LightGrams
February 26, 2026
Volume 30, Number 8
“Don’t shoot the messenger” is a phrase that has been around for a while. One website said it can be traced to ancient China between the 3rd and 5th centuries, B.C. The meaning is simple: Don’t get upset at the person who reports bad news; they weren’t responsible for whatever has upset you but simply reported the facts. Yet it’s often true that we do blame the messenger.
A modern example was seen recently in Canada when a hockey fan was captured on video taking a chainsaw to his wall-mounted flat screen TV. The gold medal Olympic men’s hockey game between Canada and the United States had just concluded with the U.S. coming out on top. It was the first gold medal in men’s hockey for the U.S. since the famous “Miracle On Ice” game in 1980. Canada had been greatly favored to win this match, but things didn’t turn out as expected.
The man’s TV paid the price. But why? What crime had it committed that brought about its execution? The only role it played was in reporting the game, which produced a final score that this man and his Canadian friends just couldn’t accept.
This principle is often seen in the Bible. In Galatians 4:16 Paul asked his readers the question: “Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?” The “truth” Paul told them had its origins with God. But the anger of the Galatian Christians had become focused on the messenger.
The prophet Jeremiah also used this device in Jeremiah 20:15: “Let the man be cursed who brought news to my father, saying, ‘A male child has been born to you!’ making him very glad.” That curse on a message bearer seems odd until you see how Jeremiah, a messenger for the Lord, was greatly persecuted by the people to whom he prophesied.
In Jeremiah 38:4 a man asked the king to put Jeremiah to death: “Please, let this man be put to death, for thus he weakens the hands of the men of war who remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, by speaking such words to them.” Why was Jeremiah speaking such words to the people in the days just prior to Babylon’s invasion of Jerusalem? It was God’s message; it was the truth.
Sometimes God’s words please us; at other times, they point out our sins and warn us of consequences. So how should we respond? By shooting the messenger or taking a chainsaw to our Bibles? Here’s the right response: “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away” (Hebrews 2:1). It is only by knowing the truth God has given us that we have any hope of being free from the consequences of our sins (John 8:32).
“So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath … [but] receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:19,21).
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2026, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).
“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “Tim@GraceMine.org” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.
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