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When Church "A" Badmouths
Church "B"
See Diagram
MP3
A member of the ICG contacted me the other day, very upset over an
audio tape that was circulating from a leader of another church in which
he slanders and condemns Garner Ted Armstrong. Is this the true
Christian thing to do? What would be the motive for anyone doing
such a thing? Would Jesus do this? Did Jesus leave us an
example of this situation that demonstrates what He did?
Let us begin by looking at the various scenarios and stating the
spiritual conclusion of each. In each scenario Church A will be
the one badmouthing Church B.
Scenario One:
Church A and Church B are both true churches of
God
This scenario is absurd on its face [actually they all are absurd].
Both of these churches belong to God. They are both headed by
Jesus Christ and both are filled with people God called after
calling them to repentance, baptism and the laying on of hands.
Condemning church B here would be condemning Jesus Christ and the Work
of God.
Scenario Two:
Church A is a true church of God and Church B is
not
Why would a true church wish to engage in this type of slander?
There is no biblical instruction or mandate to badmouth false churches
except in principle. There is no justification here to name names
or slander individuals. Any true church or true minister can
condemn a false doctrine or belief but they have absolutely no
justification to make it personal or to name specific individuals or
church organizations. After all, Christ died for EVERYONE in the
World. The Plan of God is to bring all individuals to Salvation.
Every human, therefore is God's property. Do you want to have your
condemnation of specific individuals brought before the throne of God?
Scenario Three:
Church A is not a true church of God and Church B
is
This scenario is prophesied. The true church will experience hate,
condemnation, slander, bitterness and even murder as we enter into the
end times. I would personally hold as suspect any church bringing
slander and condemnation against another church. A true church of
God has no justification or biblical mandate to do so. Ergo, they,
in their condemnation, condemn themselves as being a false church.
Scenario Four:
Neither Church A nor Church B are true churches
of God
This scenario is rather moot. Even so, even a false church, with a
nominal belief in Christian principles could not find justification for
attacking individuals and other churches. Even the archangel,
Michael did not bring accusation against Satan. Notice...
Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed
about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing
accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. –Jude 9
Clearly there is no human [despite our distaste for the person] more
evil than Satan. Just as clear, there is no human who can compare
themselves to the archangel, Michael. Therefore, if Michael is not
bringing accusation and slander against Satan, we humans have no
justification to attack or slander others.
Example of Jesus
Jesus left us a prime example of this situation when, one day, the
disciples came running to Him about "another church". Notice...
And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in
thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he
followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no
man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of
me. For he that is not against us is on our part. –Mark 9:38-40
And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy
name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. And Jesus
said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.
–Luke 9:49-50
Jesus did not condemn these others. He did not declare them in any
way false. He did not instruct the disciples to have these others
join themselves to them. He simply told them to leave them alone.
Clearly this happened for our benefit. The Word of God gives us no
justification to badmouth individuals or churches. What does the
Word of God say about slander?
SLANDER
Comes from an evil heart: Luke
6:45
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that
which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart
bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his
mouth speaketh.
Often arises from hatred:
Psalm
109:3
They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me
without a cause.
Evil people addicted to:
Psalm 50:20
Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own
mother's son.
Hypocrites habitually slander others:
Proverbs 11:9
An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through
knowledge shall the just be delivered.
Characteristic of the Devil:
Revelation
12:10
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and
strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for
the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our
God day and night.
Those who indulge in are FOOLS: Proverbs
10:18
He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander,
is a fool.
Wives of God's servants (including ministers)
should avoid: 1 Timothy 3:11
Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in
all things.
Church members should keep their tongues from slander:
Psalm 34:13 with
1
Peter 3:10
Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
1 Peter 3:10
For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his
tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
Should not be listened to:
1 Samuel
24:9
And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying,
Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?
What Slander Does
It separates friends: Proverbs 16:28
A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
Proverbs 17:9
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a
matter separateth very friends.
Slander creates deadly wounds:
Proverbs
18:8
The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the
innermost parts of the belly.
It creates strife:
Proverbs 26:20
Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no
talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
Slander and badmouthing causes discord among
the brethren: Proverbs 6:19
A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among
brethren.
It leads to murder:
Ezekiel 22:9
In thee are men that carry tales to shed blood: and in thee they eat
upon the mountains: in the midst of thee they commit lewdness.
The person who made the tape condemning another human is guilty of
committing spiritual lewdness. This person is guilty of spreading
discord, creating strife and separating friends. This person is a
biblical fool.
Proverbs 6:16
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination
unto him: Verse 19: A false witness that speaketh lies, and he
that soweth discord among brethren.
God hates these things and will not tolerate someone that does these
things without repentance. It matters not to me that the slanderer
is sincere or that the target of his or her slander is an unrepentant
sinner of some kind. One cannot slander before God without having
to face judgment. To slander another is to be spiritually
discerned. It assumes the other person is unrepentant. It
denies the power of God in the life of the person being slandered.
The slanderer is without love, compassion and forgiveness. His
hate, bitterness and slander will keep him from the Kingdom of God.
Do not listen to slander of any kind.
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