Headlines and Heartlines

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” —Ephesians 4:31-32 (NIV)

Our friend Nadean has a game called Tabloid Teasers that always gets us laughing. The premise is simple: one player reads the start of a tabloid headline, and the rest secretly write their own endings. “Elvis spotted at _____” might become “Elvis spotted at 7-11 buying a Slurpee.” The real headline is mixed in with the fakes, and players vote on which one they think is true. Points are awarded based on how convincing—or absurd—your fake headline is.

It’s a game of playful deception. But outside the living room, the line between truth and fiction isn’t so funny. These days, it’s harder to tell what’s real. News stories blur into gossip. Outrage sells. And some headlines seem pulled straight from the game box.

Why does this happen? Paul names it plainly: bitterness, rage, slander, malice. These aren’t just societal problems—they’re spiritual ones. Left unchecked, our human nature leans toward division and drama. We take a strange delight in the downfall of others. We pass along stories that tear down rather than build up.

But Paul doesn’t leave us there. He calls us to a different way: kindness, compassion, and forgiveness. Not because we’ve earned it, but because Christ first forgave us. Said another way, because we have experienced forgiveness, we know how to forgive! In verse 29, he urges us to speak only what gives grace—words that heal, not harm.

So maybe the real headline today is this:

“Forgiveness spotted at the dinner table.” 

“Kindness breaks out in the church parking lot.” 

“Compassion goes viral.”

Let’s be the ones who write those stories with our lives.

God of truth and tenderness, we confess the ease with which we slip into bitterness and blame. We name the ways we’ve passed along harm—spoken too quickly, judged too sharply, withheld grace. Thank you for your mercy that meets us even here. Soften our hearts. Shape our words. Let our speech be a balm, our silence be wise, and our presence be healing. May we forgive as we’ve been forgiven and speak as those who know what love sounds like. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Peace & Grace,

Pastor Tim