“A good name is to be chosen over great wealth, Favor is better than silver and gold.” (Pro 22:1, LSB)
“Better is a good name than good oil, And better is the day of one’s death than the day of one’s birth.” (Ecc 7:1, LSB)
“Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul, by keeping your conduct excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good works, as they observe them, glorify God in the DAY OF VISITATION.” (1Pe 2:11-12, LSB)
There is a high price on having a good name. To slander someone according to Webster’s Dictionary is “the utterance of false charges or misrepresentations which defame and damage another’s reputation.” A slanderer then is not only a liar, but a robber of someone’s good name. Recently at a meeting I attended, a preacher friend of mine came to me about a rumor he heard from the lips of a slanderer. I appreciated my friend. We were able to talk and he gained the truth of the matter. Fellowship could have been lost but it was not because this brother did the right thing and came to talk to me directly.
I don’t know why the slanderer does what he does. Only God knows men’s hearts. But notice what the Bible says of the sowing of discord among the brethren:
“These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” (Pro 6:16-19, KJV)
Much has been said about big preachers, and that can be debated. But the smallest, most unqualified preachers are men who are always hiding behind pulpits, telephones, and computer screens always telling stories about others without ever contacting those individuals. I know it happens cause I used to be invited to sit at their tables and preach in their conferences too….until about three or four years ago when I became the subject of slander. Sadly I never realized fully the depth of the damage until it was aimed at me.
When you’re around others, find something else to talk about. As Christians shouldn’t we be talking about Jesus? How about the Word of God? We don’t need to be getting involved in slander.
I realize I’m not the only one who is currently being targeted in this devilish way, but I thought to write about it after the conversation I had in the hopes this may help someone else.
May God help us all to get above the slander and careful how we handle other people’s good name. May we ever be slaves of Jesus Christ, and true to His Word.
Originally posted on Facebook, 05/04/2025
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