Second Hand Belief

Why is it that so often, we are prone and enticed into believing the truth about something/someone from someone else. Why is it, that we do not make the effort to approach the matter and investigate and find out the truth from the primary source?

I think I am beginning to realize the devastation this can bring upon a person - a church, a family, a ministry, etc. For example, this is a true story that happened in the not too distant past: One person heard something about another person. Then that person who heard the issue told other people. After telling a host of other people, the person sought out the primary person and said, "I heard ... about you." Why did that happen? Or Why did you do that?

Notice that there is no question to confirm if the issue heard was correct or even valid. It was simply a question with accusatory overtones. I think we do this for a number of reasons:

(1) We are simple minded and do not want to have - in any way, shape or form - any conflict, so the issue is simply believed without further investigation.

(2) We as human beings are prideful. Perhaps when we hear something negative about someone else, we are easily drawn to believe it simply because we long to compare ourselves with others in hopes of recognizing that we may be "more spiritual" than they.

(3) Finally, oftentimes, we simply do not recognize when the conversation begins that this may be an issue that we - really - deserve to have no part in. In other words, when stories are told about someone, and much more, even behind their back, that is gossip. We are told "to not associate with a gossip" (Prov. 20:19).

May we be those who quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to become angry (James 1:19). May we also invesitagate issues - if it is our place to do so - rather than believing everything we hear and then spreading the news to others. God help us.