managing vs. creating your reputation

Someone at the SyFy Network must say on a daily basis, "What's the worst movie ever? Okay, let's air it, and anything that sounds remotely like it after it."

For every "Mongolian Death Worm" and "Sharks in Venice," there are thousands of ideas that don't make the cut. I like a lot of science-fiction movies, but sometimes they seem to be made for YouTube instead of an actual audience.

As I was looking at the implication of what was yet again on TV, I realized this challenge:

Consider the reputation you think you have, versus the one you're creating.

"These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead." (Revelation 3:1) 

 There are essentially three ways to handle who you appear to be versus who you are:

1) Manage your reputation to look good even when it isn't. Surround yourself with only people who agree with you or are too afraid to confront you. This way you'll think you've convinced yourself of something you'll never truly convince yourself of.

2) Actively monitor what people are saying about you. You may end up turning your friends into your own personal "Google," asking them "What did she say? What did he say? What did she say about what he said?"This will be an awkward life to manage - believe me, I know from personal experience. It's far better to realize people don't think about you as much as you'd like to think they do (in order to "plot against you," of course).

3) Proactively be someone who pleases God's heart and practically adds to His world. The only real way for people to not poke at your life and pop the false bubble you're creating is to become solid. There's a huge difference between a negative reputation with a few positive comments versus a positive reputation with a few negative comments.

Unfortunately, there will be times where you have to address real or false accusations. Some of us have spots on our record we may always have to answer for, while other times we may simply deal with others who would rather grumble about their perceptions than work things out permanently.

That is all secondary to the primary task of simply being the person God create you to be. Don't be afraid to carry the cross of putting out content that you are living out - which means avoid doing good deeds without actually letting the Lord work good inside of you. People will see through it anyway.

Of course, there may be times that even by doing good you are crucified... and the good news is you're in good company.

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (Mark 8:34)