By J.D. Davis
Senior Pastor, Dublin Baptist Church, Dublin, OH
Focal Passage: Nehemiah 6:1-19
We enjoy the great benefits of digital resources and the Internet. I can do Bible research in a fraction of the time. I can quickly copy and paste any valuable information into my document and mark its source with ease. I can communicate with other ministers and missionaries quickly through e-mail and social media. It has made work and personal connections easier. However, there is a negative aspect to the Internet, e-mail, and social media. The attacks and rumors have become more frequent and harder to resolve.
In our Sunday School lesson this week Nehemiah deals with opposition, namely from Sanballat. Nehemiah refuses four different times to leave the important work on the wall and meet with a disgruntled opposition. I do not know why it is, but I have found that the closer a work for God gets to the finish line, the greater the opposition becomes. In the early stages, the opposition may not even expect the work to get started. In the middle stage, they may still believe that it will lose its momentum along the way. However, when it begins to near completion, the opposition becomes concerned and takes action. Nehemiah is beginning to enter the final stage of work and his opposition shows up.
After four failed attempts, Sanballat sends an open letter to Nehemiah in Nehemiah 6:5. It is clear that the rumors contained in the letter, are rumors that Sanballat wanted others to read and spread. That is the reason he did not seal the letter.
Sanballat knew something about human nature and how to undermine the leadership of another. All he had to do was provide a bit of juicy gossip, enough that would cause people to doubt the intentions of Nehemiah. Sanballat knew then what is still true today, people have a hard time not listening to or passing on gossip.
The Internet is full of people accusing other people of all kinds of things. There are blogs, e-mails, Facebook posts, and a host of other avenues that pump things out into the digital realm with the appearance of accuracy. Those original documents are like open letters that someone else finds. Then that recipient sends it off to another person with a caption like, “have you seen this?” Thus the rumors are spread and the opposition begins to undermine the work of another.
Nehemiah deals with the opposition well. He keeps his focus on the work God has given him to do and only gives the opposition the shortest and most direct answer in denying the allegations. It is of no advantage to argue with someone who lives to cause dissension. My dad taught me, “Never wrestle with a pig. All it will do is get you dirty and the pig enjoys it.” In some situations, defending ourselves is like wrestling with a pig.
Another issue with gossip is how you handle it when you hear it or receive that open letter e-mail. In Ephesians 4:29 Paul gives us some great direction. He writes, “No rotten talk should come from your mouth, but only what is good for the building up of someone in need, in order to give grace to those who hear.” In other words, don’t pass on gossip but pass on encouragement.
Finally, what should be done if the accusation is not a rumor but has some measure of truth to it? Certainly it is not the case for Nehemiah, but there are leaders who do abuse their position. Matthew 18:15-17 outlines the way Christian confrontation should be conducted and does so with the goal of restoration.
So when you receive that open letter, don’t give into rumors and gossip. Instead, spread some encouragement.
— Davis is senior pastor of Dublin Baptist Church, Dublin, Ohio.
