James 4:11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.
Slander can be a horrible thing to go through. Words hurt, especially when they are false and malicious. God does not like slander. The Bible is clear that we are not to lie, about people or in general. You can find statements against slander in both the Old and New Testament. In fact, the 9th commandment tells us not to bear false witness against others. We need to avoid slander at all costs.
In Colossians 3:7-8 we see that our old ways and habits, including slander, are no longer acceptable. Instead we are to rid ourselves of it. Slander is in direct opposition to how we have been called to live. We need to examine our hearts and remove the evil thoughts that can result in slander and false testimony (Matthew 15:18-19). Choosing to slander someone is an indication that our hearts are not right with God.
We have been called to walk in love. Romans 13:10 tells us that love does no harm to others and is the fulfillment of the law. When we slander someone we are passing judgment on them as we speak falsehoods. Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:1-2 that with the judgment we pronounce on others we will be judged. Only God is able to judge with perfect accuracy (Hebrews 4:12, James 4:12). We are not to judge because we assume a position of authority, which means we are putting ourselves above the Law. We are to be doers of the Law, not judges. And that means we should not speak lies about others.
If you find yourself speaking negatively about others then stop and pray. Ask God to help you to not speak critically of others or speak falsehoods. Pray for that person instead and leave the judgment to God. It is amazing how simply praying for someone can transform your entire attitude towards them.
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