Reputation 101 for Christians. What Do People Say about You and Does it Matter?

Reputation 101 for Christians.

What do people say about you? 

Does it matter?

I know the “right” answer is — of course not! People can say what they want! We know who we are. Sticks and stones and all that.

Okay, sure, I get that. I’ve said that. Sounds super mature. And at the end of the day, it’s true.  But what if what people say about you impacts their understanding of who Jesus is?

What if they believe a lie? What if they associate you with a group of people who don’t even begin to represent your views? What if someone actually steals your reputation? Falsely accuses you? Misunderstands you completely?

I’ve experienced each of these scenarios and I can honestly say that “what do people say about you?” is not the most important question. It matters. It’s not insignificant.

We are to live in such a way that people speak well of us because our words, actions, attitudes, and integrity merit praise.

Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.” And 1 Peter 2:12 reads, “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.” In 1 Timothy 3, Paul counsels that elders or overseers must be “above reproach” (v 2) and ” be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil” (v 7).

We are called to live like Christ and behave, think, and speak in ways that reflect a heart surrendered to Jesus. Period. Full stop. That is our calling. And, in a sinless world, that would result in an unblemished reputation.

But, we live here, not in the New Jerusalem but in the old, rundown Sin City known as life this side of glory and the neighborhood ain’t what it used to be.

Twenty-five years ago, living the way we live and believing what we believe made us trustworthy, people of integrity, even upstanding citizens.

Fifteen years ago, same beliefs, same lives made us the “odd” but nice enough neighbors who still had old-fashioned beliefs and talked about Jesus like we had coffee with Him every morning.

Now, those same beliefs, same lives, in some quarters, make us dangerous, suspect of a host of potential crimes including racism, fascism, and nationalism (unless we’re the “good kind” of Christian– whatever that is in your neighborhood). Or conversely, we’re compromisers, heretics, worldly, and diluters of the faith. One sideways breath and we’re fair game for believers and non-believers alike.

Part of me says– whatever.

Jesus’s enemies called Him names — Beelzebul (Matthew 10:25), imposter/deceiver (Matthew 27:63), a glutton, drunkard, friend of tax collectors and sinners (Matthew 11:19), and blasphemer (John 10:33) among others. He tells us if we’re living as we should not to expect any less. Why should we be spared when He wasn’t?

I know mature leaders who would advise that we “can only control ourselves.” What others do or say is not within our purview to govern. Jesus was silent before His accusers. Psalm 37:7 advises us to leave it to God, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!” 

But, I would also point out that Paul presented a defense of himself, not for his or his ego’s sake, but so that believers would not be detoured from the gospel of Jesus Christ. Study 2 Corinthians and Galatians and you will understand what I believe is a more important question than “What Do People Say About You?”

You see, a vital question that should concern you is this: What do YOU believe about You?

Part of the reason we get so tossed about by what others say or think is that we haven’t grounded our own thinking about who we are in our identity in Christ. We hear other people talk about Christians and we start to fret– wait, are we racist? Are we worldly? Are we nationalists? Are we compromising heretics?

The problem is that’s the wrong mirror. What is fashionable, reasonable, acceptable, and cultural changes. It’s like a fun house mirror where just when we’ve adjusted to one reflection, the mirror modifies and we’re changing ourselves again to accomodate the mirror.

God’s mirror reflects TRUTH. There is a TRUTH about you. It is a truth that no one can steal or destroy. It is a truth you need to understand and embrace. It’s not found on any news station and it’s not found on social media. No one generation has it nailed down. Only God knows and He’s communicated it through His Son, Jesus.

In Matthew 16:13-20, when Jesus asked the disciples, ““Who do people say the Son of Man is?” It’s not because Jesus was confused.  John 13:3-4 says, “Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.”

Jesus knew God the Father and trusted Him. And, Jesus knew where He came from and where He was going.

Paul knew Jesus and trusted Him with salvation. Paul knew what He was before Christ, who He was in Christ, and where He would go as He followed Christ.

If you find yourself tossed about these days or see the church tossed about, know it’s time to dig into the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth and that is found in God, His Word, His Son, Jesus.

Don’t be a racist, fascist, nationalist, worldly, compromising heretic.

Do trust Jesus Christ for your whole salvation, not relying on your works.

Do live as He did, refraining from sin, actively loving others, and doing good works prepared for you before the foundations of the earth.

Don’t chase those who speak against you trying to play cleanup of your reputation but don’t be afraid to point to your godly actions and speak clearly the truth of Jesus you know and live for the sake of those trying to receive the gospel.

Reputation 101 for Christians. Let us keep our heads and hearts about us, loved ones. There is foolishness afoot and we must be wise for the sake of the gospel so that all who have ears can hear.

Thoughts? I respond to every comment and reply to every email.

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— Lori Roeleveld (@lorisroeleveld) October 6, 2025