"Guilt by association and credit by association are still logical fallacies.
If truly accepted and internalized, that is an axiom that would radically change public discourse on the Internet and elsewhere in public life.
People who have shifted the window of discourse to make these fallacies seem acceptable have an agenda for wanting you to accept them -- for many it is money, for some it is propaganda purposes, and there are many more nefarious reasons.
Besides being logical fallacies, they are also anti-Christian ideas. While we can benefit one another and harm one another with what we do, God will hold each of us responsible for what we ourselves do, not for what someone else does. We should of course try to heal what others have wounded when we are able, but merely being associated with someone does not bring either their light or shadow on you.
In a clickbait, cancel-culture world, it's very easy just to get outraged or to ridicule or to feel a sense of solidarity without ever bothering to check whether any of it is actually true (and I don't mean by doing a Google search). That's because we spend a lot more time now in virtual reality rather than in 3D reality, so it's harder for us to tell what is real from what is fake.
So here's the thing -- God will judge each one of us according to our deeds. There is no way around that. What have I actually done? What good have I done? What evil have I done?
Did I follow the commandments of Christ?
Or did I substitute merely having the right list of opinions?
According to the Scriptures, the one who loves God keeps His commandments. That's what it comes down to.
We will know others by their fruits -- whether there is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22) -- and God will also know us by those same fruits.
Don't fall for propaganda. Look for the obedience to the commandments, and begin with yourself".
BY: Fr. Andrew Damick
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