A Good Mission But Bad Publicity, What To Do

Matthew 9:10-11 (NIV) – 10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

What do you do when a good mission gets bad publicity? What you are doing is good, but the word spreading out there about it, is negative. Should you fix the publicity? Should you stop the good mission? What do you do?

Jesus has called Matthew to be His disciple. Jesus visits Matthew’s home. Matthew’s friends and colleagues (who may not be nice people, but as of now are his only acquaintances) attend the party. It’s a crowd of tax collectors and people referred to as sinners. Jesus seeks to win them to Himself. The enemies of Jesus see Him as hanging out with wrong people. What should Jesus do?

Should Jesus bow to pressure and apologize to the public and quickly get out of that party? Should Jesus ignore the negative publicity and enjoy the party? What should Jesus do?

The people who raised the negative publicity were Pharisees. The Pharisees were enemies of Jesus. The bad publicity is always the work of enemies. 

The bad publicity that hides in comments section of social media is never concern for the church, it’s the work of the enemy. The bad publicity that seeks to paint the church negatively because of a few people, is not the work of a loving concerned believers, it’s the work of enemies. Jesus gave us a way of correcting wrongs amongst us, and it’s not bad publicity. This is the work of the enemies disguised as concerned pious people. What should we do?

 Matthew 9:12-13 (NIV) – 12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Jesus addressed the bad publicity. Jesus responded to what was spreading out there. There are times when giving a clarification is in order. Jesus did not stop the good mission, but He responded to the negative publicity.

Jesus gave a clarification because there were people who honestly needed that clarification. The clarification was helpful to someone. Under such conditions, Jesus gave a clarification.

Matthew 27:12 (NIV) – When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer.

During the process before crucifixion, Jesus did not respond to. Jesus kept quiet. At this point nobody needed clarification. They had concluded and plotted that Jesus is wrong and must die. Clarification from Jesus would change nothing. Therefore, Jesus remained silent and let the bad publicity spread.

There are times when bad publicity should be tackled. This is when clarification would be helpful. There are times when bad publicity should be ignored. This is because clarification wouldn’t change anything. May God help us to know the difference!

Matthew 9:12-13 (NIV) – 12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Jesus refused to be distracted by bad negativity. He gave one response and carried on. Do not engage enemies who spread bad publicity. If you must clarify, do it once and move on ignoring them. Engaging them beyond clarification may give credibility to useless idlers who thrive on social media attention. Clarify and totally ignore them.

After the clarification, Jesus continued enjoying the party that Pharisees had condemned. If clarification is necessary, do it and enjoy the good work. If clarification is not necessary, ignore the bad publicity and continue the good. In other words, whatever it is, stick to the good work, the good mission.

May God help us not to stop any good work because of bad publicity. If we stop, the enemy wins. We may clarify or ignore, but the good work goes on.

Should we stop singing and preaching because someone thinks the few bad people have made the whole church bad? No! We will clarify if necessary, but we keep singing, we keep preaching, we keep attending church, we keep returning tithes and offerings, we keep evangelizing. We will not be stopped by an enemy disguised as a pious believer. Jesus did not stop. We will not stop!

If you get bad publicity at work, keep doing the right thing. If you get bad publicity within the family, keep doing the good work. Even if children are set up against you and they now dislike you, keep providing, keep doing the good work. If you get bad publicity, you may or may not clarify, but do not stop the good work.

May God help us to focus on the good work. May God help us to ignore  what must be ignored and respond to what needs a one sufficient response. May God help us to avoid engaging idlers who will gain mileage by our responses. May God give us wisdom under such circumstances. In Jesus name, Amen!

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