"I heard something bad about you.
I was surprised, disappointed, but maybe not shocked."
"I can never fully trust you again."
"Maybe I should have talked with you, but I had no reason to doubt my source, I mean; 'Why would he lie?'"
"If you would just humble yourself and apologize it would all work out.
You're so stubborn."
"You have got to forgive folks."
"You don't understand."
"No, I have never known you to do me or anyone else wrong. In fact, you have always been closer than a brother, but I don't want to get involved in this dispute."
"Well, yes, I have mentioned to others what I was told, you know, as a prayer request or to warn others about you."
"Have a good day."
These are some of the things that a person may say to a long time friend, when they believe false accusations and gossip about that friend.
Once a person has been scandalized, the Christlikeness and faithful history of the accused friend does not matter, because rumors rule.
We need to be discriminating in our listening as well as our speaking.
Lives and reputations are ruined as well as relationships destroyed because people choose to believe the worst rather than the best.
JUST A FEW PASSAGES...
Exodus 23:7 Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.
Leviticus 19:16 Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbor: I am the LORD.
Deuteronomy 19:15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
DLG... Remember, a witness is someone who has personally witnessed the alleged infraction.
Psalms 27:12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.
Psalms 35:11-12 (11) False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not. (12) They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.
Psalms 41:5-9 (5) Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish? (6) And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it. (7) All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt. (8) An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more. (9) Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
Proverbs 6:16-19 (16) These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: (17) A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, (18) A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, (19) A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Proverbs 18:5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
Matthew 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Luke 3:14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
1 Corinthians 13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
1 Timothy 5:19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
BUT REMEMBER...
Matthew 5:11-12 (11) Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. (12) Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
There are many more; maybe more later.
We need to be discriminating in our listening as well as our speaking.
Lives and reputations are ruined as well as relationships destroyed because people choose to believe the worst rather than the best.
JUST A FEW PASSAGES...
Exodus 23:7 Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.
Leviticus 19:16 Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbor: I am the LORD.
Deuteronomy 19:15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
DLG... Remember, a witness is someone who has personally witnessed the alleged infraction.
Psalms 27:12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.
Psalms 35:11-12 (11) False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not. (12) They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.
Psalms 41:5-9 (5) Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish? (6) And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it. (7) All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt. (8) An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more. (9) Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
Proverbs 6:16-19 (16) These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: (17) A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, (18) A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, (19) A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Proverbs 18:5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
Matthew 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Luke 3:14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
1 Corinthians 13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
1 Timothy 5:19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
BUT REMEMBER...
Matthew 5:11-12 (11) Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. (12) Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
There are many more; maybe more later.
