The sin of slander, God's protection of the slandered and examples of infallible justification from it. Slander: what is it and how to fight it
Slander is a serious sin. Like its cousins, rumors, slander is destructive in nature. It is “an ambush to shed blood” (Prov. 12:6), it “destroys his neighbor” (Prov. 11:9), and “separates friends” (Prov. 16:28). Both rumors and slander contain destructive words, but slander also contains an element of lies.
Rumors spread fire, and slander ignites it.
Being the target of slander is extremely painful, and pastors and ministry leaders are, unfortunately, too easy a target. It is because of the seriousness of the sin of slander that we need to learn to protect our hearts when this happens to us. The easiest way to take the path of sin is to sin when someone has sinned against us.
Here are some tips on how to respond if you have been slandered.
1. Your reputation is in God's hands.
Sometimes you need to defend your reputation to those who slander you, especially if you are a leader and the slander damages your ministry. But, in my experience, it is often better to remain silent, trust God and let the truth be your advocate. As my father says: “When (not if, but when) your reputation has suffered from undeserved wounds, your quiet honesty will in time say all that needs to be said.”
Even if you need to defend yourself, pause. Do not panic. Don't explode. Don't give in to fear. You need to defend your ministry (1 Thess. 2, 2 Cor. 10-13), but you must be careful not to overprotect yourself.
People have a tendency to think that they have to fix everything, regain the trust of those who have heard the slander, tell them their part of the “story.” But, as a rule, this impulse is just “the fear of men, and not the fear of God.” And again, in my experience, listeners of slander can quite often understand that they have heard a lie, and our attempts to justify ourselves do not improve the situation, but make it worse. I like the metaphor Spurgin once used: “A big lie, if not noticed, is like a huge fish that was pulled out of water. She thrashes and wriggles and jumps until she dies very quickly.”
So, above all else, place your concerns on the truth, not on appearances, and do not let fear become your motivator. After all, it is the slandered Christ who says: “Therefore do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing hidden that will not be known.”(Matt. 10:26). When you feel the twinges of fear and self-defense, remember that the truth will prevail in the end. Truth is inexorable, unyielding, inevitable, invincible. She is a master of “unexpected victories.”
2. Give a “gentle rebuff” to the slanderer, expose him (not by email).
According to my observations, many people easily turn out to be slanderers without even knowing it. Therefore, the greatest show of love for all parties involved, including the slanderer, can be a “gentle rebuke” spoken in love. This conversation should happen in person, not by phone, SMS, Facebook or email. In certain situations, it is appropriate to take with you to a conversation a friend or acquaintance whom both parties to the conflict trust, although a face-to-face conversation is still better to start with. Inviting someone else to the meeting may escalate the situation further.
It is critical to approach “in a spirit of gentleness” (Gal. 6:1), without making the person defend himself against your accusations or accusatory tone. This can be done in two ways:
- Start with questions. This way you can gather the facts before you draw any conclusions. Questions help reduce confrontation. But do not hesitate to call sin sin, and slander slander.
- Tell me how much pain slander causes you. It's easy to forget this when it comes to dealing with someone who has hurt us. But the words that “I was sad/hurt when...” instead of "you have sinned against me", have a more realistic chance "get your brother"(Matthew 18:15), and this is the most important goal. Surprisingly, because some people slander without even realizing it, they are very surprised when they hear about the pain they caused. Therefore, starting a conversation with feelings rather than accusations can help resolve the situation and increases the likelihood of a peaceful outcome.
Convicting a person is always scary and strange. But it needs to be done. If you do not rebuke a person, you are not loving them properly and are not “overcoming evil with good” (Rom. 12:21).
3. Preach the Gospel to yourself.
When you have been sinned against, there is a danger of becoming infected with self-pity, of feeling like a victim, and this is not what the Gospel is supposed to do in our hearts. Yes, being slandered hurts, but the gospel can reduce our defensiveness and soothe the pain if we remember that “outside the grace of God I am much worse than any slander against me”. Again Spurgeon's words help to understand: “If someone thinks badly of you, don't be angry with them. After all, you are even worse than he could imagine.”
But we are not preaching the Gospel to ourselves unless, as Tim Keller has said in more than one of his sermons, we say: “In Christ I am not only far more sinful than I feared, but also far more loved than I could have hoped.”. We must remember that God treats us as His own children, that every hair on our heads is counted, that Jesus is now, at this very moment, interceding for us. By abiding in His unfailing love, we can endure pain and seek restoration of Christ's reputation rather than our own (another topic to consider when looking for the right ways to respond to slander against you).
Backbiting is the sin that is perhaps the most difficult to refrain from. Yes, we don’t really try: there they reproached someone, here “that’s it!” found out and told others, “bowed” them into the kitchens of the authorities... Meanwhile, backbiting is a serious sin, the rooting of which can lead to very disastrous consequences.
Why is slander dangerous for the slanderer? And what should one do who has been rashly, and sometimes deliberately, condemned? “Fight for truth”? To respond in kind - with slander, according to the principle of “an eye for an eye”? And what could this “war for truth” turn out to be? The pastors of the Russian Orthodox Church answer.
– Backbiting is cursing another person. It is said: “Let no corrupt word come out of your mouth, but only what is good for edifying in the faith, so that it may give grace to those who hear” (Eph. 4:29); and again: “Do not act as a carrier (that is, a carrier of rumors and gossip. - Prot. O.S.) among your people and do not rebel against the life of your neighbor” (Lev. 19:16).
The opposite of slander is for a person. Moreover, we are called to pray not only for our own, but also for strangers. But some of us have managed to do so that they do not consider it possible not only to communicate with lost heretics and pagans, but also to pray for them. Perhaps this has something to do with the spring exacerbation...
Saint John Chrysostom wrote: “So, do not be afraid to pray for the pagans - and God wants this. Just be afraid of cursing others, because He doesn’t want that. And if you need to pray for pagans, then obviously – for heretics, because you need to pray for all people, and not persecute them. This is worthy of approval for another reason - because we are of the same nature. Moreover, God approves and favorably accepts our mutual love and good-naturedness towards each other" ( John Chrysostom, saint. Homilies on 1 Timothy, 2:4).
“By slandering, we deprive ourselves of the grace of God”
– I will give an example from ancient times, a very instructive one, about how a person loses money when he slanderes and condemns someone. The Monk John of Savvaitsky, a contemporary of John Climacus and his associate, related such an incident. One brother, a monk from a neighboring monastery, came to him. And the Monk John of Savvaitsky inquired about how the fathers lived there, and especially about one monk, about whom it was known that he was lazy and sinful. “He hasn’t changed at all, father,” answered the guest. And, hearing these words, the Monk John condemned that brother. And he had a vision: a cross with a crucified Savior. In delight, he rushed towards him to worship the Savior, when suddenly he heard the voice of Christ turning to two angels: “Cast out this man over there!” This is the Antichrist, for he condemned his brother before My judgment.” And he woke up in fear and realized that he had committed a terrible sin. And I also remembered that in a dream vision I had lost my mantle, and I guessed: this mantle is the cover of the Grace of God, of which he was deprived. After this, the Monk John prayed for seven years and strictly fasted in order to find again the grace that he had lost. This is how people in ancient times treated every word responsibly.
One who slander another becomes close in spirit to demons
– Backbiting and slander are sins of the devil. Actually, the name “devil” is translated as “slanderer.” Therefore, one who slander another becomes close in spirit to demons.
Our word comes from the heart. An evil, crafty and insidious word is an expression of a corrupted heart, cunning and poisonous, like a snake. Such a person cannot be happy, he is restless about the good of his neighbor, looks for ways to hurt him, slander and slander, but ultimately suffers himself.
Slander fell upon many saints. For example, the most prominent saints who occupied the See of Constantinople - Saints Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom - were expelled due to slander and slander. Saint Gregory was accused of illegally occupying the see of Constantinople, although it was Gregory the Theologian who, with his preaching, returned the city, which was in the hands of the Arians, to Orthodox Christians. And a whole series of accusations were brought against Saint John Chrysostom. Eudoxia, the wife of Emperor Arkady, especially hated him. But as soon as the saint, not wanting troubles, left the city, an earthquake occurred, Eudoxia’s chambers were damaged, and she, in fear, asked to return the saint as soon as possible. After the second exile of John Chrysostom, Eudoxia died during childbirth.
And what was it like for the Monk Macarius the Great, who was slandered that he allegedly inflicted violence on the girl and she conceived? The Monk Macarius suffered this reproach, was beaten, and bad rumors spread about him in the village. He was forced to support the girl until she gave birth, when she experienced terrible agony and admitted that Saint Macarius was not to blame.
The slanderer and slanderer are always punished. The sin of slander is terrible, first of all, for the slanderer himself; his soul cannot be with Christ, it is opposite to the Kingdom of Christ, just as darkness is opposite to light, illness is opposite to health, malice is opposite to humility.
But still, the holy fathers recommend that we perceive slander and slander as a cure for sins, as a kind of penance that must be endured in atonement for some of our sins. Therefore, we have no right to harbor grievances or retaliatory anger towards our slanderers.
The Lord Jesus Christ Himself suffered from slander. Slander and slander are the weapons of Satan, directed in Gospel times against the Savior, and then against each of His servants. This means that each of us must also suffer from this. Christ did not respond to slander, did not enter into the analysis of slander, and not a single such temptation touched His soul with even the slightest thought of indignation.
I really like the instruction of St. Maximus the Confessor, who advised not to lose heart, but rather to pray. The Monk Maxim said: “As you pray for the slanderer, God will reveal to those who are tempted the truth about you.” This means that slander and slander sooner or later reveal their emptiness and inconsistency, the victim of slander accepts the same fate as Christ, becomes spiritually strong and receives a crown from the Lord.
“Slander is the desecration of the gift of speech given to us by the Lord.”
– Yes, this is why the sin of slander is terrible, because with our free will we combine with evil and become its participants. We show the world the darkening of our minds with thoughts of condemnation, enmity and malice. What kind of fellowship can there be between righteousness and iniquity? What does light have in common with darkness? (2 Cor. 6:14). So if we slander, then we deprive ourselves of the grace of God, because the gift of speech testifies to our calling to the gospel, but not to condemnation, slander and slander. Let us not forget that our Lord Himself is God the Word, the second hypostasis of the Holy Trinity, and the gift of the word in us is a Divine gift, which we must preserve and multiply with great attention and reverence.
Foul language and slander are opposition to the very plan of God for our “literature”
Unfortunately, idle talk also happens among us, but foul language and slander are already obvious opposition to the very plan of God about our “verbalism.” The desecration of this great gift testifies to the action of demonic forces who want to pervert and desecrate everything holy and pure that is placed in man by God. It is clear that it is difficult to completely keep your tongue from any condemnation and slander, but the very necessity of this must be kept in mind all the time as a requirement that must be fulfilled. Maintaining purity of mind, and as a consequence purity of speech, is one of the mandatory requirements of Christian life. Let us remember this and try to be good servants of the Word.
“Slander of power leads to disasters”
– Alas, there are many historical examples of how terrible the sin of slander can be. Let us at least remember how they slandered the Romanov family...
The sins of slander and slander are terrible because they lead to hatred and lead away from Love. And hatred is the most painful suffering, a disease of the soul. It destroys the individual, the family, the work, and entire nations. So, if you slander your husband, wife or children, then soon they will seem completely black to you, it will be impossible to be near them, since you will hate them, condemn them, quarrel with those you slander. And ultimately the family will fall apart. There is only one salvation from this - constant repentance, frequent confession of one’s sins against one’s neighbors and the communion of the Body and Blood of Christ to heal the soul from hatred and to acquire Love. The same applies if such disruptions occur at work or elsewhere.
We know well from history what the consequences of slandering one’s country, one’s authorities, one’s people and other peoples are. Unfortunately, sometimes we don’t remember these lessons well.
In the history of our Motherland there were many such tragic moments when the people succumbed and believed slander against their rulers, and this led to terrible turmoil, to civil war. And as a consequence of this hatred of their authorities and civil strife, foreigners came and devastated Holy Rus'. This was the case during the Time of Troubles, the October Revolution and in many other cases.
Slandering the authorities is beneficial to the enemies: it divides the people and, as a result, weakens the country
Those who are at enmity against any people and country know well: it is not worth fighting with the help of your army, losing soldiers, but it is better to divide the people and pit people against each other, increasing sharp moments and inciting discontent with the authorities. And when people destroy each other enough and the country weakens and becomes powerless, then you can come and rob it. This is what it says in the Gospel: “But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said to them: Every kingdom divided against itself will be desolate; and every city or house divided against itself will not stand” (Matthew 12:25). Therefore, we must in every possible way avoid slandering the authorities and not listen to slander against them, not condemn them. Let us not forget that “let every soul be subject to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God; the existing authorities have been established by God. Therefore, he who resists authority resists God's institution. But those who resist will bring upon themselves condemnation” (Rom. 13:1-2). And again: “Be subject therefore to every human authority, for the Lord’s sake: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to rulers, as those sent by him” (1 Pet. 2:13-14).
We must unite in serving God, the Church and our Motherland, each one trying well to do his own thing, leaving all judgment to God, and then we will have much less disorder, disputes, and discord. And much more strength to carry out work to save your soul and to acquire the grace of the Holy Spirit and eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen.
“He who is accustomed to slander is incapable of good”
– It is said: “A good man brings good things out of his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of his heart” (cf. Matthew 12:35). So when we judge someone, when we gossip, we show that our soul is infected with vice. And we ourselves are not perfect.
Modern society in every possible way provokes the sin of condemnation and slander. Talk shows on television are such exercises in backbiting. And the great danger is that a person gets used to slander. And those who are accustomed to only slander and condemn are no longer capable of a good impulse. When a person always talks and thinks badly about everyone, it is very difficult for him to change his mind, it is very difficult to see goodness and kind people around him.
Saint Nicholas of Serbia gave the following parable: “What is the difference between a righteous man and a sinful man? A righteous person, if he sees people going somewhere, thinks in his heart: good Christians probably go to the temple of God to pray. And a person who is accustomed to slander, when he sees the same people, thinks: these are probably bandits coming to rob someone.” A striking example of how we very often slander those about whom we know nothing at all.
History has plenty of evidence of what slander turned out to be. We all remember the tragic events of the early 20th century. Then many people slandered both the royal family and the government in general. Yes, these people were flawed, but when the revolution occurred, it became a disaster, the situation in the country became even more difficult than it had been before. And the 1930s, and the Gulag, and the execution of people for their faith?! Many laity and clergy suffered. It is monstrous when a person is shot because he believes in God, or because the literature in his home is not the kind that should be read. It all started with the condemnation of the king. But no one is perfect, and neither is the Emperor. Seeing his bad sides, they did not notice the good ones. Moving away from the monarchical state structure, which to some seemed imperfect, and to others completely unsuitable, what did they come to? To Bolshevism, which turned into a mass of tragedies. This is something we must always remember when we slander rulers at any level. And sitting on the couch, it’s easy to manage the state.
We should try not to slander our near and far ones, but to pray for them. And then everything will be Christian. Ask the Lord to give us strength and those about whom we have thought badly. It’s better to pray that the Lord will correct both us and them. Then everything will be fine.
Saint John Chrysostom suffered from slander like no one else. He suffered disgrace and exile, accused by Empress Eudoxia at the libel of the Patriarch of Alexandria Theophilus himself, who wanted to install his own man in the episcopal see. To those who heard an unverified rumor or information defaming someone, St. John said: “Never accept slander against your neighbor, but stop the slanderer with these words: “Leave it, brother, every day I sin even more serious sins, how can we condemn others?" The saint even suggested extreme measures: “Let us drive away the slanderer, so that, by taking part in the evil of others, we do not cause our own destruction.” But the Monk Ephraim the Syrian believed that “if the enemy disposes to slander, we will protect ourselves by silence.”
How to escape from slander
Many holy fathers promise a reward for enduring slander. “Remember that the one who hears slander about himself not only does not suffer harm, but will also receive the greatest reward,” says John Chrysostom. But he also testifies that no matter how great the reward, it is not easy to endure slander: “Slander is hard, even if it is well rewarded. The wondrous Joseph and many others were subjected to it. And the Lord commands us to pray so as not to be tempted... And, moreover, the slander of proud and strong people is especially difficult, because untruth, based on strength, brings great harm.”
The saint advised his brothers in misfortune: “For many, what seems most unbearable than all deaths is when enemies spread bad rumors about them and bring suspicion upon them... If this is true, correct yourself; if it's a lie, laugh at it. If you are aware of what is being said, come to your senses; if you don’t realize it, ignore it, it’s better to say: have fun and rejoice, according to the word of the Lord (Matthew 5:11).”
Prayer can save you from many troubles and sorrows. Even in the case of slander, St. Maximus the Confessor suggests not to lose heart, but to pray: “As you pray for the one who has slandered, God will reveal to those who are tempted the truth about you.”
Head of the affairs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanich) of Boryspil and Brovary
No evil, no slander can resist the love of God. Therefore, each of us must cultivate the flowers of love in our hearts and eradicate the spaces of anger...
Slander is the first sin in human history
The primary sin, which is described in the first pages of the Bible, is precisely the sin of slander. True, this is not the very first sin that people committed. Adam and Eve sinned by disobeying God, but they were led to this by the devil’s slander against God.
“And the serpent said to the woman, Did God really say, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” (Gen. 3.1). No, the book of Genesis says God didn't say that. In fact, God said to Adam: “You may eat from every tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil...” (Gen. 2:16-17).
Thus, already at the beginning of human history we see from the devil a deliberate distortion of the truth, which is called slander.
The word “devil” is translated from Greek as “slanderer; one who slanderes." This is the very first and most important name given to the enemy of our salvation, who has other names, but this is the most important thing, because it shows his essence.
The slanderer harms himself
Saint John Chrysostom, who personally suffered greatly from slander, advises those who have heard unverified information or rumors that discredit their neighbor to do this: “Never accept slander against your neighbor, but stop the slanderer with these words: “Leave me alone, brother.” Every day I commit even more serious sins, so how can we judge others?”
And St. Basil the Great notes: “A slanderer harms three people: the one he slanderes, for the one who listens, and himself.”
Slander for us is the mercy of God
It is certainly difficult to tolerate slander. However, many holy fathers promise rewards for tolerating slander. “Remember that whoever hears slander about himself not only does not suffer harm, but will also receive the greatest reward.” The same saint goes on to say: “If you are reproached fairly, correct yourself; if you are reproached unfairly, rejoice.”
According to the teaching of the Holy Fathers, those who endure slander with humility, patience and Christian courage have their sins forgiven. St. Theophan the Recluse, for example, considers slander to be a redeeming medicine: “They slandered you... even though you are not to blame? You need to be patient with grace. And this will take the place of penance for what you yourself consider yourself guilty of. Therefore, slander for you is God’s mercy.”
The Lord can turn everything into good. Even slander
Ascetics advise a person who is experiencing slander to pray, including for the person who is trying to disgrace him. “As you pray for the slanderer, God will reveal to those who were tempted the truth about you,” teaches St. Maximus the Confessor.
There are many examples in the Holy Scriptures of how the Lord turns slander into good and advantage. For example, the Old Testament Joseph, while maintaining his chastity, ended up in prison because of a woman’s slander, but subsequently the Lord consoled and exalted him so that he saved the entire country from famine (Gen. 39 and 41).
There are only two cases when you can say bad things
At the same time, we ourselves need to be careful not to inadvertently slander or disgrace our neighbor.
Saint Basil the Great believes that “there are only two cases when it is permissible to speak bad things about someone (but the truth!): when it is necessary to consult with others who are experienced in how to correct a person who has sinned, and when it is necessary to warn others (not saying a lot), who, out of ignorance, can often be accomplices of a bad person, considering him good... Whoever, without such a need, says something about another with the intention of slandering him, is a slanderer, even if he were telling the truth.”
...The slanderers' candles go out
People who slander their neighbors do not have the blessing of God. “The Lord does not even accept prayers from them, and their candles go out, and their offerings are not accepted, and the wrath of God rests on them, as David says: The Lord will destroy all flattering lips, a tongue that speaks much (Ps. 11:4).” - St. John Chrysostom taught.
And the Monk Isaiah does not advise using slander to save oneself from troubles and human malice: “Every unfortunate person is worthy of mercy when he mourns his troubles. But if he begins to slander others and harm them, then pity for his troubles will disappear; he is no longer recognized as worthy of regret, but of hatred, as such, that he abused his misfortune by interfering in other people's affairs. Therefore, the seeds of this passion must be destroyed at the beginning, before they sprouted and became indestructible, and did not create danger for the one who was sacrificed to this passion.”
God is not offended by anything so much as by malice
To reduce the harmful influence of lies and slander in our world, each of us must cultivate the flowers of love in our hearts and eradicate the spaces of anger.
According to the rights. John of Kronstadt, God is glorified by nothing so much as through all-suffering love, and is not offended by anything so much as by malice, no matter how it is covered up by appearances.
No evil, no slander can oppose the love of God. And, probably, there are no more sublime words in the world about love than those that the Apostle Paul said in his first letter to the Corinthians: “Love is patient and kind, love does not envy, love does not boast, is not proud, does not act rudely, does not seek its own. , is not irritated, does not think evil, does not rejoice in untruth, but rejoices in the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails” (1 Cor. 13; 4-8).
The Fathers of the Church about slander and how to fight it.
Sandro Botticelli. Slander (1495)
What to do if you hear slander
Like no one else, he suffered from slander Saint John Chrysostom. He suffered disgrace and exile, accused by Empress Eudoxia at the libel of the Patriarch of Alexandria Theophilus himself, who wanted to install his own man in the episcopal see. To those who heard an unverified rumor or information defaming someone, St. John said: “Never accept slander against your neighbor, but stop the slanderer with these words: “Leave it, brother, every day I sin even more serious sins, how can we condemn others?” The saint even suggested extreme measures: “Let us drive away the slanderer, so that by taking part in the evil of others, we do not cause our own destruction.” And here is the reverend Ephraim Sirin I thought that “If the enemy disposes to slander, we will protect ourselves by silence.”
How to escape from slander
Many holy fathers promise a reward for enduring slander. “Remember that whoever hears slander about himself not only does not suffer harm, but will also receive the greatest reward.”- speaks John Chrysostom. But he also testifies that no matter how great the reward, it is not easy to endure slander: “Slander is hard, even if it is well rewarded. The wondrous Joseph and many others were subjected to it. And the Lord commands us to pray not to be tempted... And, moreover, the slander of proud and strong people is especially difficult, because untruth, based on strength, brings great harm.” The saint advised his brothers in misfortune: “For many, what seems most unbearable than all deaths is when enemies spread bad rumors about them and bring suspicion upon them... If this is true, correct yourself; if it's a lie, laugh at it. If you are aware of what is being said, come to your senses; if you don’t realize it, ignore it, it’s better to say: have fun and rejoice, according to the word of the Lord (Matthew 5:11).”
Prayer can save you from many troubles and sorrows. Venerable Maximus the Confessor and in case of slander, he suggests not to lose heart, but to pray: “As you pray for the slandered, God will reveal to those who are offended the truth about you.”
Bishop Theophan the Recluse proposes to consider slander as a redemptive medicine: “They slandered you... although you are innocent? We must patiently endure. And this will take the place of penance for what you consider yourself guilty of. Therefore, slander for you is the mercy of God. We must certainly reconcile with those who have slandered us, no matter how difficult it may be.”
Slander for benefit
Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk gives examples of transforming slander into good and glory: ““All things work together for good to those who love God,” says the apostle (Rom. 8:28). For them, slander and slander are turned to their advantage by the grace of God. The chaste Joseph was thrown into prison by women's slander, but so he was elevated to high honor and saved the whole country from famine (Gen. 39 and Gen. 41). Moses fled from Egypt from slanderous lips and was a stranger in the land of Midian (Ex. 2:15-22). But there he was honored to see a bush miraculously burning in the desert, and to hear God speaking to him from the bush (Ex. 3:2-7). A slanderous tongue made many slander to Saint David, but in this way he was encouraged to pray and composed many inspired psalms for the benefit of the Holy Church. Slander threw Daniel into a den to be devoured by lions, but innocence stopped the mouths of the beasts and glorified him more than ever (Dan. 6:16-28). ... The same judgments of God are still being carried out" (104. 860-861).
And Christ was slandered
Saint Tikhon notes that we are not the first to suffer untruth on Earth: “Christ Himself preceded us through reproach and humiliation, without committing any sin. How much and how cruelly the lips of the Pharisees blasphemed Him and what reproaches they threw at Him like poisonous arrows - the Holy Gospel testifies to this. It was not enough for them to say that He loved to eat and drink wine, that He was a friend of tax collectors and sinners, a Samaritan, that He had a demon and was frantic, the One who sought the lost in every way, but they also called Him a liar, corrupting the people: “we have found , that He corrupts our people and forbids to give tribute to Caesar" (Luke 23:2), the One who taught them: "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Mark 12:17), Who by the power of His Divinity forbade and cast out demons. No one escaped slander and slander from them. The children of this world have found something to blaspheme even in a blameless life; they have invented a lying tongue with which to defame the blameless. The prophet Moses, lawgiver, leader of Israel, friend and interlocutor of God, suffered reproach from the host of Korah and Abiron (Num. 16) and from the rest of his people. How many poisonous arrows were thrown at David, the holy king of Israel and the prophet of God, is evident from the psalm: “My enemies reproach me every day, and those who are angry with me curse me” (Ps. 101:9 ff.). A lying tongue cast the prophet Daniel into a den of lions, as into a grave (Dan. 6:16). How the apostles suffered from the whole world, to whom they preached the mercy of God! Those who turned from delusion to truth, and from darkness to light, and from the kingdom of the devil to the Kingdom of God were called seducers, corrupters and troublemakers of the universe. Their successors, the saints, martyrs and other saints, experienced the same thing. Read church history and you will see how no one escaped from them from slander. The saints living in the world now suffer the same from the evil world. For the world is constant in its malice: it does not love the truth, which the saints demonstrate both in word and in life, and always clings to lies and untruth, which they abhor. You are not the first to suffer reproach and dishonor. You see what the saints have endured and are now enduring (John 9:10-34).”
How not to slander your neighbor
Saint Basil the Great believes that sometimes the truth can turn out to be slander: “You cannot say anything about an absent brother with the intention of denigrating him - this is slander, even if what was said was fair.” “...But there are two cases in which it is permissible to speak evil (but the truth) about someone: when it is necessary to consult with others who are experienced in this, how to correct a sinner, and when it is necessary to warn others (without verbosity) who, ignorance, they can often be in company with a bad person, considering him good... Whoever, without such a need, says something about another with the intention of slandering him, is a slanderer, even if he was telling the truth.”.
Saint John Chrysostom warns: “Slander destroys great houses; one slandered, and through him others cry and weep: his children, his neighbors, and his friends. But for this, it can be bad for slanderers. The Lord does not accept their prayers from them, and their candles go out, and their offerings are not accepted, and the wrath of God rests on them, as David says: The Lord will consume all flattering lips, a lofty tongue.”
Saint Gregory the Theologian advises us to pay attention to why we complain about others: “If a complaint is unfair, it becomes slander...”.
A Reverend Abba Isaiah does not advise using slander to save oneself from disasters and human malice: “Every unfortunate person is worthy of mercy when he mourns his misfortunes. But if he begins to slander others and harm them, then pity for his misfortunes will disappear; He is no longer recognized as worthy of regret, but of hatred, as having used his misfortune for evil by interfering in the affairs of others. So, the seeds of this passion must be destroyed at the beginning, before they germinate and become indestructible, and do not create danger for the one who is sacrificed to this passion.”.
