We want to hear your ideas, because we know that people
everywhere are speaking against this religious group (NCV, Acts 28:22).
In 2004 Alan
Sorensen and Scott Rasmussen of Stanford University evaluated the effects of
book reviews from the New York Times. Not surprising, they found a positive
review results in more book sales than a negative one. Perhaps more surprising
is that even a negative review increases a book’s sales by over 34% [1].
This study may bear
out the claim Any publicity is good publicity. P. T. Barnum is credited with expressing a
similar sentiment: “I don’t care what they say about me as long as they spell
my name right.” And poet/writer Oscar
Wilde is reported as saying, “There is only one thing worse than being talked
about, and that is NOT being talked about.”
After Paul was
transported to Rome and awaiting his trial before Caesar, he was free to have
guests even though he was under house arrest. Local Jewish leaders told him
they hadn’t heard anything bad about him, but that many people were talking trash
about Christianity. Apparently that negative press made them want to hear about
it all the more.
While negative press
may not be the worst thing in the world, Jesus tells us: Let your
light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your
Father in heaven (NIV 1984, Matthew 5:16).
TODAY’S MEDITATION
How can you live in such a
way that others will recognize you are a child of God? Pray that others will
see the positive changes in your life, resulting in praise to God.
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