Don't Let Rumors Discourage!

Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies found out that I had finished rebuilding the wall and that no gaps remained—though we had not yet set up the doors in the gates. So Sanballat and Geshem sent a message asking me to meet them at one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But I realized they were plotting to harm me, so I replied by sending this message to them: “I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?” Four times they sent the same message, and each time I gave the same reply. The fifth time, Sanballat’s servant came with an open letter in his hand, and this is what it said: “There is a rumor among the surrounding nations, and Geshem tells me it is true, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel and that is why you are building the wall. According to his reports, you plan to be their king. He also reports that you have appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim about you, ‘Look! There is a king in Judah!’ “You can be very sure that this report will get back to the king, so I suggest that you come and talk it over with me.” I replied, “There is no truth in any part of your story. You are making up the whole thing.” They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination. Nehemiah 6:1-9 NIV

POLITICS ALERT!

While reading this I realized that though there are few things that change over the course of history, not many things change. Way back then, we see the "politics" of people who don't know God and how they attempt to deceive those who do.

What's the best way to ignite emotions in people? Starting rumors to make them fearful. And in this election cycle, we see how rumors can and have ignited emotions in people like never before. We see one candidate being castigated for lying about one thing or another over what previous positions entailed and yet the other candidate lies every time they open their mouth on a daily basis and the words they use at rallies do nothing other than increase racial tensions and bigotry.

What is more amazing to me is that those listening to the republican nominee actually believe everything he says without having factual evidence of his telling the truth, but they are quick to spread the rumors in an effort to denigrate the other candidate.

How do I know? A number of supporters apparently repeat what they consider part of the script from the playbook of destruction--their philosophy--if you repeat enough, it becomes true. In reading articles about the election and the comments made, many copy and paste the same lies in every post. And for evidence the point to biased news media articles and the Internet. I guess they believed the lie, "if it's on the Internet, it has to be true. But then they also believe whatever is on YouTube because they're not aware of the fact that videos can be manipulated by those with agendas to destroy.
For the record--let me say this: the experts who have investigated Hillary Clinton have debunked every allegation that exists.  Therefore, there is no need for anyone to repeat those allegations about her being corrupt, a murderer (delusional thinking), and a liar (except for the fact that all politicians lie about their promises). Benghazi--investigated and resolved (understanding of military protocols help to understand this). The emails--investigated and resolved. The Clinton Foundation--investigated and there is NOTHING CORRUPT about it. There is no pay-to play aspect of what they do--they accept donations to help others. This is just rumors to undermine the candidate, while ignoring the blatant remarks of Trump.

Twice--with his own words--Trump has suggested that someone should take Hillary out (kill her)--without no justification or excuse for what he said. Plotting to kill someone is a crime. "Maybe the second-amendment people will do something about her" (after the election). "Her security team should disarm and see what happens to her."

He has woefully misrepresented the Black Community by saying things like--"they're in the worst shape, ever, ever, ever." He obviously missed his history classes and forgot about slavery and the Jim Crow Laws and the fight for Civil Rights (we still don't have). His influence at his rallies even have some believing that President Obama is the cause of racism. A lady was interviewed in Ohio recently and said that, "while I was growing up in the 60s, racism didn't exist." My response to that was, she had to be living in a cave or a tunnel with no connection to the outside world to believe that. Racism in this country has always existed and until people see "all people" as human beings rather than judging them by their skin tones, it will continue to exist.

I've gotten fired up just thinking about how rumors destroy--but then, isn't that the enemy's job--to destroy? It has been how he (Satan) operates from the beginning and will be until the end of mankind. We simply have to be smart enough to recognize his handiwork--designed to destroy and work to provide truth to all willing to hear it.

WE NEED TO DO SOME RESEARCH FOR OURSELVES--FROM CREDIBLE SOURCES AND SEEK GOD'S WISDOM IN ALL THINGS. If we just listen to the candidates--without a biased ear--we'll know who should be president of this already great America. Don't let the rumors discourage continued work to make it even better.