When Falsehood Looks Beautiful and Truth Is Poorly Represented

#reflections

One of the great trials is to see someone misguided in thought and deviant in approach, yet eloquent in speech and outwardly noble in character—while seeing the opposite in someone who is supposed to represent moderation and the straight path, but who, unfortunately, fails to embody its teachings and ends up saying what he does not practice.

This is where the trial becomes even greater: people begin to confuse the truth with the conduct of those who claim to follow it, and falsehood with the conduct of those who uphold it. The good character of someone upon falsehood may be mistaken for evidence that his beliefs are true, while the poor character of someone who claims to follow the truth may be mistaken for evidence that the truth itself is flawed.

And in this way, many may be driven away from the path of God—not because there is anything wrong with the path, but because some of those walking it have represented it poorly.

Truth is not known by the people who claim it, nor should a path be judged by the failures of those who associate themselves with it. Rather, people should be judged by how closely they conform to the truth—and by how deeply that truth is reflected in their character.