SOWING SUSPICION, the 7th sin when discussing global events

How serious are we really about scripture when we attempt to interpret the wars in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and Yemen?  With what attitude do we report on Elon Musk and his new brain microchip or Bill Gates and the vaccine?  Through which lenses do we approach upcoming elections in more than half of the globe and the political parties we engage in?  How do we apply the truth that we so eagerly proclaim when we discuss the marginalised, displaced and broken-hearted?  Simply put; how do we engage in a season of opportunities from a Biblical and Godly perspective?

We love to share our convictions based on scriptures that we hold as truth, but often fail to reflect the consciousness of Christ as the Bearer of truth.  In seeking to expose evil powers – whether it be Hamas, Iran, Israel, Elon Musk, Joe Biden or Donald Trump, the ANC, or simply local politicians who conspire to destroy our beautiful nations –  we might actually fall into the trap of becoming detestable to the One we aim to please.

Don’t pass over this too quickly

In Proverbs 6:16-19 we find a catalogue of seven attitudes that are detestable to God.  Yes, detestable says Scripture.

There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:  haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,  a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. 

This scripture should be the foundation in the life of all who seek to please God.  These seven abominations are not the only sins mentioned in scripture, but they contain most of the wicked things that displease God.  The seven things God hates point directly to the heart of the individual and address the roots of all other sins.  According to scripture sin is not only sin when it happens, but sin is committed the moment it is conceived in the heart.

Here are the seven “detestables” listed in God’s catalogue (Proverbs 6:16-19):

ARROGANCE (haughty eyes): This describes a feeling of pride and looking down upon others.

DECEIT – (a lying tongue): This describes speaking falsehood, posting rumours, sharing theories or speculation. It is detestable to God, who is a God of truth. Nothing we do causes us to more closely resemble the devil, who is the father of lies (John 8:44).

ASSASSINATION (hands that shed innocent blood): This can be an assassination of the body or the assassination of character. In Matthew 5:21–24, Jesus says that anyone hating someone else unreasonably without offering room for forgiveness commits a sin equivalent to murder.

MALICIOUSNESS (a heart that devises wicked schemes): This is thinking or conceiving evil against any individual or group. We are not called to expose it, but not to do it.  We do not have a mandate to reject the world but to redeem it

EVIL (feet that are quick to rush into evil): This indicates someone who displays an eagerness to be drawn to evil. We should be concerned not only by those who do evil but by those who are always drawn to evil – even with a desire to expose it.  Conspiracy theorists often spend more time investigating evil than proclaiming the GOOD NEWS

LYING (a false witness who pours out lies): This is more than just deceit; this form of lying is given special mention as it could deeply harm an innocent individual or group. This pertains to more than just bearing false witness but also to accusations without proof.

Then comes detestable #7, which was added to the original six, not as an afterthought but as an embodiment of the previous six:

SOWING SUSPICION (a man who stirs up dissension in the community): Sowing suspicion is detestable to God.  We better believe it.  It embodies the previous six sins.  It is arrogant, deceitful, leads to the assassination of character, is malicious, evil and bears false witness without proof.

What we often don’t realise is that by exposing a sin, we might fall into the trap of breaching another sin.  By exposing ‘a heart that devises wicked schemes” we might “stir up dissension in the community”.  We become equally guilty of sin.  The end does not justify the means.  That’s why the instruction is not for believers to expose sin in the lives of other people, these are practical warnings to keep free from doing it ourselves.

The ONE footprint that the conflict in Gaza is currently leaving behind, apart from the destruction and hardship, is SUSPICION.  This is sadly more evident in the Christian community than anywhere else.  The war has polarised the church like no other event.  What are the feelings we are left with after watching video clips of destruction on both sides of the wall:  suspicion, distrust, evil, fear, anger or even hatred – none of these attitudes are conducive to our spiritual well-being.  On the contrary, they are all tools in the hand of the devil to make people distrust one another and the breeding ground for evil thoughts, hatred and fear.  There is no doubt that there might be evil people amongst those who are currently making decisions of global concern.  But when Christians are more intent on exposing evil than doing good, our good intentions make us stooges in the paw of the roaring lion who seeks to devour us, our testimony and His work.

Suspicion creates a looming darkness and expectation of evil where the Lord would prefer goodness. When suspicion becomes a stronghold it can debilitate us and prevent us from seeing the good, the light, the blessings, and the potential.

Has the Church become too obsessed with end-time prophesies and conspiracies? Is it possible to understand the seasons we live in and at the same time avoid suspicion?

Here are 5 Biblical tips on avoiding suspicion:

1. Be ready to believe the best of every person: There is good somewhere in the worst of us. Look for that good and pray about the rest while you are protecting your rights, loved ones, and home.  (1 Corinthians 13:7 Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].
2. Control your thoughts: We are all slaves to our thoughts.  Our thoughts determine our attitudes, our attitudes determine our actions, our actious determine our behaviour, our behaviour determine our character and our character determine our destinies.  Be careful what you spend your thoughts on.  Think what you are thinking about! (Philippians 4:8  Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.)
3. Love: There’s only one way to avoid being suspicious today and still be safe. Love. Love covers a multitude of sin. That does not mean we neglect discernment, allow evil to triumph, or stop praying. It means we no longer allow suspicion to control us but love.  (1 Corinthians 13:6-7 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.   It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.)
4. Trust God: God himself will repay evil, He doesn’t need us to intervene on His behalf.  (Romans 12:19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for [God’s] wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay (requite), says the Lord.)
5. Love your enemy and forgive those who sin against you. Follow God’s law without judging it.  (James 4:11 [My] brethren, do not speak evil about or accuse one another. He that maligns a brother or judges his brother is maligning and criticizing the Law [God’s Law found in the Bible] and judging the Law. But if you judge the Law, you are not a practitioner of the Law but a censor and judge [of it]. )

We might consider ourselves to be “Watchmen on the Wall” or “Prophets” or simply “men and women who are entrusted with discernment”, but if the fruit of our ministries is suspicion, we are in trouble