Topical Bible: Slander: The Nearest Relations Exposed To

◄ Slander: The Nearest Relations Exposed To ►

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Slander, defined as the act of making false and damaging statements about someone, is a sin that the Bible addresses with seriousness and gravity. It is a destructive force that can sever relationships, sow discord, and tarnish reputations. The Bible provides numerous examples and teachings on the impact of slander, particularly highlighting how even the closest of relationships are not immune to its effects.

Biblical Instances and Teachings

1. Family Discord: The Bible illustrates that slander can infiltrate the most intimate of relationships, including those within a family. In the account of Joseph and his brothers, we see how jealousy and slander led to betrayal. Joseph's brothers spoke ill of him, fueled by envy of his favored status with their father, Jacob (Genesis 37:2-4). Their slanderous words and actions ultimately led to Joseph being sold into slavery.

2. Sibling Rivalry: The relationship between Miriam, Aaron, and Moses provides another example. In Numbers 12:1-2, Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of his Cushite wife, questioning his leadership. This act of slander was not only a personal attack but also a challenge to God's chosen leader. The Lord's response was swift, as He defended Moses and punished Miriam with leprosy, demonstrating the seriousness of slander even among siblings.

3. Parental Relationships: Proverbs 20:20 warns against cursing one's parents, which can be seen as a form of slander. "Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness" . This proverb underscores the gravity of speaking ill against one's parents, highlighting the potential for familial relationships to be damaged by slanderous words.

4. Marital Bonds: The sanctity of marriage is also vulnerable to the corrosive nature of slander. In the New Testament, Ephesians 4:31 advises believers to "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice" . This exhortation is crucial for maintaining harmony and trust within the marital relationship, as slander can erode the foundation of love and respect between spouses.

5. Community and Church Relations: Slander extends beyond the family unit to affect the broader community and church. James 4:11 cautions, "Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it" . This admonition serves as a reminder that slander can disrupt the unity and fellowship within the body of Christ, damaging relationships among believers.

Moral and Spiritual Implications

The Bible consistently portrays slander as a sin that not only harms individuals but also grieves the heart of God. It is a violation of the command to love one's neighbor as oneself (Matthew 22:39). The destructive power of slander lies in its ability to distort truth, breed mistrust, and create division. As such, believers are called to guard their tongues and speak truth in love, fostering relationships built on integrity and respect.

In summary, the Bible provides clear guidance on the dangers of slander, emphasizing its potential to harm even the nearest and dearest relationships. Through biblical narratives and teachings, believers are encouraged to pursue righteousness and uphold the sanctity of their relationships by refraining from slanderous speech.

Nave's Topical Index

Psalm 50:20
You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother's son.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Elizabethan Reaction
... of her reign Parker was the nearest in sympathy ... that it breedeth no small offence
and slander to see ... revelation only, but in the moral relations, the historical ...
/.../studies in the book of common prayer/chapter iii the elizabethan reaction.htm

The Epistle of St. James
... outside world, even in doing charitable actions, exposed one to ... by our verdicts
(which would be a slander on it ... or my heels when I have active relations with you ...
/.../moffat/the general epistles james peter and judas/the epistle of st james.htm

The First Epistle of St. Peter
... express an idea for which the nearest pagan equivalent ... effective 12 reply to the
pagan slander of Christians ... he teaches that the ordinary relations of husband ...
/.../moffat/the general epistles james peter and judas/the first epistle of st.htm

Funeral Oration on the Great S. Basil, Bishop of C??sarea in ...
... could no longer be kept under, and was at last clearly exposed, I at ... his recent ill
treatment, but entrusting the mission to others of his nearest and dearest ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xliii funeral oration on.htm

The Greater Prophets.
... amassing of filthy lucre; our ambition, slander, falsehood, intrigues ... As the nearest
interposition of God in her ... have lived above his personal relations in the ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxii the greater prophets.htm

The Saints' Privilege and Profit;
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the saints privilege and profit.htm

Period I: the Imperial State Church of the Undivided Empire, or ...
... investigated had been examined"on account of all this it has happened that those
very ones who ought to hold brotherly and harmonious relations toward each ...
/.../ayer/a source book for ancient church history/period i the imperial state.htm

Mr. Bunyan's Last Sermon:
... shall miserably come to ruin, except (the which yet I see not) some way of escape
can be found, whereby we may be delivered." At this, his relations were sore ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/mr bunyans last sermon .htm

Memoir of John Bunyan
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/memoir of john bunyan.htm

The Desire of the Righteous Granted;
... (1.) This desire breeds a divorce, a complete divorce, betwixt the soul and all
inordinate love and affections to relations and worldly enjoyments. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the desire of the righteous.htm