Slander(whisperer, gossip, backbiting)
Summary
The sin of speaking falsely or maliciously about others, condemned throughout Scripture as destructive to relationships and community.
☩Definition and Nature
Slander is an accusation maliciously uttered, with the purpose or effect of damaging the reputation of another. As a rule it involves a false charge, but it may also be a truth circulated insidiously with hostile purpose. It is attributing to another a fault of which one knows them to be innocent, containing twofold malice: unjust damage to a neighbor's good name and the guilt of lying. Its principal forms include charging others with faults they are not guilty of, affixing scandalous names, perverting another's words by misconstruction, partial representation that suppresses truth, instilling sly suggestions, and magnifying faults beyond proportion.
☩Biblical Warnings
The psalmist declares that one who may dwell on God's holy hill must not slander with the tongue. Speaking evil of others secretly is listed among the sins characterizing those who have rejected God. Paul includes backbiting and whispering among the marks of a reprobate mind, and expressed concern that the Corinthian church was troubled by such contentious behaviors. Proverbs warns that a backbiting tongue brings an angry countenance, while a whisperer separates close friends and the words of a talebearer wound deeply.
☩Remedies and Response
Believers are called to keep their tongues from evil and to lay aside all slander. Scripture warns that people will give account for every careless word, and false witnesses face punishment. Rather than returning evil for evil, believers are to overcome slander with good, committing their cause to God who judges righteously.
Related Verses67 mentions
References
- 1.James Orr (ed.), "Slander," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 2.John McClintock and James Strong, "Slander," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 3.Charles G. Herbermann et al. (ed.), "Slander," in The Catholic Encyclopedia (Robert Appleton Company, 1907–1912).