Appearances or Truth?

1 Thessalonians 5:22
"22 Abstain from all appearance of evil."

Actually the word "appearance" was added to the KJB. It says in the original language to "abstain from evil." If we walked around being worried about everything that might appear evil, but is not, we would be in a constant state of agitation.

I once received a bottle of sparkling cider from a friend, because she was worried that anyone who walked into her house would think it was wine and she didn't want it even in her house. It was given to her, but it ended up with me.

I care not what kind of bottle enters my home, as long as what is in it is honoring to God. We can take these things so far that we would be all bound up in false guilt over every little thing that someone else might like to "assume" or "create a lie" from.

The word appearance was added to the Bible, not in the original copies, creating a false guilt in many over something that is not even true. It was the practice of legalists and Pharisees to add to what God said just to make sure everyone didn't step over the line. There is no need to do this, we can tell the truth and allow the heart of others to be guided by the Holy Spirit.

We need to be very careful not to make judgments on things we only "suspect" about someone based on a few seconds of observation.

There are lots of people out there who love to make a mountain out of a mole hill, passing their lies on as fact while harming reputations and relationships without the whole story. They may not even pass on their false knowledge to others but they will treat with disdain and demeaning the one they have judged.

If you have a bottle in your house that happens to look like a wine bottle, I would think nothing of it. It might be wine vinegar for cooking, or sparkling cider as mine was. It is not my business to judge what kind of bottles you use or what's in them.

Those who look for things to criticize, usually have much they are hiding in their own lives, perhaps they are guilty about their own self righteousness.

1 Corinthians 4:4-6 "…4 My conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the proper time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. 6 Brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then you will not take pride in one man over another.…"

It is one thing to judge righteously that which is sin, when we know all the facts, it is quite another to observe something or someone deciding the truth, without the facts and without speaking to the one we observe. So many people decided what they wish to believe about someone and pass that to others.

Let's humble ourselves, learn to ask loving questions to discern truth and then proceed from there as led by the Holy.