(PNN) PPSIMMONS News and Ministry Network: DOES REPUTATION MATTER?

by Rev. Joda Collins.

I heard a pastor preach that it does not matter what others think of us as long as we are doing what we think is right. I know some church members who drink alcohol in public and seem unconcerned about their testimony. A professing Christian man with long hair once told me that he did not care what others thought of him or his long hair even though the Bible states, "..it is a shame for a man to have long hair." I know a lot of professing Christians who do not much care what others think of them because they (the professing Christians) feel justified or have justified what they say, do or do not do.

Is that a biblical worldview? Is it true that it does not matter what others think or say about us (as Christians) as long as we feel good or justified about what we do or say? Does my reputation matter? Does your reputation matter? Reputation is not character. Character is what we do when we know we will not get caught for evil or praised for good. Reputation is what others say or think about us.

I have my own business. Recently, a client paid me $190, as contracted, for my service. Later the same day he emailed me stating that I did not honor a part of the contract. What actually happened is that he signed the contract without reading it, was not honest with me when he stated he read it, then he got mad at me because I only did slightly more for him than the contracted service. When I shared with him that I did what the contact called for and more, his response was that he did not actually read the contact (the implication being that his willful ignorance was ample justification for his false accusation) but assumed I would do more; (because) he told me that if he owned a business like mine he would do things differently than me!

I refused to go back and work for free. I would not serve him now even if he paid me. I do not work under the forced mandate to work for free and I do not work for people who do not keep their word, make false accusations against me or fail to honor contacts they sign on the assumption they are exempt. However, I returned his check along with a kind note and and my wishes for only the best for him and his. I seek no retribution against him or wish any harm to come to him. It is not my job to pass sentence on him. Why did I return his money?

I returned his check because that is the fastest, easiest and cheapest way to strip him of his power to slander my good name. "...they...who falsely accuse (you) may be ashamed by your good manner...." 1 Peter 3:16, KJV.

I think such a man would rejoice to complain to his friends and family that I am a bad man and run a crooked business. Remember, he is already proven to misrepresent the truth, demand free service and justify false accusation.

Here is my defense. "You contracted my service. I performed not only the service I was contracted to do but did more. You complained and wanted me to do even more for free. I refused to do more for free but refunded all of your money, thus everything I did for you was for free including the expense of driving 25 miles to and from your home to serve you. What is the problem?"

Simply by returning his check I can do a lot towards stopping his slander when it comes to any attempt he might make to say bad things about me to his family and friends and damage my reputation among those who do not know him well. Certainly, there are logical limits when it comes to refunding money for services rendered, but returning his check for $190 is worth possibly curbing his slander.

What people think and say about us does matter. It is important to do all we can within reason to shut the mouth of those who would slander us. "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches...." Proverbs 22:1, KJV.

I say again, reputation matters, especially these days when any thug can say or write any lie he or she wants to on social media and get away with it. In the larger and more important order of things (beyond business success) our reputation can help or hinder our influence for Christ. I am not saying that we make every concession to protect our reputation. Doing that would put us on the mercy-less hit list of every con in the Country. I am saying that when the Holy Spirit prompts us to make concessions to protect our reputation (as He did for me in this instance), we should do so with cheer because it does matter to God what people think and say about his children. It should matter to us. "Let not your good be evil spoken of." Romans 14:16, KJV.