Slander comes in many ways: it can be tattling, boasting, swearing, lying, or many other malicious ways. To win a lawsuit of slander, the person suing has to prove that the person being sued made the statement; that the statement was indeed about the person now suing; that the statement harmed the person suing; and that the person being accused did it to harm the one making the claim. Proving slander is often problematic because the burden of proof is on the person who brings the complaint. But I’m glad that on the day when people must stand before the Judge of the earth, there will no escape from giving account for our actions while we lived on earth. Jesus said to a group one day, “A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.” What Jesus said should be a warning to all of us. We ought to be very careful of our words, especially if we know they are false or can hurt others.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr. is the founder and chairman of UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.). Under his direction, UMI has grown to be a leading publisher of Christian education resources for churches in the African American community. Read More
