Don’t Believe Everything You Hear Or Read

Michael Hyatt (former CEO of Thomas Nelson) once responded to a rumor on his blog. In the post, Michael wrote,

“According to the most recent rumor—which I’ve now heard twice—we [Thomas Nelson] are planning a layoff for June 19th … There is absolutely no truth to it … If you hear this rumor, I would be grateful if you would help me short-circuit it. You can tell ’em it’s not true, and you heard it directly from me.”

I recall when this rumor was circulating and was saddened (and surprised) at how many Christians believed it without going straight to Michael to see if it was true or false. Here are other examples that are much better known.

In January 2019, actor Jussie Smollett reported being the victim of a hate crime in Chicago. The investigations, however, revealed that Smollett had orchestrated the attack himself.

In 2022, actor Johnny Depp won a defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife Amber Heard. The jury found that Heard’s 2018 op-ed about domestic abuse, while not naming Depp directly, had defamed him. This verdict largely vindicated Depp from accusations of domestic violence, which had significantly impacted his career and public image.

In March 2016, several reports alleged that Senator Ted Cruz had been involved in a series of extramarital affairs with five different women. The report was picked up by multiple news magazines and spread all over the world, but the accusations were false and later debunked.

In May 2010, several tabloid outlets alleged a sex scandal involving President Obama. The “story” first came out in 2008 just before the primary. It was shown to be baseless and quickly faded away. Then it resurfaced again in 2010. (The original story was removed by the source after staying online for 4 years.)

Another site purports alleged “proof” that Obama is a Muslim terrorist in disguise. Again, a baseless rumor.

In 2013, Rick Warren was personally attacked, judged, and lied about by scores of professing Christians.

Years earlier, Richard Jewell was falsely accused of terrorism in connection with the Centennial Olympic Park bombing in Atlanta, Georgia, which occurred in 1996, during the Summer Olympics.

Jewell, who was working as a security guard at the Olympics, initially discovered a backpack containing a pipe bomb and alerted authorities. His actions helped evacuate the area, potentially saving many lives. However, within days of the bombing, he became a suspect in the FBI investigation.

Three days after the bombing, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution published an article naming Jewell as the focus of the investigation. This led to intense media scrutiny and public suspicion of Jewell, despite the fact that he was never formally charged with the crime. Jewell was cleared as a suspect in several months later, after about three months of investigation and media attention, but the damage was done. Jewell’s life was destroyed.

We live in a very dark world where rumors abound. Gossip abounds. Slander abounds. Even in the “Christian” community (so-called), tragically.

Slander is a serious sin, and according to Paul, slanderers will be barred from the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

I have good friends and people whom I respect who have been lied about on the Internet, and I’ve quickly come to their defense wherever I’ve seen such lies (as I did with Rick Warren).

Point: Anyone who has profound influence is going to have detractors and enemies. And some of them will go on a personal “smear” attack using distortions and fabrications.

Just look at the things Jesus and Paul were accused of during their day.

History tells us the same thing about John Wesley, Watchman Nee, T. Austin-Sparks, and just about every other servant of God who was turning the sod on important issues during their time.

Many years ago, I learned a valuable lesson from a BIG mistake I made. It was a first-class screw up that still haunts me till this day.

I listened to slander about a fellow Christian and I believed it. Thankfully, I repented when I found out the truth, but I still feel remorse over it when it comes to mind.

Last year, I wrote a post about it. The post hit a chord with many people.

It’s about a lesson I learned from failure that I’ll never forget.

Rule of thumb: If you read something negative about another person, especially a fellow Christian, take it with a grain of salt. Tilt toward not believing it. Just as you would want others to do if it were you being smeared (Matthew 7:12).

If you’re concerned, go to the person directly to hear their response. There are always two sides to any story (at least). And unfortunately, some people desire to defame others, usually out of jealousy, so dishonesty abounds.

Here’s the post where I shared how I learned this lesson from a BIG mistake I made many years ago: Hearing One Side of a Story

Don’t Believe Everything You Hear or Read