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Lawyers offer these tips on how to respond to false accusations: In most situations, they say do nothing. If that is not convincing, gather evidence to support your innocence; carefully prepare your answer; contact the accuser and explain your side; if the accusation is criminal, seek legal counsel. The Apostle Paul’s critics accused him of being fickle, unreliable–of saying one thing and doing another. He had promised to visit them twice but had to change his plans. We find his answer in 2 Corinthians chapters 1 and 2. He begins his defense by affirming his character. He does it in the form of a question: Do you think I am like people of the world who say “Yes” when they really mean “No”? He then calls God to attest that his word to them does not waver between yes and no. Next, he points to the message that he, Silas, and Timothy preached to them. He says it was a message from God who cannot lie but who always keeps His word. He reminds them of God’s reliability. God has kept all the promises He ever made. Paul then explains why he changed his plans. He says he did it, not because he was fickle, but because he wanted to spare them a sharp rebuke. He wanted them to know that God is reliable, that God’s Son is reliable, and that he, Paul, is reliable. Like Paul, we all should aim to live with integrity, so that if others accuse us falsely, our character will help answer our critics.
