Psalm 101: 5-7 Whoever secretly slanders his
neighbour, him I will destroy; No one who has a haughty look and an arrogant heart will I endure. (NAS95)
I heard a story about a group where someone was going around telling that the church youth leader had gone camping with a young lady from the church.
It was true, but what the storyteller neglected to mention was that there was a whole group of youth on an approved outing, not just the leader and the young lady.
The story was intended to discredit the man’s character and it did.
Anyone who has been slandered knows the
pain of not being able to respond to false accusation.
The presence of God dwells where there is unity, not backbiting.
I expect the writer of this verse was much like a friend of mine.
I have known her
for many years and
have watched her in
situations where
someone was trying to
talk negatively about another person.
She has a way, with her eyes and by gently changing the subject, of letting others know that she is not interested in listening to gossip.
In a non-judgmental way she fulfills this verse by destroying the opportunity for slander.
We are called to restore rather than criticize those overtaken by faults.
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Galatians 6:1 (AV)
Rawlin Falk is a pastor with Maple Park Alliance Church.