Bobby Key
The Spirit teaches that slander is an awful sin. “Whoso privily slandereth his neighbor, him will I destroy: him that hath a high look and a proud falsehood or unproven rumor maliciously told for the purpose of injuring the influence or reputation of another.
Christian people should be careful about repeating something they have heard about another. Much of our trouble in the church today is the result of this very thing. Reputations have been destroyed by slander. We are better than the buzzard that is always hungry for a carcass. The slanderer usually has bitterness and hatred in the heart and an untruth on the tongue.
It would do well to study about Gashmu in the book of Nehemiah. Slander was used in trying to stop Nehemiah from building the walls around Jerusalem. “Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifty time with an open letter in his hand; Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it…” (Neh. 6:5-6). How many times have you heard “it is reported,” “they say,” and the like? What Gashmu said was not true. He was engaged in the sin of slander.
Because one is quoted as authority does not necessarily make him reliable! Accusing is not proving. Men of honor will not believe and repeat every rumor they read or hear. A person’s reputation is a fragile thing and is easily damaged. That which takes a lifetime to build may be destroyed in a matter of hours.
Those who follow Christ are told “…to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be not brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men” (Tit. 3:1-2). When one comes to you with an evil report about another brother in Christ, ask for proof from two or more witnesses. This is the law of both the Old and New Testaments.
When our brother falls into sin, it is our duty to lift him up, not crush him down. Remember that we are all in need of Divine mercy and forgiveness. The brother is to be restored in the spirit of meekness. All the while we must be considering ourselves, lest we also be tempted (Gal. 6:1). There is enough heartache in the world without adding the sin of slander.
