Ever been misquoted? Someone comes to you angry because of something they heard that you said. A friend of a friend who lives next door to someone who overheard something you may have said under your breath while walking past talking to someone else. Nonetheless the reported words were so upsetting this person is now very angry with you. And you never said anything like it in fact!
Maybe you've been the angry one. Not clear of your facts but ready nonetheless to give this person a piece of your mind.
Paul was often misquoted it would seem. People were reporting he was telling people to do more evil that good may come. Having had this rumour spread others now joined in and confirmed this was true.
'The internet is pure truth' according one of the characters in the latest Transformers movie. How easy do false chain mails get sent around. When you read a quotation from someone on some website - did they really say that? We need to both make sure we quote people correctly and tread carefully when reading or hearing a report on someone else. Especially something less favourable.
Romans 12 tells us to not think too highly of ourselves (v3) but to give preference to one another (v10). We need to think the best of each other, say the best about each other and believe the best from each other.
When we hear someone may have said something and we don't have all the facts. Let's think the best of them. And when we are misquoted remember we're in good company. So was Paul!
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