How to ruin your reputation (3 fast easy ways)

It takes years to build a reputation, but it can be ruined in seconds, and then takes a lifetime to rebuild. The Bible tells us that sin is the source of all the problems in the world. These 3 sins will ruin your reputation faster than anything. Don’t do them! If you do, confess, repent, forsake, and be restored. As always, Jesus Christ is the answer.

1) Dishonesty — lying, cheating, and corruption

How many world-famous world-record athletes have had their titles stripped and their reputation ruined because they lied or cheated? Ten, 50, hundreds? Olympic athletes who have been caught cheatingTop 15 Athletes Who Were Dropped By Sponsors And Lost MillionsList of stripped Olympic medals.

  • The 10 commandment law concerning lying and false testimony (Exodus 20:16; 22:1; Leviticus 6:5; Numbers 5:7; Matthew 5:33-37)
  • There are six things the LORD hates—no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family.(Proverbs 6:16-19)
  • The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth. (Proverbs 12:22)
  • Putting confidence in an unreliable person in times of trouble is like chewing with a broken tooth or walking on a lame foot. (Proverbs 25:19)
  • Zacchaeus — the chief tax collector — cheated and stole from his own people — but when he was saved, he said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” (Luke 19:1-10)

2) Sexual immorality — rape, adultery, fornication, and #metoo

How many world-famous politicians, executives, and stars have had their reputation ruined because of sexual immorality. Ten, 50, hundreds? MeToo movement – Vox2017–18 United States political sexual scandals – Wikipedia

  • The 10 commandment law concerning adultery (Exodus 20:17; Leviticus 18:20; 20:10; Ezekiel 33:26; Matthew 5:27-28))
  • For a prostitute will bring you to poverty, but sleeping with another man’s wife will cost you your life. Can a man scoop a flame into his lap and not have his clothes catch on fire? Can he walk on hot coals and not blister his feet? So it is with the man who sleeps with another man’s wife. He who embraces her will not go unpunished. (Proverbs 6:26-29)
  • But the man who commits adultery is an utter fool, for he destroys himself. He will be wounded and disgraced. His shame will never be erased. For the woman’s jealous husband will be furious, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge. He will accept no compensation, nor be satisfied with a payoff of any size. (Proverbs 6:30-35)
  • Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)
  • Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry. (Colossians 3:5)
  • Now then, brothers and sisters, because of the Lord Jesus we ask and encourage you to excel in living a God-pleasing life even more than you already do. Do this the way we taught you. You know what orders we gave you through the Lord Jesus. It is God’s will that you keep away from sexual sin as a mark of your devotion to him. (1 Thessalonians 4:1-3)

3) Hatred — anger, violence, and murder

Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law. (Romans 13:8-10)

  • The 10 command law concerning love (Exodus 20:1-19; Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 5:43; 19:19; 22:39; Mark 12:31)
  • Don’t befriend angry people or associate with hot-tempered people, (Proverbs 22:24)
  • An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression. (Proverbs 29:22)
  • You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell. (Matthew 5:21-22)
  • for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. (James 1:20)
  • This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ All of Moses’ Teachings and the Prophets depend on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40)
  • You were indeed called to be free, brothers and sisters. Don’t turn this freedom into an excuse for your corrupt nature to express itself. Rather, serve each other through love. All of Moses’ Teachings are summarized in a single statement, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” But if you criticize and attack each other, be careful that you don’t destroy each other. (Galatians 5:13-15)

Do you see a constant theme?

When we put ourselves first and forget about others and forget about God, we are headed full-speed for a ruined reputation or worse. The Apostle Paul started his religious life as a Pharisee and became so zealous of his religion than he persecuted and killed Christians. This reputation haunted him for the rest of his life even after serving God above and beyond anything I will ever be able to accomplish. The answer to a ruined reputation from sin is to confess, repent, forsake, apologize, and make restoration.

  • You are doing right if you obey this law from the highest authority: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” If you favor one person over another, you’re sinning, and this law convicts you of being disobedient. If someone obeys all of God’s laws except one, that person is guilty of breaking all of them. After all, the one who said, “Never commit adultery,” is the same one who said, “Never murder.” If you do not commit adultery but you murder, you become a person who disobeys God’s laws. Talk and act as people who are going to be judged by laws that bring freedom. No mercy will be shown to those who show no mercy to others. Mercy triumphs over judgment. (James 2:8-13)
  • Don’t you know that wicked people won’t inherit the kingdom of God? Stop deceiving yourselves! People who continue to commit sexual sins, who worship false gods, those who commit adultery, homosexuals, or thieves, those who are greedy or drunk, who use abusive language, or who rob people will not inherit the kingdom of God. That’s what some of you were! But you have been washed and made holy, and you have received God’s approval in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
  • The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
  • I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. (Luke 15:7)
  • But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. (Revelation 22:15)

How to rebuild a reputation

Featured image of doors from an old lunatic asylum by Nathan Wright (CCO)