Really Bad Publicity

A few weeks ago the nation was in an uprising over a severe national problem, the replacement refs in the NFL. After several weeks of bad calls culminating in game deciding “missed” call, fans were fit to be tied. As I listened to the throng of opinions, one that I heard disturbed me the most. The commentator said that while everyone was upset with the league, the buzz it had created was good. As he quipped, “there is no such thing as bad publicity”.

That is not the only time I have heard this strategy promoted. We have seen in lots of forms of entertainment. Starlets leek their immoral trysts to jump-start careers, Bad boy rockers supplement their image with bad behavior. Political commentators say outrageous things. All trying to gain publicity by any means necessary.

It might even work, in the short term. What they do not realize however is that the “bad publicity” adage is very short lived. Anyone that shows them self to be a fool will be noticed but as quickly forgotten. Rather than be recognized for their talent they will be dismissed for their actions. They won’t make a name for themselves; rather they will just ruin any reputation they had.

That is why as God’s faithful, we need to be wary of anything that might sully our reputation. Proverbs 22:1 tells us, “A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, Favor is better than silver and gold”. Too many only desire to be “know” rather than be “known for something”. Our deeds should not be about getting attention from men but rather bringing glory to God (Matthew 5:16, 6:1). Attention gained in negative ways will not bring glory to God. Popularity is never worth your reputation.

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