THE SLANDERING TONGUE

The Slandering Tongue

To hide hatred is to be a liar;

to slander is to be a fool.

Proverbs 10:18




Slanderers make malicious, false, or even true

statements about others with the intent of damaging

their reputation, character, or good name. Political

campaigners are notorious for releasing slanderous

statements to the media with the hope of disadvan-

taging their opponents. Rare is the candidate who

runs a totally clean campaign these days. Slandering

is not limited to politicians, however. Given certain

circumstances, anyone can be tempted to denigrate

another. One thing that we can be assured of is that

there won’t be any slanderers in heaven.

LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?

Who may live on your holy hill? He whose

walk is blameless and who does what is

righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who

does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur

on his fellowman (Psalm 15:1-3).

Can you recall a time in which you made

detracting remarks about someone? What was your

motive in doing so? Why did you feel the need to

diminish that person’s character in the eyes of

another? Were you speaking out of the pain of being

hurt by her? Did you envy her accomplishments? If

so, have you not learned how to let your envy moti-

vate you to achieve your own goals rather than cause

you to defame another? It is likely you grudgingly

admire and desire something that the other person

possesses.

Some people are so insecure and easily threatened

that they feel they must cast aspersions on the char-

acter of others whom they perceive as “the compe-

tition” in order to maintain their position. Such was

the case of Diotrephes, a New Testament church

leader. He found himself in a real dilemma when

John recommended some anointed teachers of the

gospel to speak at his church. Plagued with insecu-

rity, he feared that their visit would threaten his pre-

eminence, so he refused to allow them to come. John

was quite upset with his behavior and explained to

his friend Gaius how he planned to deal with it.




When I come, I will report some of the things

he is doing and the wicked things he is saying

about us. He not only refuses to welcome the

traveling teachers, he also tells others not to

help them. And when they do help, he puts

them out of the church (3 John 1:10).

Y ou can find many a Diotrephes in sacred and

secular organizations. They cast aspersions on

threatening newcomers; they accuse bright, talented

women of getting ahead by means other than skills,

talents, and qualifications. They look for a chink in

their victim’s armor. Contrary to what they think,

diminishing the image of another is not going to

enhance their image.

Resorting to slander is clear evidence that one has

not embraced certain of God’s promises. For

instance, because of Psalm 75:6-7, I know for cer-

tain that promotions and exaltation come from God

rather than man. This truth causes me to be a team

player. There is no reason for me to snuff out any-

body’s light so that mine will shine. Further, God has

declared that no man can thwart His purpose for our

lives.

The LORD Almighty has spoken—who can

change his plans? When his hand moves,



who can stop him? (Isaiah 14:27).




Since God has secured our destiny and has prom-

ised to avenge all wrongs perpetrated against us, why

engage in slander? I find it interesting that the Greek

word for “slander” is derived from diabolos, which

means “devil.” Slandering is an illegal, diabolical act

that God abhors. When we attempt to defame others

with our denigrating words, we are sowing evil seeds

for which we will surely reap the consequences.“He

who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who

opens wide his lips shall have destruction” (Proverbs 13:3).




Today’s Affirmation:

I refuse to be a slanderer. I will use

Philippians 4:8 as my conversation

sifter. Therefore, whatever things are

true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and of

good report, if there is any virtue and

if there is anything praiseworthy

about someone, I comment only on



these things