RED HERRINGS!

RED HERRINGS!

Ps 32:2

2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

Ps 34:13

13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

John 1:46-47

46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

Prov 26:24-26

24 He who hates pretends with his lips, but stores up deceit within himself.

25 When he speaks kindly, do not trust him, for seven abominations are in his heart.

26 Though his hatred covers itself with guile, his wickedness shall be shown openly before the assembly.

AMPLIFIED BIBLE

A Red Herring is defined as something intended to divert attention from the real problem or matter at hand; a misleading clue. The origin of the expression has a number of theories. Conventional wisdom has long attributed it to a technique of training hounds to follow a scent, or of distracting hounds during a fox hunt. It is duplicity which is the disguising of true intentions by deceptive words or actions.

Guile, as it is used in John 1:46-47, is the Greek word dolos and literally means “bait” or to trick. Nathanael was plain spoken when he asked: “can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Jesus seemed to appreciate his frankness!

In my relationship with people, and even members of my own church, I am often sent away from real problems and issues with a red herring. For instance, when I say to someone that I have missed them at church, some will explain their absence with some very weak excuse. Perhaps they have been extraordinarily busy for the past six weeks or so! Maybe they have had the sniffles. When I happen to meet them at other functions they once again tell me how busy they have been and how terribly hard it is for them to attend church. It is a red herring – and it stinks.

Honesty has a beautiful and refreshing simplicity about it. No ulterior motives. No hidden meanings. An absence of hypocrisy, duplicity, political games, and verbal superficiality. As honesty and real integrity characterize our lives, there will be no need to manipulate others.  Charles R. Swindoll (1934- )

Dear Lord, help me to be honest with others without being cruel. Let me not be distracted by duplicity. AMEN