You Shall Not Be a Slanderer, but You Shall Rebuke

You Shall Not Be a Slanderer, but You Shall Rebuke

Here we have two significant contrasts: the one is of the evil, the other one is of the good. We shall not do the one, but we shall do the other, for it is both good and necessary. The one is in darkness, behind the other person’s back, while the other is face to face; it is the fruit of light.

When a person slanders another person, he spreads evil rumors and corruption, besides being a bad example to others. When a person rebukes his neighbor, he thereby proves his upright love, contributes to his salvation, and keeps himself pure in this respect. “Whoever spreads slander is a fool.” Prov. 10:18.

We can praise what is good, and we can speak about it to others. However, we shall not relate the bad things to others that someone else has said or done; we shall only say it to him personally.

The usual justification for slander is this: “But every word I am saying is true.” Nevertheless, this is not the least justification for slander. The truth concerning the sin others have committed shall be said to them personally and not behind their backs to others. When you say it to the person concerned, it is a help; when you say it to others, it leads to unpredictable damage.

In Psalm 15 we see that slander is so unacceptable, that the one who backbites [slanders] with his tongue is not permitted to abide in God’s tabernacle or dwell on His holy hill. This is in complete agreement with the words of the new covenant in 1 Corinthians, Chapter 5. Slanderers [revilers] are put in the same class as fornicators, drunkards, and extortioners. We shall not even eat together with them if they want to be reckoned as brothers. On the contrary, they are to be put outside the church. In other words: nothing is worse than slander!

Unfortunately, this is not how the matter is usually viewed by people! It is almost viewed as something imperfect from which we should rather cleanse ourselves, but which does not condemn us. This deadly weed has seeded itself so that it abounds everywhere precisely because this is not taken seriously.

We can compare slandering to dandelions.

On this point the preaching, the understanding, and life, is disgusting. May there be a change across the entire board!

Verses 20 and 21 in Psalm 50 are evidence that this evil does not go unpunished. “You sit and speak against your brother . . . But I will reprove you, and set them in order before your eyes.” I wonder if this isn’t an explanation for the various things that happen as punishment in a person’s life. There are so many people who are wondering, and over the years have wondered, why this or that has happened.

For example, if we sit at home and talk about others in the church in a negative way—about another family—we risk incurring this terrible punishment of our own children hardening themselves against the church instead of being won for the church. Or we risk animosity arising between two homes, which is almost impossible to eliminate. Therefore, may all such goings on cease immediately everywhere and be completely eradicated.

We know the word, “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer . . . .” 1 John 3:15. A lesser known word is in Ezekiel 22:9: “In you are men who slander to cause bloodshed . . . .” Whoever slanders his brother is also a murderer.

Let us consider James 4:8-12: “Do not speak evil of [slander] one another, brethren.” James says further that he who speaks evil of a brother speaks evil of the law. What an amazing statement that is not easily understood; however, we ought to believe it and submit to it. By speaking evil of a brother, I am not a doer of the law, but its judge! Imagine! Slandering and judging God’s law, God’s will, God’s nature, God Himself!!! Alas! Alas! What a deed! Let us be finished with doing that!