Topical Bible: Slander: Saints: should Lay Aside

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Slander, defined as the act of making false and damaging statements about someone, is a sin that the Bible explicitly warns against. It is a form of bearing false witness, which is condemned in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:16). For the saints, those set apart as followers of Christ, slander is a behavior that must be consciously laid aside in pursuit of holiness and righteousness.

The New Testament provides clear instructions for believers to rid themselves of slander. In Ephesians 4:31 , the Apostle Paul exhorts the church in Ephesus, "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice." This directive is part of a broader call to live in a manner worthy of the calling received, emphasizing the transformation that should occur in the life of a believer.

Similarly, in Colossians 3:8 , Paul writes to the Colossian church, "But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth." Here, slander is listed among other sinful behaviors that are incompatible with the new life in Christ. The call to put aside slander is part of the process of sanctification, where believers are encouraged to adopt the virtues of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience (Colossians 3:12).

The Apostle Peter also addresses the issue of slander in his first epistle. In 1 Peter 2:1 , he instructs, "Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind." Peter's admonition is part of an appeal to live as a holy people, set apart for God's purposes. By laying aside slander, believers demonstrate their commitment to living in accordance with God's will and reflect the character of Christ.

The book of Proverbs, known for its wisdom literature, also speaks to the destructive nature of slander. Proverbs 10:18 states, "The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool." This verse highlights the foolishness of engaging in slander and the underlying malice that often accompanies it.

For the saints, laying aside slander is not merely about avoiding negative behavior but is part of a larger call to love one's neighbor as oneself (Matthew 22:39). Slander undermines community, sows discord, and damages relationships, all of which are contrary to the unity and love that should characterize the body of Christ.

In summary, the biblical mandate for saints to lay aside slander is clear and unequivocal. It is a call to live in truth, love, and integrity, reflecting the transformative power of the Gospel in every aspect of life.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ephesians 4:31
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Peter 2:1
Why laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, all evil speakings,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

How Saints May Help the Devil
... If sinners slander us, it is because we make them ... Why, just look at these
saints:"a drivelling set of ... Why should I profess to follow a God whose servants ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/how saints may help the.htm

Holy Song from Happy Saints
... God's help has your character been cleared from slander? ... But remember, O believer,
that you should sing your ... find in the New Testament that saints and angels ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 61 1915/holy song from happy saints.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Luke x. 2, "The Harvest Truly is ...
... This be far from the mind of Saints! ... art forced by thy [3288] perverse interpretation
to slander even the ... we meet our friends in the way, we should neither pay ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon li on the words.htm

The Ministry.
... to the ordinances, to the souls of the saints, and the ... and drinking, to be sure,
was a horrible slander; but for ... Now why should we lay hands cross on this text ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/xxii the ministry.htm

V. ...
... In this same manner, also, all the saints cry out. ... is a true mark of love, though
they slander and asperse ... If this were Peter's meaning, then we should need to ...
/.../the epistles of st peter and st jude preached and explained/chapter ii v .htm

We Shall not be Curious in the Ranking of the Duties in which ...
... I find the saints and fearers of God commended for ... It goeth not about as a slander
to reveal a secret ... down in our hand, which every man should faithfully restore ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/chapter iv we shall not.htm

Faustus Fails to Understand Why He Should be Required Either to ...
... This is nothing else than to slander good men, and to ... is intolerable that the reader
or learner should dare to ... perfection will not come to the saints till the ...
/.../faustus fails to understand why.htm

The Church as She Should Be
... world if they can, or to bespatter them with slander if they ... pray for him." Yes,
and all of us should say, "If ... Know ye not that the saints shall judge the world ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the church as she should.htm

Letter ccxx. (AD 427. )
... saying, moreover, perhaps it is an unfounded slander,"that one ... of continence, and
would add that you should now do ... life in the society of the saints in which ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter ccxx a d 427.htm

Heavenly Rest
... He trembleth lest he should be deceived, at times he ... of rest in fellowship with the
saints; but ah! ... Yes, in the midst of calumny, reproach, slander and contempt ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/heavenly rest.htm