“They said, “Nobody wrote warning us about you. And no one has shown up saying anything bad about you. But we would like very much to hear more. The only thing we know about this Christian sect is that nobody seems to have anything good to say about it.”

Hollywood has taken to the biopic exposes of those who became famous and rich too fast and then collapsed because of scandal, inexperience and egos.  We’ve got Uber, WeWork and Theranos in the spotlight right now but it wasn’t long ago that it was Facebook and others who the public wanted to try through the lens of film and documentary makers.  It’s the way of the world.  When something, or someone, becomes successful or recognized there will always be someone or a group who will want to bring them down and that almost always starts with what is being said and written about them.  We tend to do this too within our companies and organizations.  When someone gets the big promotion how long is it before someone else starts talking smack?  Not long, sadly.  It may not always be our place and role to talk back but it our responsibility to not be the starter or play into what everyone else is saying.

The Bible tells us that even the good ones, like the early church, which was doing a lot of good got a lot of negative talk and press.  And yet, they overcame this because, well, it was all talk.  While words can be cutting, damaging and even though the nursery rhyme says can never harm us, they can.  There is a real impact of slander and defamation and in today’s culture of talk now and retract later, true harm can be done.  It’s why we are to do our very best, with God’s help to rise above it all, never be a part of talking bad of others and to go one step further; be the leaders of positive words, encouraging and the uplifting of others.  If we can do that today, then we have done some genuine good for others.

Reference: Acts 28:21-22 (The Message)