Scripture

Deuteronomy 13:12-15 NRSV

If you hear it said about one of the towns that the Lord your God is giving you to live in, that scoundrels from among you have gone out and led the inhabitants of the town astray, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods,” whom you have not known, then you shall inquire and make a thorough investigation. If the charge is established that such an abhorrent thing has been done among you, you shall put the inhabitants of that town to the sword, utterly destroying it and everything in it—even putting its livestock to the sword.

Consider

As in the preceding Scripture passages, this passage warns against the detestable practice of enticing God’s people to worship other gods. Hidden within this passage, however, is an additional cautionary note: If you hear it said…then you shall inquire and make a thorough investigation. In other words, if you have not witnessed the detestable behavior yourself, then don’t jump the gun and rush to judgment. First check it out and make certain the accusation is valid.

In God’s eyes the sin is terrible. Yet God cautions his people not to act rashly on a rumor but to verify the facts before condemning a person.

This is good advice at all levels of human interaction, whether on a broad national scale or in a personal conflict between two people. We each have our trigger issues—those areas where our passions are easily aroused to fighting stance. We are all too apt to swallow a lie if it reinforces an opinion we already entertain about a person, group, or institution, or anything else we care about.

Given that rumors are generally unsubstantiated reports that are meant to stir up bias and division, it’s no wonder that God warns against letting them control our thinking or determine our actions. Yet how many times have we put to the sword our good opinion of someone or our trust in a relationship on the strength of something we heard or thought we understood without looking deeper?

Like all deceptions, rumors are dangerous. They light sparks that can start a wildfire, scorching those who handle them as well as destroying reputations and reducing relationships to ashes.

Pray

God of Truth, I confess to my fascination with rumors. To my shame, I have willingly listened to and spread unsubstantiated information about others, too lazy or too biased to verify a circulating story. Where I have hurt or misinformed others, let me make amends. Protect my tongue from the devil, who would use my words to stir up confusion and hate among people who need the cleansing grace of your peace and truth.

Reflect

Proverbs 6:16-19; James 3:5-6

Ponder

When have I been the victim of a false story, and in what ways did I suffer for it?