SUSPICION

I Was Just Thinking About – SUSPICION.

Suspicion generally takes place when a person or organization makes a potential negative and or harmful suggestion about a person or organization. By definition it means: “A feeling or thought that something is possible, likely or true.” On a religious FB site, the following, without any corroboration or identified source(s), shared: “What do you think of the Samaritan’s Purse organization? Specifically, the Operation Christmas Child boxes. Some of you have maybe heard or seen reports that these shipments are often stolen and pirated and then resold or held for ransom. There are also reports that it can hurt local economies by taking business away either from local toy makers or shop owners. Personally, I find it odd that we fill plastic boxes with cheap trinkets that were made in places like India and China and then send said boxes to places like India and China.”

There you have it – unfounded rumor and speculation. Is such a statement credible? Should you believe it? What about the person who wrote and posted it on a “Christian” site? Should it be accepted at face value?

Question: What would Jesus have one to do with such rumors, speculations and suspicions? Well – Jesus did tell us plainly. In Matthew 18:15-17 (ESV), Jesus gave the steps and principles that He wants His followers to utilize – without exception: “If your brother (or Christian Organization) sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.  But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church.” Seemingly, the above referenced post saw fit to bring it to the “Church” first – a clear breach of Jesus’ teaching. The MSG paraphrase: “If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him—work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you’ve made a friend. If he won’t listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again. If he still won’t listen, tell the church.”

For those with the propensity to short-circuit Scripture and the words of Jesus, or to simply ignore and bypass them, would rather displease The One who gave the instruction just to deal with a spiritual matter (if there is substance to it) secularly rather than spiritually. This should be unacceptable to all who name the name of Jesus Christ and allege they are taking up their cross daily to follow Him alone and always.

Why not Prayerfully – Consider these things with me?! I hope you will. Thanks!