Informed decisions are good decisions.

I’m pretty sure we’d all agree with that statement. But when it comes to what we read and hear—especially online—it’s easy to make quick conclusions that are anything but informed.

The problem is compounded because of how quickly all the information comes at us. We’re bombarded. We hear breaking news, or see the spin of that late-breaking news by a friend or acquaintance, and we weigh into to offer our two cents—sometimes without getting all the facts and without any sober second thought—and contribute to the spread of what is sometimes misinformation.

What’s worse is that we can do it in an ungracious way because we’re acting (or reacting) impulsively.

And that doesn’t reflect well on the One we’re supposed to be following.

In Ephesians 4:1-2 Paul urges his readers to “live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

I think that’s a sound approach for all of us—including those times when we wade into the hurricane of online information and are tempted to make quick conclusions that are uninformed.

-Don’t always believe the rumors.
-Weight the facts.
-Be humble, gentle, patient, and loving.
-Represent Christ well.

Informed decisions are good decisions.

By Matthew Ruttan

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.