WHAT IS SLANDER?

To slander is to attack someone maliciously without showing it openly - it is to defame, malign, sully, spoil, backbite, impugn, revile, calumniate, denigrate, libel, vilify, calumniate, misrepresent, maledict, or to curse against another Christian. It is to speak railings, slurs, disparagements, dirt, gossips, scandaling, hearsay or to spread rumors about someone.

According to the Holy Scriptures, Paul exhorts all of us to be like him. Look at Phil. 4:4-9; Eph. 4:25; 1 Th. 5:8-23; 2 Cor. 13:4-8. We must meditate only on praiseworthy reports and holy virtues from our brethren. The divine opposite word for slander and gossip isto praise someone.

These premeditated words are spoken consciously by a spirit of hate from within the heart of a believer. They are used to caricature, mock, exaggerate, farce, or color another believer's character, words, or righteous being. Slander is a fruit of the spirit of hate - it can only spring from a believer's heart when they are harboring hate. A person who slanders has allowed Satan to use his tongue.

Slander is a camouflaged, hidden attack sent by Satan to destroy a person or the Church. A slanderous person can kiss you and then kill you or deliver you to your enemy a few minutes after the kiss. Judas did this.

Gossiping is the same as slandering. Gossip means - chatting in a negative manner about another Christian, reporting or spreading rumors, tattling, babbling evil, associating with someone who has the motive to curse someone or mingling in a group which has the intent of destroying someone's character by spreading false reports. A person who is operating and overwhelmed by this spirit has no other remedy than to repent. No one can set themselves free from this habit. He must ask Jesus to wash him with His cleansing blood and to cover him with His power against this habit.

The following study will help you to know where a person's heart is and what should be done to cure this evil habit.

SLANDERING & GOSSIP

Is an abomination unto God. Prov. 6:16.19 and forbidden. Ex. 23:1 Eph. 4:31; Jas. 4:11

SLANDER INCLUDES

Whispering. Rom. 1:29; 2 Cor.12:20
Backbiting. Rom. 1:30; 2 Cor.12:2
Evil surmising. 1Tim.6:4
Tale-bearing. Lev. 19:16
Babbling. Eccl. 10:11
Tattling. 1 Tim. 5:13
Evil speaking. Ps. 41:5; Ps. 109:20
Defaming. Jer. 20:10; 1 Cor. 4:13
Bearing false witness. Ex. 20:16; Dt. 5:20; Lk. 3:14
Judging uncharitably. Jas. 4:11,12
Raising false reports. Ex. 23:1
Repeating matters. Prov. 17:9
Is a deceitful work. Ps. 52:2
Comes from the evil heart. Mt. 15:9; Lk. 6:45
Arises from hatred. Ps. 41:7; Ps. 109:3
Idleness leads to slander & gossip. 1 Tim. 5:13
The wicked are addicted to. Ps. 50:20; Jer. 6:28; Jer. 9:4
Hypocrites addicted to. Prov. 11:9
A characteristic of the devil. Rev. 12:10
The wicked love. Ps. 52:4
They who indulge in - are fools. Prov. 10:18

They who indulge in slander, must not be trusted. Jer. 9:4
Women warned against. Ti. 2:3
Ministers' wives should avoid. 1 Tim. 3:11
Christ was exposed to. Ps. 35:11; Mt. 26:60
Rulers exposed to slander. 2 Pet. 2:10; Jude 8
Ministers exposed to. Rom.3:8; 2 Cor. 6:8
The nearest relations exposed to. Ps. 50:20

BELIEVERS

Believers are exposed to slander. Ps. 38:12; 109:2; 1 Pet. 4:4
Believers should and must keep their tongues from slandering. Ps. 34:13; 1 Pet. 3:10
Believers should lay aside slander. Eph. 4:31; 1 Pet. 2:1
Believers should be warned against slander. Titus 3:1,2
Believers should give no occasion for slander. 1 Pet. 2:12; 1 Pet. 3:16
Believers should return good for slander. 1 Cor. 4:13
Believers should be blessed in enduring slander. Mt. 5:11, 1 Pet 4:14
Believers should avoid. Ps. 15:1,3
A slandering tongue should not be listened to. 1 Sam. 24:9; Prov 26:20-22; Ps 101:5
Should be discountenanced. Prov. 25:2.3

EFFECTS AND WORKS OF SLANDER

Slander separates friends. Prov. 16:28; Prov. 17:9
Slander brings deadly wounds. Prov. 18:8; Prov. 26:22
Slander brings strife. Prov. 26:20
Slander brings discord among brethren. Prov. 61:19
Slander causes murder. Ps.31:13; Ezek. 22:9
The tongue of slander is a scourge, an epidemic, and or a whip. Job 5:21
Slander is venomous it contaminates. Ps.140:3; Eccl. 10:11
Slander is destructive. Prov. 11:9
The end of slandering, is mischievous madness. Eccl. 10:13
We shall give account for it. Mt. 12:36; Jas. 1:26
Slander is punished by God. Dt. 19:16-21; Ps. 101:5
Biblical instances of Slander: Gen. 31:1; 1 Sam. 22:9-11; 2 Sam. 16:3; 2 Sam. 16:3; 1 Ki. 21:13; Ezra 4:7-16; Neh. 6:6; Est. 3:8; Ps. 31:13; Jer. 38:4; Mt. ll:18,19; Mt. 26: 59-61; Mk.15:3; Acts 6:11; Acts 17:7; Acts 24:2-5.

CONSEQUENCES OF SLANDER

God hates and rejects every slanderous heart. Ps 12:3, Prov. 6:6-19

The cure for slander is to detect it when it is close to blaring out of our lips. Acknowledge it, refuse it, and repent of it. The power in the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all unrighteousness. 1 Jn. 9:10

After repentance we work our salvation with fear and trembling. Phil. 2:12-16

We are told by the Lord to go and sin no more! Jn. 5:14; 8:11

"The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things(polluted mind). The Lord is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous (because of clean lips). The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat. The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise( because of humbleness). He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul (pride): but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding (reward form God). The fear of the Lord is the instruction (beginning) of wisdom; and before honour is humility (Christ's character)." Prov. 15:28-33

Brethren, slander is Satan himself at work in the church! Don't accept to be used by the devil, run way from him, learn to pray than to talk about other people. Allow God to use your tongue to encourage others, to preach His Word and worship Him with melodious words full of thanksgiving from the bottom of your heart. If you do this, you will receive Christ's crown of glory. Amen!

Rev. Abella Kasheke, Th.D.
(March 2000)