Ignorance is Bliss?

• Proverbs 12:17 (MSG)

---

It is amazing to me how easily people get ensnared by the seemingly sweet words spoken by the deceitful and vindictive. The deceitful play the victim to gain a following or validation for their actions. This is clear enough, but those that get sucked into believing the lies, and picking up an offense for the victim allow the storm to grow.

This is bad enough in the world, but having it happen in the Church is saddening, and causes me to grieve. I have seen people change churches, some they have attended for most of their life, based on the vindictive words of the deceitful, Sadder still that a bit of due diligence would reveal the truth.

They would suggest they are merely defending a friend, and absorbing their side. If this is really, the question that people need to ask themselves is "do you want to be a friend based on a scriptural definition, or based on a secular definition?". A biblical friend would challenge, exhort and hold you accountable to scriptural and personal principals -- the world's definition of a friend is simply a cheerleader who encourages whatever you do.

---