The Anonymous Trap.

So I’ve been contemplating how a person is supposed to reconcile or take steps to making things right when they are dealing with comments from people who want to remain anonymous.

This anonymous trap has had me in bondage in the past and once again threatens to put me back in bondage again. The bondage is the turmoil in my spirit as I wonder how to make things right with the sources of the anonymous complaints/concerns. You feel like you are only getting a portion of the picture and you are supposed to guess at figuring out the entire picture. After seeing the fruit this practice of anonymity produces I am totally against doing things anonymously if they have a negative slant or a critical purpose.

For one thing you do not know who it is that is making the accusations or complaints/concerns. At times when I’ve found out whom the anonymous source was I could then understand the situation better because I knew source. Often I could then understand where I had gone wrong or what I had done wrong and I could try to do my part and make it right. When you know up front who is bringing concerns/hurts/criticism about you then you can know if this person has a past history of such behavior and clear patterns can be seen in their life that are contributing to the situation.

I believe hiding behind anonymity is in some cases being false and we are to set aside falsehood and in love speak truth. Remaining anonymous for what ever excuse makes it easy to not be held accountable for our words and actions thus making it almost impossible for there to be reconciliation and restoration.

I felt affirmed when I heard how one of Andrea’s Bible College Profs felt about anonymous surveys and/or evaluations in the church. He was quite forceful about his opinion that this was very wrong and not Biblical and went on to explain why to his class.

Anyway, my own journey having experienced this has been one of many battles but I have come to the conclusion that I can’t chase after anonymous people because it is futile and a waste of time. Does this mean that there is no truth to be found in anonymous comments? Of course not but when it has to do with a person being hurt by something you’ve said or done then how can you possibly reconcile with them while they are hiding in anonymity?

The devil also uses this to do damage to God's church. Because you don't know who you are dealing with suspicion and doubt are the enemy's tools to break down unity and reconciliation. Everyone suffers the consequences.

Matthew 18:15-17
If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

Ephesians 4:25
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

2 Timothy 1:7
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.