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Seeking the perspective of Jesus

I Peter 1: 22 - 2:1 - Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you. Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.

I have been taught that when one reads “therefore” in the Bible, one must ask what that word is there for. The reason is quite simple in this case. The “therefore” refers to a new behavior that should spring forth in a Christian because of his redemption and identity with Christ. Why so? First, it is because it is displeasing to Christ that we continue to use our tongues in evil ways. Second, He deserves that we control our tongues because it displeases Him. Third, we need to remember our desperation and alienation from which He redeemed us. These are a few good reasons. But there are a lot more if you need more to be convinced. However, the question that begs to be asked and answered is: “Have I abandoned myself of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind in the way I speak about other people, or am I still giving myself to it?” Let us not glance over this question as if it doesn’t apply to you, for there are many of you that have a blind spot in this very area. I can testify from my own experience that if it is not dealt with, it will remain a hindrance in our fellowship with Christ. It is absolutely important.

I must tell you how important this question has become to me. I see it as a major renovation in my life if malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander are never thought, spoken, or acted on again in my life. I have seen these things in my life and in other Christians, as I believe God does. He loves us, and nothing will ever separate us from that fact. But, He absolutely abhors our “evil speak.” I call it “evil speak,” for I cannot believe that words and actions coming from a Christian’s life toward another person, such as listed above, could come from any other source. It’s just plain evil. Guys, listen to me carefully. When we gossip, slander, ridicule, mock, denigrate, criticize, defame, or vilify another person, none of us doubt that it is wrong, do we? But what about those “concerned things” we bring up that we call “casual discussion, concern about the person, godly evaluations or character appraisals?” Do we wink at those things as benign and think we get a free pass with the Lord? Do we think God doesn’t see through this excuse and see our hearts? We fool ourselves if we think it is not offensive to God. So, let’s look at ourselves and be honest with what we see, for we cannot live in the presence of Christ and practice such evil with our tongues. We are deceiving ourselves if we think we can. The fellowship will be disrupted, and we will hurt ourselves most of all.

This has become a major issue in my life, for I know what it is like to watch a beautiful life become corrupted by such practices and end in paranoia, irrational behavior, and isolation. Isolation occurs, for people get to the point that they don’t want to be around such a person. One reason is that a major issue of trust is violated. People hear a friend or family member gossip and slander another person and cannot help but think, “I wonder if he is saying the same things about me because I don’t agree with him?” It’s hard to trust a guy or gal with tendencies to use their tongue in such a way. I know what it’s like to be on the giving and receiving end. Both are bad. But, in my opinion, to be the initiator of slander and gossip is far worse, for what I choose to say against another person is my choice. Therefore, I will receive the consequence of my actions from the Lord as He deals with me, which will not be pleasant. But, what another person says about me slanderously is his choice, and he will have to deal with his accountability to the Lord, not me. This is one case where I would rather be the victim than the victimizer, for Jesus was slandered, ridiculed, and scorned.

What makes Christians fall into such liberty with our tongues when we know it is wrong before the Lord? I’ve looked at it and watched it in my life and others, and this is what I see.

• Spiritual pride: I have never known or heard a slanderous person say anything about another person without comparing himself to the situation. When we are critical of another person, it must be because we think we have the same thing figured out. We have the answers, and our poor victim is woefully short of our perfection. What must it be like to struggle with life like that other fellow when I’ve got it together? I bet God is more pleased with me than him, right? How do you think Jesus really feels about it?
• We feel better about ourselves: When we have major self-esteem issues, nothing will cheer our self-centered hearts any better than seeing another person worse off than we are. Don’t we like to read headlines that pummel the life and reputation of a public figure? It makes us feel better that the “superstars” have issues, too, doesn’t it? It is the same way about a person you don’t particularly care for, and even if they don’t have anything that’s a public disgrace, we kinda’ drop a whisper bomb and watch it grow. Man, that makes me feel good about myself by pulling an unlikeable person down a peg or two with just a few carefully worded phrases. I bet God is behind me on that issue, right? How do you think Jesus really feels about it?
• We haven’t taken a careful look in the mirror lately: The Bible has something to say about remembering our imperfections when we want to slander another person: Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. (James 1:22-24, NIV) When we judge and condemn another person, it is because we have not looked at ourselves lately. Listen to the words that are coming from your mouth. Are they edifying or harsh? Are they truthful or false? Are they condemning or optimistic? How would Jesus answer that question about you?
• Old habits die slowly: The truth is I think the majority of our gossip and slander is not regarded as vicious, but rather just old habits that we continue to do and do not realize we are doing them. If you’ve been raised in a home that lets that gossip fly, you’ll likely do the same unless you stand against it with every fiber in you. If you are around a group of guys (or ladies) that throw those dangles out that start with “Have you heard?”, you are about to get sucked into the slander pool. You will go there unless you start getting sick to your stomach with the mess that your ears are hearing. Be careful now, for if you stand against it, you may very well be the next target. Are you brave enough to handle the heat? More so, are you brave enough to leave that old habit and give Christ-honoring words from your mouth rather than slander? How do you think Jesus really feels about it?

You and I both know how Jesus feels about these things, and I’ve decided just to get up and walk away from it. I cannot see anything good that can come from a slanderous tongue and backbiting, no matter how benevolent it might be couched. I, for sure, don’t want to be sucked into it. I know what I might be facing, for I have a friend or two in my life that might not see it my way when I stand against what I am hearing. I might lose a friend, and I might anger him. I could even become his next victim. That’s the risk. But, on the other hand, I might help a friend find the courage to overcome a bad habit and, most of all, a hindrance in his fellowship with Christ. It might be that we can encourage each other to wage a victorious battle over our tongues and to conduct ourselves nobly with our words, for our Father is the King of kings, and we are His children. He deserves noble words from us, doesn’t He? Don’t you think that this is a battle worth the prize that can be found? How do you think Jesus would answer that? Then, let us make our stand.