In the past few weeks, I have gone on several rants via twitter about the danger in slandering others. These days, people seem
to confuse 'righteous judgment' with 'slander.' I will not go into a
whole spell about the difference in the two. But, the purpose of this
posting is to remind the saints of God about the dangers in slandering
others. According to Free Dictionary, slander is defined as 'A false and
malicious statement or report about someone!' It is simple; if you bear
false witness against someone then you are a slanderer. Furthermore, if you
believe false witness you are a slanderer. Just because someone says
something is true about someone doesn't make it true. So, what does the
bible have to say about slandering? In 1 Corinthians 6:8-10, Paul
exclaimed a few things that God doesn't tolerate. But pay close attention
to the word slander in this scripture. 'Do not be deceived, neither
sexually immoral nor idolaters adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor thieves nor the
greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of
God.' Christians love to pick and choose which sins are deemed more
punishable to GOD. People love to bash homosexuals, but God made it very
clear that he doesn't like liars. Have you ever told a lie? So, the
point I am trying to make is that slandering is dangerous. Slandering someone is
like shooting 'friendly fire.' We become agents of satan when we slander
people. We are doing the very works of the enemy. After all, he
does stand in the presence of God daily accusing us about our sins. (Refer to
the book of Job) I will venture to say that when we slander others, we
look just like satan. Thus, the truth isn't in us. People love to
hide behind discernment and say 'God, revealed that such and such is in sin!' But,
if God revealed this to you, then why are you spreading that information
instead of praying? See, a true slanderer will always try to convince one
that God gave them some deep revelations about someone else's sins. Confessing
your sins is Godly, but confessing the sins of others, makes you are slanderer.
As the Body of Christ, we need to focus on taming our suspicious minds
and our vile tongues. One of these days, God will call us home. We will have to take account for every wasted word that came out of our mouths. Guess
What? On that day, the Judge (GOD) cannot let us slide. The Lord will
render us righteous Judgment. Our tongues will be buried in a graveyard
with our bodies. But, our individual souls will be held accountable for
the works of the flesh. So, if you have slandered someone in the past,
then repent. God forgives! But, we must remember to guard our tongues on
a daily basis. I will leave you with this scripture:
'Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that
they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships:
although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a
very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a
little member and boasts great things.
See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And
the tongue is a fire, a
world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the
whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by
hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the
sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the
tongue. It is an
unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father,
and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out
of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought
not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can
a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring
yields both salt water and fresh.'
James 3:3-12
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