So one of our members stops in on Friday and tells me that although he missed the previous service, he want me to know that he heard a nice compliment about the music. He said, "What I was told was at least the music Pastor Spicer picked out was better than the usual stuff."
That's supposed to be something that going to encourage me?
Martin Luther's explanation to the 8th commandment reads: We should fear and love God so that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him, slander him or hurt his reputation, but defend him, speak well of him, and explain everything in the kindest way.
So, dear blog reader, backhanded compliments are no compliment at all. They are just the opposite - hurtful, critical and demeaning. Defend those who are the target of backhanded compliments. Ask such folks to keep such comments to themselves. Do what you can do to snuff out such attacks (for that is what they are) so that the person they are intended for never hear them.
With apologies to a famous bear - Only you can prevent backhanded compliments!
