A member of the ICG contacted me the other day, very upset over an audio tape that was circulating from a leader of another church in which he slanders and condemns Garner Ted Armstrong. Is this the true Christian thing to do? What would be the motive for anyone doing such a thing? Would Jesus do this? Did Jesus leave us an example of this situation that demonstrates what He did?
Let us begin by looking at the various scenarios and stating the spiritual conclusion of each. In each scenario Church A will be the one badmouthing Church B.
Scenario One: Church A and Church B are both True Churches of God
This scenario is absurd on its face [actually they all are absurd]. Both of these churches belong to God. They are both headed by Jesus Christ and both are filled with people God called after calling them to repentance, baptism and the laying on of hands. Condemning church B here would be condemning Jesus Christ and the Work of God.
Scenario Two: Church A is a True Church of God and Church B is not
Why would a true church wish to engage in this type of slander? There is no biblical instruction or mandate to badmouth false churches except in principle. There is no justification here to name names or slander individuals. Any true church or true minister can condemn a false doctrine or belief but they have absolutely no justification to make it personal or to name specific individuals or church organizations. After all, Christ died for EVERYONE in the World. The Plan of God is to bring all individuals to Salvation. Every human, therefore is God's property. Do you want to have your condemnation of specific individuals brought before the throne of God?
Scenario Three: Church A is Not a True Church of God and Church B is
This scenario is prophesied. The true church will experience hate, condemnation, slander, bitterness and even murder as we enter into the end times. I would personally hold as suspect any church bringing slander and condemnation against another church. A true church of God has no justification or biblical mandate to do so. Ergo, they, in their condemnation, condemn themselves as being a false church.
Scenario Four: Neither Church A nor Church B are True Churches of God
This scenario is rather moot. Even so, even a false church, with a nominal belief in Christian principles could not find justification for attacking individuals and other churches. Even the archangel, Michael did not bring accusation against Satan. Notice...
�Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.� Jude 9
Clearly there is no human [despite our distaste for the person] more evil than Satan. Just as clear, there is no human who can compare themselves to the archangel, Michael. Therefore, if Michael is not bringing accusation and slander against Satan, we humans have no justification to attack or slander others.
Example of Jesus
Jesus left us a prime example of this situation when, one day, the disciples came running to Him about "another church". Notice...
And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part. Mark 9:38-40
And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us. Luke 9:49-50
Jesus did not condemn these others. He did not declare them in any way false. He did not instruct the disciples to have these others join themselves to them. He simply told them to leave them alone. Clearly this happened for our benefit. The Word of God gives us no justification to badmouth individuals or churches. What does the Word of God say about slander?
SLANDER
Comes from an evil heart:
Luke 6:45~ �A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.�
Often arises from hatred:
Ps 109:3~ �They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.�
Evil people addicted to:
Ps 50:20~ �Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son.�
Hypocrites habitually slander others:
Prov 11:9~ �An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.�
Characteristic of the Devil:
Rev 12:10~ �And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.�
Those who indulge in are FOOLS:
Prov 10:18~ �He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.�
Should not be listened to:
1 Sam 24:9~ �And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?�
Wives of God's servants (including ministers) should avoid:
1 Tim 3:11~ �Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.�
Church members should keep their tongues from slander:
Ps 34:13 ~ �Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.�
1 Peter 3:10~ �For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile�
Should not be listened to:
1 Sam 24:9~ �And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?�
What Slander Does
It separates friends:
Prov 16:28~ �A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.�
Prov 17:9~ �He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.�
Slander creates deadly wounds:
Prov 18:8~ �The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.�
It creates strife:
Prov 26:20~ �Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.�
Slander and badmouthing causes discord among the brethren:
Prov 6:19~ �A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.�
It leads to murder:
Ezek 22:9~ �In thee are men that carry tales to shed blood: and in thee they eat upon the mountains: in the midst of thee they commit lewdness.�
The person who made the tape condemning another human is guilty of committing spiritual lewdness. This person is guilty of spreading discord, creating strife and separating friends. This person is a biblical fool.
Prov 6:16~ �These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: Verse 19: A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.�
God hates these things and will not tolerate someone that does these things without repentance. It matters not to me that the slanderer is sincere or that the target of his or her slander is an unrepentant sinner of some kind. One cannot slander before God without having to face judgment. To slander another is to be spiritually discerned. It assumes the other person is unrepentant. It denies the power of God in the life of the person being slandered. The slanderer is without love, compassion and forgiveness. His hate, bitterness and slander will keep him from the Kingdom of God.
WOW! EXCELLENT JUDE! I have been missing your sermon postings, thanks for sharing!
This is a word for such a time as this, and everyone on all sides of the fence who takes the time to read this should heed ... PRASIE GOD!:applause::glow::dancingp:
I read most of your post,yet it was the last part of the post which concerns me the most.
I do believe that this is the part which i talk about.
'The slanderer is without love, compassion and forgiveness. His hate, bitterness and slander will keep him from the Kingdom of God'.
I do not believe that hatred,bitterness,and or slander will ever keep anyone from the Kingship of GOD;
Rather,it is unbelief which will keep a person outside of the Kingship of GOD.
Mark 1:14-15
14Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Remember,hate,bitterness,slander and any other sin(s)are just the results of unbelief.
I understand what you are saying Trucker George...the Article is not about Belief...it is about Slander, what it does & what Jesus says about it...Plain & Simple...It causes division & seperation of people & seperation from GOD...Hava a Blessed day in Christ Jesus...xo
I've been slandered and lied about in this forum, but God is my judge. (not the slanderer). Thank the Lord! I am not a "devils worker" as was stated. Were my feelings hurt? Sure they were. Will mean words said, change my relationship with Jesus? Of course not!
Ya�know one knows the inside Scoop on what happened betwixt the parties involved here within the article that is posted that�s a given�The point is the body of Scripture that is God�s word concerning such acts�Some might have read the word�Others might have just skimmed it�Ya see..There is always 3 sides to every situation�and 3 supposed truths�So we have one person initiating the slander towards the other person�the one person being slandered�and of course the final out come of the deed�which aint a purty sight�
The slanderer believes they are right and justified in doing the slander�The one being slandered believes they are right and justified in their defense against the slander�Each person believes they are in the Right�Justified�and in Truth�and quit frankly�Not One of those involved ever showed accountability or responsibility for their actions or part in it�So the Blame Game continues�In all my years of life I�ve learned that out of those 3 situations and 3 truths their can Only be One that is Right and Truthful�and that is God, Jesus our Lord and Savior and the Holy Spirit and what He says about it in His word�In my honest opinion�If these people spoken of within this article were living buy the Lord�s Principles set fourth for our benefit�none of this within the article would have happened�such is life...to live and learn...from those mistakes that others have made...
We should not resist evil by causing paint to people! By words or actions. God Jesus said it!!! It is His teaching and His way of life! That�s why He was killed and he didn�t resist them!
He is God of peace and He reconciled people with Himself and it is our purpose of life to RECONCILE people with God though our LOVE toward them expressed in different ways! Those who do not love, do not know God.
Where is love toward this lady in your responses????!!!
Express love to her and commitment of heart to help her and others!
We are here not for theater performances but to HELP each other! To build up each other!
Go and build up her. If she is unbeliever, win her for Christ! God commanded you to proclaim His teaching of LOVE! To encourage each other.
They insult us and we know those who do it are unbelievers. But we are sent to unbelievers! To transform their world by God's LOVE! We should not isolate ourselves, but penetrate their world and TRANSFORM them by the TRUTH!
If our righteousness is not higher than their righteousness will not inherit the Kingdom of God! It means in this case we are like unbelievers! And moreover we are unbelievers!
We should correct each other with love. Better to feel pain then to cause pain. FIGHT only for the TRUTH and His words but NOT against her but against teaching, changing, replacing it to by the TRUTH and LOVE!!!!
Because otherwise we are subject to JUDGEMENT of God!!! Believe me!
Better keep silence of you will be guilty!!!
Just remember that punishment for sin is DEATH and there are millions of Christians in the hell fire�.they are those who do NOT obey God Jesus!
