You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. –
Exodus 20:16
Lying is not good, but it is particularly grievous when a lie is told that damages someone else’s well-being or reputation. Today’s verse is applicable in a court situation as well as in common gossip. Often the one who gossips believes they are telling the truth, yet what they say may be out of context and not the whole truth. There are generally two sides to a story.
Relationships suffer from sharing “false witnesses.“ Though a person and the one they gossiped against may solve their issue, the third party who heard the story may now have a problem with the person spoken against. It is essential to not slander your brothers and sisters in Christ. Instead, guard their reputation. “We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13). This would include how you speak to others about your pastors and teachers.
Maintaining unity in the church is a high priority in the New Testament. The apostle Paul said, “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought” (1 Corinthians 1:10). In Matthew 7:3-5, Jesus cautioned against criticizing others when you might be doing the same thing or even worse.
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