Why Do People Choose To Believe The Worst

It's amazing to me that people in and out of church are always ready to believe the worst about someone rather than give them the opportunity to prove themselves. In fact it is so infectious that usually the victims of such abuse feel they cannot even break the cycle of rejection that they are trapped in.

Let's face it the majority of people today want someone to talk about in a way that's negative and hurtful. I believe there are several reasons why:

First, it takes their minds off of their own shortcomings and failures. It sure is easy to talk about someone else and their faults than it is to deal with our own.

Second, if they can't get a break why should anyone else. It's that attitude that prevails in the world today and really controls the thinking of most individuals.

Third, it allows their opinions to be known and gives them the opportunity to express their frustrations against someone else. Often this happens because of some hurt that has been experienced along their journey in life and they want someone else to wear that label or scar just as they have had to do.

In 39 years of ministry I have been lied about, lied to, mocked, made fun of, criticized, attacked verbally, mentally, and physically, my integrity challenged, and written about negatively. Most of this came from so-called Christian people, many that I counted as friends and as church family. Some of these I never thought would ever push me away. Yet it happened. Pastors always get talked about positively or negatively, but some of the hurts I've experienced have come from people I never expected to do or think wrong of me.

And guess what...I'm not the only one. How many of you have experienced the same things over the past few months? It's a horrible thing when you are the victim of such vicious treatment.


Isn't it sad that we forget what the Bible says about such things?

Philippians 4: 8 says, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

Before you believe the worst about somebody please obey the scripture:
-Make sure the story you've heard is true or not-just don't jump to conclusions.
-Believe the best until proven otherwise-don't base your opinions on bad reports.
-Don't take every negative thing that comes along so seriously-that's how molehills become mountains.
-Keep your own house in order-before you try to get into somebody else's house and straighten them out.

Don't choose to believe the worst first. Just trust God and ask Him to reveal to you the truth. He will if you will let Him.