Slander Warning, A World of Lies, & Fun Photo

Warning!  Slander Is Sin

There has been slander and defamation going on lately online of some pastors and elders where they are accused of wrongdoing without all of the facts being known.  This is not where people are warning of real doctrinal error or true heresy.  There is a place for discernment about teaching as Christians want to avoid straying from the truth of what Scripture teaches (although some wrongfully call Biblical truth "heresy").  There needs to be unity among true believers.  There are some people who want to harm the reputation of those who teach truth that they don't like, and so they try to dig up anything they can to destroy their reputations.  This week I listened to a seminar session online by George Crawford that would be worth your time to take a listen to as well.  There was an interesting point too about how in persecuted countries public disagreements can be used by persecutors as well.   We have been so used to freedom in the past that I don't think that we have wanted to consider that aspect.  

Slander & Defamation

A World of Lies

On a closely related topic, last Sunday, John MacArthur gave a message about the sin of lying.  He spoke about parents training the consciences of their children to fear lying.  There is so much lying in the world today. 

The Disastrous Sin of Lying

How many birds do you see in the photo below?

The bird with the nest had a baby or so.

Gracious Speech

I'm not the poster person for perfect speech online or offline.

I may wish I was, but I'm not.  

I still need to be reminded about what the Bible says about speech. 

I also know that if I loved God more, trusted Him more, and had right thinking about Him, then it would change my attitude which would change the way I respond to people.

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person. 

 Colossians 4:6 NASB (1977)

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear. 

 Ephesians 4:29 NASB

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart 

Be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.  

Psalm 19:14 NASB

To sum up, let all be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil, or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.
1 Peter 3:8-9 NASB

Words show what is in the heart.

It troubles me that I still have such negative sinful irritableness and thoughts even as a Christian whether or not I verbalize them.

It is something I desire to see change.  It isn't just what I say.  It's the heart that needs to change more.

What we are in the heart often comes out in what we say and how we act.

Anxiety, irritation, anger, impatience, rebelliousness, doubting God's goodness and care to me, and many other sinful type of things can infiltrate my mind.

I pray for God to change me.  I realize that putting things into my mind (that are Scriptural and true and good) is something God will use to combat sinful thinking.  It does, but I have so, so, so far to go in sanctification.  

For we all stumble in many ways. 

If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. 

James 3:2 NASB  

(More from James 3 about the tongue with the LSB Version HERE.)

“The good man out of his good treasure brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth what is evil. 

“And I say to you, that every careless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgment. 

“For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned.”  

Matthew 12:35-37 NASB

On Swearing & Misuse & Abuse of God's Name

But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but let your yes be yes, and your no, no; so that you may not fall under judgment. 

 James 5:12 NASB

“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain. 

 Exodus 20:7 NASB

This would include the way people (even some Christians) misuse God's name by using it lightly (even using initials).  God is holy, and so His name should also be treated holy.

God knows our sinful thoughts about Him even when we don't say something out loud.

Speaking Well Even When Persecuted

Bless those who persecute you; bless and curse not.
Romans 12:14 NASB

“But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Matthew 5:44-45 NASB

Gossip & Slander is Wrong

Online, people often share things that may or may not be true.  People also can say things about others that destroy their reputation (online or offline).

It is something that we should try to be very careful about, because the Bible warns about gossip (whisperers, talebearers) and slander.

He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets, 

Therefore do not associate with a gossip. 

 Proverbs 20:19 NASB

Mike Riccardi did a message on the topic called "How To Kill Your Neighbor."

If you have the time, it is worth hearing.

My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. 

And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.
1 John 2:1-2 NASB

Bonus Link:

Speech Seasoned with Salt (GTY).

(P.S.: I likely posted on this topic before, but it's good for me to review it anyway.)

Gossip or Slander?

Gossip is spreading information about someone, generally that has not been confirmed to be true.

To slander is to make false statements about someone.

Is what we are sharing & reading online fitting in those categories? 

Are there confirming witnesses even in a news story?

He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets,
Therefore do not associate with a gossip.

Proverbs 20:19 NASB

He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets,

But he who is trustworthy conceals a matter.

Proverbs 11:13 NASB

Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD,
But those who deal faithfully are His delight.
A prudent man conceals knowledge,
But the heart of fools proclaims folly.
Proverbs 12:22-23 NASB

Argue your case with your neighbor,
And do not reveal the secret of another,
Or he who hears it will reproach you,

And the evil report about you will not pass away.
Proverbs 25:9-10 NASB

The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, 

And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.

Proverbs 18:8 NASB

A trustworthy witness will not lie, 

But a false witness utters lies.

Proverbs 14:5 NASB

He who conceals a transgression seeks love, 

But he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.

Proverbs 17:9 NASB

A perverse man spreads strife, 

And a slanderer separates intimate friends.

Proverbs 16:28 NASB

For lack of wood the fire goes out, 

And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down.

Proverbs 26:20 NASB

Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause,
And do not deceive with your lips.

Do not say, “Thus I shall do to him as he has done to me;
I will render to the man according to his work.”
Proverbs 24:28-29 NASB

And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.

James 3:6 NASB

Here is an excellent message that deals with gossip:

How To Kill Your Neighbor by Mike Riccardi

“Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation"

Deadly Poisonous Speech & New Birth Baptism

Sins of The Tongue  ←This has good food for thought on the sins of the tongue. I believe many of us  fail even without intent. 

I would disagree with this man on some points in the article (like who reigns in Hell...and I believe qualifying praise is actually a good thing when it is to avoid endorsing error).  

I also believe that sometimes things are misconstrued as slander when error and concerns are being pointed out.  There is a fine line, and it is good to be very cautious.  Many times the line can get crossed, but the other side of this is flattery and encouraging people to read or listen to error by pretending error doesn't exist.

I would be interested to read a booklet by John Flavel on this subject  called Sinful Speech.

New Birth Baptism

I have been reading the book of John, and I have been thinking about the idea of being born again.

It isn't the first birth that puts one into the the true church....it's the second birth. 

All Christians are born of the Spirit and are in Christ.

Many people seem to believe that the old covenant is exactly as the new, so they think that unbelieving children of Christians should be included.  

Certainly unbelievers can enjoy the blessings spilled over from a believer, but only believers are included in the universal true church.

Children should be raised up in the way they should go, but they shouldn't be considered as members without a profession of faith (and even then only God knows if they are truly saved at that time).

John's baptism was of repentance.

Even circumcised Jews were baptized by John (and the disciples of Jesus baptized also), so these do not seem to be unrepentant and unbelieving people who were to be baptized.

After Christ died and rose, Christians were also baptized by the Spirit and into Christ.  

They were not required to be circumcised of the flesh...nor were their children.

In the early church in the Bible, water baptism became symbolic of  being baptized into Christ's death and raised with Him.  

Do I hear "imputation" anyone?  

Water baptism followed repentance and faith.

Churches shouldn't wait to baptize a child who professes faith.

They should only question them to ascertain that they understand.

Even adults can be false converts, but baptism shouldn't be kept until we decide people have enough fruit to satisfy us first, should it?