Reputation is a dicey topic these days. More than ever before, reputations--either good or bad--can be a total myth, manufactured by folks with sketchy motives or questionable judgment.
(Of course, there are wonderful people who deserve the good reputation they enjoy. Thank you for your precious example and integrity.)
"Trust and verify," used to a viable practice. That is, believe but fact check. It's gotten harder and harder, if not impossible to do.
Thanks to social media, and now AI, reputations can be carefully curated facades that advance half-truths, concealing a shambles just below the surface, or far worse, hiding outright evil. This can be true of the neighbors or of global leaders.
Some of us grew up (or currently live) in homes where reputation was WAY more important than reality, and it nearly killed us. They say, "You're only as sick as your secrets."
If you have a conscience, it's also awfully uncomfortable when your insides don't match your outsides.
Some of us have enjoyed the benefit of perceived reputation. For instance, our human tendency to idolize can cause people to elevate us based on little information, which is dangerous indeed. Let's all remember we're merely flawed humans in need of saving grace...plus, God says idolatry is a VERY bad thing.
Others have been taken in by someone's good reputation, only to discover it was a mask that concealed all manner of shenanigans that wrecked us. If only we'd known!
There are those who align themselves with people because of their image and influence, compromising their own values to enhance their reputation. Or we were so focused on what people would think of us, we ignored or denied God.
Conversely, some of us listened to vicious slander, forgetting that God says slander (or its written counterpart, libel) is as evil as the whatever sin it claims to disclose (see Romans 1). Check your source!
We, too, may also be on the wrong end of nasty slander that sullies our reputation. Folks have made stuff up about me based on 0.0013% of the facts, or no facts at all. Grrrr.
All this is nothing new and we're in excellent company!
Back in the day, Jesus called out the Pharisees...and other hypocrites...who sometimes had stellar reputations by society's standards, but whom He called "whitewashed tombs." Ouch.
The problem wasn't their sin, it was that claimed otherwise and abused and oppressed others with their self-righteousness. Clinically, narcissism.
Irritated by and envious of Christ's insight and influence, the Pharisees spread lies about Jesus, even after he was dead, in order to discredit him and diffuse his world-changing power. Downright ridiculous. 2.4 billion people testify that the Pharisees and their crew failed.
So, if you're on the short end of gossip, take it as a compliment, because it usually means people find you a threat and want to take you down or elevate themselves.
As always, we can learn from Jesus.
Jesus, King of the Universe, was strikingly indifferent to his reputation, good and bad. He dined with drunks and prostitutes, and thumbed his nose at the religious establishment:
"[Jesus]...made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow..." Philippians 2:7-10 (NKJV)
I love that Twelve Step recovery says, "What people think of me is none of my business." Liberating! Make it so, God!
On the other hand, maybe we've earned a bad rap by our own hand. Or maybe we've been guilty of one or more of these moral infractions, both victim and perpetrator.
I am raising my hand, friends.
Regardless, "reputation" seldom tells the whole story, as we see again and again in our own lives and in the news. Speaking on news,
VERY GOOD NEWS: Knowing our hopeless frailty, God gave us Jesus, who is merciful and gracious and welcomes you back when you repent.
He will one day restore all manner of losses, even if you did the losing by your own hand or as a victim of injustice.
(P.S. Jesus repeatedly said all that is hidden will be exposed. Humbly cooperate and spare yourself. Repent. 💖)
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