In Fairfield Bay, Arkansas, in communities throughout America there is gossip, rumors, accusations, innuendos, insinuations about leaders and others. Many times, maybe even most of the time, they are not accurate, they are half-truths, or outright lies. What fuels this type of behavior. Some of it is because some people are never happy, they are just grumblers. Other times it is because individuals are not getting there way-narcissistic. But other times it is because those who are being attacked may be people of honesty and integrity but they are not being transparent/sincere. Individuals who are not transparent, vulnerable, and do not come across as sincere we normally do not trust.

People who are honest, have integrity, and transparent/sincere are people we can trust.
We may not always agree with people who are honest, have integrity, and sincere, but we know we usually feel we can trust them. They are real.

Not all individuals who are people of integrity are transparent. When a person does not give full disclosure, it makes you wonder what they may be holding back. When a person makes you dig to get all the facts it makes you wonder what they may be holding back. When a person refuses to answer questions in a sincere manner it makes you suspicious of them.

If you want people to trust you, you need to be open, transparent, vulnerable. Pure honesty does not hold back. Pure honesty does not play it safe. Pure honesty is willing to take some hits for standing for the truth. If there is a good reason why you are holding back information, you need to acknowledge you are holding back information for a good purpose.

The best way to silence gossip, rumors, accusations, innuendos, insinuations is for there to be transparency.

Antagonizers
Is there wisdom? Absolutely! Are there people who will twist what you say? Absolutely! Listen, being silent is not the answer. This just fuels the gossip and rumors. Speak the truth in love and move on. Yes, there is a time to move on. There is a time to ignore the doomsayers. You will never please them no matter what or how you do something.

If any of else are not operating in these characteristics we need to repent and ask God to put these traits in us and help us to manifest them in our interaction with others.

Important Bible Verses
1 Corinthians 13:6
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

Proverbs 12:22 NLT
The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth.

Titus 2:7 ESV
Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity,

Acts 24:16 ESV
So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.

1 Peter 3:16 ESV
Having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

Philippians 4:8 ESV
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
I would add not just think about these things but DO these things.

Prayer
Heavenly Father the Bible says you are the Father of Lights which means goodness, honesty, purity, wisdom, glory, and love. Help us to have these characteristics in our lives. Help us as Christ Followers to be individuals that are known to be people who operate out of goodness, honesty, integrity, wisdom, love, and transparency, our lives giving you glory. Help us to be honest. If we are going to be real it takes a power outside of us to be such a person. We cannot do it on our own. So we give the Holy Spirit to take control of our lives. We pray that our leaders from local government, state, and federal government, and our business leaders and our church leaders will operate in Honesty, Integrity, and Transparency/Sincerity.
We ask all this In Jesus Name

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