Will the truth please stand up?
Winston Churchill has been quoted as saying “A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.” Our era of 24/7 media means that words like slander and libel have almost lost their meaning. Unfounded accusations go viral on the internet and truth is frequently the victim.
Winston Churchill has been quoted as saying “A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.” Our era of 24/7 media means that words like slander and libel have almost lost their meaning. Unfounded accusations go viral on the internet and truth is frequently the victim.
What are you and I to do when faced with unfounded accusations, be they about others or about ourselves? Why is it that we are tempted to believe the worst about others rather than the best?
In considering accusations of others, Proverbs 24:17 warns us, “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and when he stumbles do not let your heart rejoice.” Sometimes reading about difficulty in someone elses life allows us to mistakenly feel better about ourselves. It is tempting to compare ourselves with others and slip into an attitude of self righteousness.
(II Cor. 10:12)It is not wise.
Would it not be better to suspend our judgment, and so give the person accused the benefit of the doubt. Ask yourself, does this accusation fit what I know of this person? Recognize that you are likely hearing only one perspective on the matter. Pray about it rather than talking about it.
There are usually at least two sides to every situation (Proverbs 18:17) and we need to be careful about making assumptions after hearing only one perspective. Especially when we have heard that perspective from a second-hand source.
When it comes to accusations directed toward us, we are warned from the scripture to expect opposition, (I Peter 2:12) but to live in such a way that our lifestyle invalidates those accusations.
Lastly, memorize and obey the words of I Peter 2:10-23 when you find yourself on the receiving end of false accusations: “For what credit is it if you sin and are mistreated and endure it? But if you do good and suffer and so endure, this finds favor with God. For to this you were called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow in his steps. He committed no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth. When he was maligned, he did not answer back; when he suffered, he threatened no retaliation, but committed himself to God who judges justly.”
Comfort yourself in these painful situations that it is God who will have the last word and make Him your refuge. (Psalms 59:16 and Psalms 32:7)
Gwynne Johnson
Gwynne Johnson currently serves on the Board of Entrust, Inc., an international education and training mission where she authored the Entrust curriculum, Developing a Discerning Heart. She recently served as Co-Chair of the training project, Christian Women in Partnership, Russia and as Senior Director of Women's Ministry at Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas. Gwynne has a M.A. in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. She currently lives in Huntsville, Texas with her husband of 58 years, Don. She works part-time in her daughter and granddaughter's bakery "The Best Box Ever," where she gets paid in cookies.
