AN EVIL REPORT
"God’s people must guard against an evil report"
Written by Carl A Davenport
Inspired by God

Num 13:29-33
29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.
30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.
32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.
33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
Num 14:36-38
36 And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land,
37Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD.
38 But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of the men that went to search the land, lived still. KJV

We learned as children the little Sunday school song that says:

"Be careful little ears what you hear, be careful little ears what you hear, for the Father up above is looking down in love, so be careful little ears what you hear."

"Be careful little eyes what you see, be careful little eyes what you see, for the Father up above is looking down in love, so be careful little eyes what you see."

"Be careful little feet where you go, be careful little feet where you go, for the Father up above is looking down in love, so be careful little feet where you go."

"Be careful little (big) mouth what you say, be careful little (big) mouth what you say, for the Father up above is looking down in love, so be careful little (big) mouth what you say."

This all seems to be a bit humorous, but what truth is found in this song. (not just he big mouth part) We find in it a great reminder of how careful we should be careful about evil reports and about governing our actions to ABSTAIN FROM THE APPEARANCE OF EVIL.. So, what is an ‘evil report’?

We all know that things we do can bring about an appearance of evil, even if there is no evil involved. Anything, whether evil or not that can make an appearance as evil should be avoided. We cannot use the idea or generalization that we are trying to help someone if it qualifies as evil to those looking at our situation. This is most predominant in our relationships with the opposite sex. In helping them, we must not allow ourselves to be put in a position or place with them that can appear evil to those watching. Everyone is watching you when you are in a position of authority. Usually, if something appears evil, to those watching, it is evil, or will be soon.

AN EVIL REPORT - (defined)

An evil report is not necessarily a distortion of facts or incomplete facts and false information. It is the impression you give someone when you do something. The danger of an evil report comes, not necessarily in its results, but rather in its beginning. An evil report develops from your actions from the get go.

The most common example of an action that will cause a bad report is trying to masquerade evil behavior with the claim of helping a member of the opposite sex, and the help is not given out in the open with a second person, but behind closed doors alone with the member of the opposite sex. This is a very compromising position to put yourself in.

Evil reports influence others to form bad opinions of you. It is your testimony. If you let him, Satan, destroy your testimony because of you being in a room with a member of the opposite sex behind closed doors. Nobody knows what is going on, and at the least, an  impression of a sexual relationship will develop fast. If it is the case, your conscience will not let you be effective in spreading the Gospel. You will have buried guilt and it may not surface when you try to witness, but it will have an influence in your witnessing.

If you have used the God given authority you have been given by God to ‘muscle’ someone and lead them into evil, God knows. God looks at the heart and He is looking at yours right now. Each of your actions, good or evil have attached consequences. A consequence of what you are doing could be having your testimony destroyed, even if you are innocent. You are putting yourself in the position to have your testimony clobbered. If you don’t want to suffer these possible consequences, stop acting in a manner where you can.

Someone will secretly or privately pass on an evil report about what you are doing. It has already began. Gossip will now magnify and sensationalize these rumors and your testimony will suffer. You will lose respect of the respectful, and life will be more difficult than it has to be. Remember, to avoid the consequence, stop the action. If the action goes too far, or if it has gone too far, you are now separated from God. How can you apply your God given authority if you are separated from God?

Slanderers will now step in and use the facts they have found floating around in the air waves, and have distorted these facts into truths they can use to destroy you credibility and reputation.

Remember, rumors that are just rumors. When rumors are directed at those considered to be liars, they have a lot of weight - especially on those in an authority position.  If you have authority, and are said to be involved in a secret ‘friendship’ with a member of the opposite sex behind closed doors, or you are said to be masquerading your intentions with a claim of “helping” a member of the opposite sex, behind closed doors, you are a prime target.

Good intentions or not, your testimony is given by these acts and no one sees any good in them. The reason, and a strong one, is there are counselors social workers and disciples who are of the same sex. The person needing council should seek out a member of their own sex for council. The fact that one holds an authority position is reason enough not to act in this manner. Any action a authority figure gives is a testimony for the organization which gives the authority.

What motivates these things? You did the action, and now you will face the reaction. You will have a consequence for “boxing” yourself in whether or not the accusations are correct.

Ephesians 5:10-12 KJV
Eph 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Eph 5:12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

Romans 16:17-18 KJV
Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Rom 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Proverbs 26:22 KJV
22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

Hebrews 12:15
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; KJV

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