
|