I’ve prayed and searched much about this topic over several weeks. Our words can build one up or tear them down. They can create peace or
painful chaos. I pray He speaks to you as He has me. The Word of God says much
about the use of our tongues; it gives many examples of defamation and slander
as well as warnings against such things. I pray your heart and mind are open to
correction, conviction and repentance.
“Speak
not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and
judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou
judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.” James 4:11 "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." Proverbs 18:21
This is a serious topic that can
have deep long lasting effects on a person and possibly those around them. It
is the topic of slander, defamation of character and backbiting. Just a few
simple words can do so much damage. Let’s break down the phrase “speak evil”,
in the Greek it is kakologeó; which means speak evil of, curse, revile, abuse.
There are major repercussions for doing such things, not only within the
world’s judicial system, but also according to God’s. Yes, I said the world’s
legal system. Did you know someone can take such accusations before a worldly
judge? Even the world knows it’s wrong to painfully hurt and maliciously
slander another’s character. So, if the world knows it’s wrong, how much more
does the Heavenly Father hate it? TREMENDOUSLY!
Just what is slander? The greek word for “slander” is
diábolos (from 1225 /diabállō, "to slander, accuse, defame") –
properly, a slanderer; a false accuser; unjustly criticizing to hurt (malign)
and condemn to sever a relationship. [1228 (diábolos) is the root of the
English word, "Devil". 1228 (diabolos) in secular Greek means
"backbiter," i.e. an accuser, calumniator (slanderer). 1228
(diábolos) is literally someone who "casts through," i.e. making
charges that bring down (destroy) - concordances.org
Safe to say slander, unjust criticism, condemnation to sever
a relationship, backbiting, false accusations, all lies, etc. is satanic! Those
who practice such things on a regular basis; yet call themselves Christians may
want to consider whose character they truly do reveal. Remember the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). Those who follow him will do as he does! Steal your joy, kill your friendships & relationships and destroy the life Christ wants you to have in Him!
Here are three examples of such slanderous division I want
to share from the Word. There are many more, but I’ve found these three to be
the most distinct in their destruction!
First, let’s look at Eve’s conversation with the serpent in
the Garden of Eden.
“Now
the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had
made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every
tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the
fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the
midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye
touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely
die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be
opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw
that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a
tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did
eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” Genesis 3:1-6
This still affects us! Why? The serpent made Eve question
God, His motives, His character and integrity! He twisted God’s words and made
Him seem selfish in desiring to keep knowledge to Himself! Eve played right
into Satan’s hands and fell right into his trap! The serpent made the forbidden
fruit seem harmless and beneficial. Not only did she eat, but she gave it to
her husband Adam! This was a sly conniving conversation filled with twisted
words and inevitably caused the fall of man! There was an agenda behind it. He
not only wanted them to be disobedient to God, but also to sever their
relationship. Satan has always been jealous of God and he has the ultimate
wicked heart.
Let’s look at another example:
Let’s look at 2 Samuel 10
“And it came to pass after this, that the
king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.
Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his
father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of
his servants for his father. And David's servants came into the land of the
children of Ammon. And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun
their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent
comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to
search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?” (v1-3)
King David wanted to
bring comfort & show kindness to the family for their loss. So he sent 2 of
his servants to deliver the message. However, the princes of the children of
Ammon, misconstrued the message, twisted David’s intentions and said he sent
spies! So these servants of David were defamed, stripped of their dignity and
clothing ½ in the middle to their buttocks and ½ their beards were shaved off
(v4), their beards showed stature; plus they were embarrassed! He sent his
servants away to be cared for in Jericho until their beards grew again (v5).
So, not only was King David defamed, but his humble servants as well! Since the
princes of the children of Ammon refused to believe this was good sentiment
they hired they Syrians. They were dressed for battle! All this devastation,
for what? All David wanted to do was send his condolences but in return due to destructive
defamation and slander they’re in an out and out WAR! The remaining of the
chapter lists the armies involved, but in the end David’s army, all of Israel
(v17) sleighed nearly 50,000 people! This is craziness!
Do you see how
destructive the tongue can be? This is one of the most deadly cases in the Old
Testament! “All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they
devise my hurt.” Psalm 41:7 So, we’ve seen the fall of man, a spiritual death,
and now a tremendous catastrophic case of physical death.
Finally, let’s look at what Satan, the father of lies has
done to our Beloved Savior. Satan used the religious leaders of His time to
ultimately take Jesus life. They had nothing on Him, but lies! “Him, being delivered by the determinate
counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have
crucified and slain:” Acts 2:23 They inevitably took His life!
We understand the devastation of an uncontrolled tongue.
Where does it all stem from? It stems from a wicked heart. “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that
which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth
forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth
speaketh.” Luke 6:45 A wicked heart is self-serving, proud, jealous and
envious. All of which Satan possess and impresses these things upon those who
are unarmed in Christ! This was exactly James point when he said, “Speak not evil one of another, brethren…”
James 4:11 A true born again, Sprirt filled believer should not have a
lifestyle full of constant Hippocratic lies! For those in the flesh, it’s
comfortable for them to spread gossip, defame others character and tear others
down for their own personal gain. I strongly believe a slanderous disposition
reveals an evil heart. Which are obviously distinct characteristics of the
world! “Wherefore by their fruits ye
shall know them.” Matt 7:20
What are we to do when we are the one wronged? “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as
though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye
reconciled to God.”2 Corinthians 5:20 Being His ambassador means we are to be
His example to the world. “And labour,
working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we
suffer it:” 1 Corinthians 4:12-13 We are to follow the example He gave us! “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in
his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he
threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:” 1
Peter 2:22-23 Pray for them, bless them! “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you,
and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my
sake.” Matt 5:11 “Being defamed, we
intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all
things unto this day.” 1 Corinthians 4:13
Let them do as they do, we do not retaliate. Vengeance is
not our place. It belongs to the Lord. There are great warnings to those who
choose to hurt one of His children in any form.
“Bread of deceit is
sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.” Proverbs
20:17 Things may go your way for a time, but the Lord wins everytime. Don't be fooled that you'll get away with the deceptive destruction you've caused. It will come back upon you!
“I said, I will take
heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a
bridle, while the wicked is before me.” Psalm 39:1 Let us be diligent in seeking the Lord’s will over our own
and ask that He bridle our tongues so He is glorified in all thing. Watch your
mouth and what spews forth from it. It reveals your true character and who you
are really following. This is something to seriously think and pray about.
A WARNING TO THOSE WHO HEED NOT!
“Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the
goodness of God endureth continually. The tongue deviseth
mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. Thou lovest evil more than
good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah. Thou lovest all
devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue. God shall likewise destroy thee for
ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and
root thee out of the land of the living. Selah. The righteous also shall see,
and fear, and shall laugh at him: Lo, this is the man that made not God his
strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself
in his wickedness.” Psalm 52:1-7
