Where There Is Smoke, Must There Also Be Fire?
Otherwise good people sometimes become participants in rumor-mongering, even in the name of “holding to the faith.” Upon hearing what has reportedly happened or what someone has reportedly said, others respond, “Well, you know that where there’s smoke, there must be fire.” Major efforts have sometimes been made to stem the tide of some supposed error being taught or practiced, on no more basis than some shred of a statement that someone made or reportedly made, often removed from its context. All will testify that this is the way things often happen! The smoke upon which the conclusion of fire is based often is nothing more than the smoke of a person’s own active, suspicious imagination. It seems that the Lord said something about his despising the kind of people who devise wicked imaginations (Prov. 6:16-19).
Rumor — Assuming the Worst
In Joshua 22:10-34 the Holy Spirit preserved for us the record of an incident that bears striking resemblance to the way things sometimes go in the body of Christ, in the area of believing rumors and reacting to them. After the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and one-half of Manasseh had gained their allotment of land on Jordan’s eastern side, they joined the other tribes to conquer the western side of Jordan and then returned home to settle down. Out of pure motive they then built a great altar for all to see, as a witness of their part with the other tribes, that future generations might know of their unity with the rest of the nation. In constructing this altar, which they did not plan to use for sacrifices of any kind, they provided fodder for the rumor mill.
The western tribes suspiciously assumed apostasy on the basis of a simple rumor and even traveled to the other side of Jordan to fight against their “unfaithful brothers” (v. 11). The rumor stated the truth but implied a lie; that is, it implied a purpose or motive that was not there. Like these ancient children of God, so today do we too often think the worst about a brother. Treachery or unfaithfulness was charged against them, and rebellion was alleged as their intent (v. 16). Both the iniquity of Peor and the trespass of Achan were cited as reasons for fearing the Lord would punish the whole nation (vv. 17-20).
Handling the Problem
The handling of this situation constitutes a model for our own day in the prevention of the spread and in the squashing of rumor (vv. 21-29). Wise heads prevailed over those inclined to rashness and overreaction; it would have been highly destructive to national unity if fighting had taken place. Verification was the first order of the day. The two and one-half tribes explained what they had done and their purpose in doing it. They fully acknowledged that they would be sinning if they built an altar for sacrifices. Phinehas and the rulers, who had come for war, welcomed the explanation, saw the presence of God in the proceedings, and departed for home to tell their families the good news (vv. 31-34). They had happily learned there was no basis for the rumor.
It is noteworthy that wisdom prevailed in the course of these events on that day! Those who assumed a wrong intent behind the altar loved their brethren enough to investigate this matter and to rejoice in the good news. May we remember that brotherly love does not rejoice in the wrongdoing of a brother or in a report of such (1 Cor. 13:6). It will help us to recall that situations are not always what they seem to be, and that slanted evidence is never a proper basis for conclusions. Rather than presume the worst, why not check out the report (1 Cor. 13:5)? Multiple layers of rumors can easily embellish facts. When a report of someone’s teaching or act comes, the wise course is patient investigation and discussion with the brother himself, not with those who know him or supposedly know about him. While Matthew 18:15-18 is not necessarily applicable to many cases of teaching and practice of error, common sense guided by the Scriptures dictates that we find out from the person involved what he believes or what he said. When he steadfastly denies believing something, it is unfair to continue charging him with that belief. Each one needs the courtesy of being able to state his own belief, not having someone else state it for him. The rules of debate forbid charging one with a consequence of something he believes, if he does not believe the consequence. We must be willing to believe brethren in such circumstances. When one persistently charges another with a belief, which he adamantly denies, someone is dishonest. The accusing brother can be just as wrong as the denying brother, and he can be lost in hell just like the denying brother. Some of us need to learn how to treat one another.
Fighting the Good Fight of Faith
There is a time for war, but war too often is the easy way out and becomes the first resort. Our fighting must conform to that of Christ and the apostles, not the political parties of the world (2 Cor. 10:3, 4). Not everybody who supposedly said or did something is guilty of error. Only when error is established as undeniable fact should the war begin. God wants us to contend for the truth when it is attacked, but he also wants us to practice the truth by getting the facts, telling the truth, and believing one another. Personal like/dislike and past suspicions should not be a factor in starting the war. There is no substitute for a thorough knowledge of the truth, that we might skillfully wield the Spirit’s sword (Eph. 6:17). Overreaction can be just as harmful as no reaction: meat axes have done harm when a scalpel might have excised just the needed amount. Ungodly attitudes and actions often result from overreaction, but a correct, judicious approach is always needed to save as many as possible. Our mission is to save souls, not to destroy faith and reputations. Reputations can become tarnished from suspicion, overreacting, and using carnal weapons in the spiritual fight, as easily as from teaching or practicing error.
24978 Bubba Trail, Athens, Alabama 35613 bobbylgraham@juno.com
Truth
Magazine Vol. XLV: 9 p21
May 3,
2001