What does "not slanderers" teach about controlling our speech? Framing the Phrase “Not Slanderers” “Titus 2:3 – ‘Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in their behavior, not slanderers or enslaved to much wine. They are to teach what is good.’” The Spirit points to a single, sharp prohibition: no slander. Controlling speech is therefore not optional; it is a mark of mature reverence that equips a believer to teach what is good. What “Slander” Means • Greek word: diaboloi – the same root used for “devil,” the accuser. • It covers gossip, back-biting, character-assassination, rumor-spreading; any words that tear down someone’s reputation. • Scripture treats it as devilish because it imitates Satan’s chief activity: accusing the brethren (Revelation 12:10). Why God Takes Slander Seriously • It misrepresents an image-bearer of God (Genesis 1:26). • It fractures the unity Christ purchased with His blood (John 17:21). • It grieves the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30-31). • It poisons the speaker’s own heart: “With the tongue we bless the Lord … and with it we curse men … My brothers, this should not be!” (James 3:9-10). A Gallery of Echoing Texts • Proverbs 10:19 – “When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.” • Proverbs 11:13 – “A gossip reveals a secret, but a trustworthy soul keeps a confidence.” • Psalm 34:13 – “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech.” • Ephesians 4:29 – “Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need.” • Colossians 3:8 – “Put aside … slander, and filthy language from your mouth.” • 1 Peter 2:1 – “Rid yourselves of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.” • James 1:26 – “If anyone … does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.” • 1 Timothy 3:11 – “Women must likewise be dignified, not slanderers, but temperate and faithful in all things.” Practical Steps to Guard the Tongue 1. Pause before you speak. Ask, “Will these words build up or tear down?” 2. Check motive: Am I venting, seeking revenge, or genuinely helping the listener? 3. Verify facts; half-truths breed full-blown slander. 4. Speak to people, not about them, when correction is needed (Matthew 18:15). 5. Cultivate thankful speech: praise crowds out poisonous words (Ephesians 5:4). 6. Invite accountability—give trusted friends permission to flag careless talk. 7. Saturate heart and mind with Scripture; what fills the heart spills from the mouth (Luke 6:45). The Positive Alternative: Christlike Speech • Truthful – “Speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). • Gracious – “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6). • Peaceable – “Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness” (James 3:18). • Edifying – “That it may give grace to those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29). Fruit to Expect When We Obey • Credibility to disciple others, just as Titus 2:3 intends. • Unity in the body, replacing suspicion with trust. • Joyful conscience before God and people (Acts 24:16). • A clear witness: the world sees a community that refuses devilish talk and instead echoes the voice of the Good Shepherd. |
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