Slander: Falsely Damaging the Reputation of Others

Slander is a falsely damaging statement – a verbal attack made with the intention of hurting another’s reputation and smearing their character by poisoning the minds of the hearers (Ps 109:1-3; Jer 18:18; Act 14:2). Unlike honest disagreement or loving correction, it trades in distortion and half-truth, and leaves wounds in relationships and communities that can long outlast the words themselves.

What Is Slander?

Gossip is passing on someone else’s secrets, while slander is fabricating secrets and passing them on in a negative light to deliberately do another harm. Because it is spoken rather than written, slander can seem fleeting – yet words once released cannot be recalled, and hearers rarely forget what they have been told. The Bible condemns spreading false reports – only a fool does this (Ex 20:16, 23:1; Prov 6:16-19, 10:18; 1 Pet 2:1).

What the Bible Says About Slander

Jesus said slander is one of the things that pollutes our character (Mk 7:21-23). For believers, this destructive trait of the old sinful corrupt nature must be put to death, as it is a mark of those not walking with God (Rom 1:28-32, 6:11-14, 12:1-2; 2 Cor 5:17). The Bible states "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths..." (Eph 4:29,31; Col 3:7-8; Tit 3:2; Jas 4:11), and Jesus warned that we will be accountable for every idle word we speak (Mt 12:36). What we entertain in thought tends in time to surface in speech, so the battle against slander is first fought in the heart, long before any words are spoken. How we speak of others when they are absent is a true measure of our love for them.

Would I like others to do this to me?

Dealing With the Root Cause

If we are tempted to speak untruths about someone we must examine our hearts to discover and deal with the root cause (Mt 15:18-19; Jas 3:9-10). It could be we are jealous of them, have unresolved hurts, harbour unforgiveness and bitterness, or some other sin we have not brought to the cross. A heart occupied with grace has little room for malice, so healing the source is far more effective than simply censoring the symptoms. As believers, we are to love each other, for love does no harm to a neighbour but wants the best for them (Jn 13:34; Mk 12:31; Rom 13:10; 1 Cor 13:4-7). Jesus’ instruction is "Do to others as you would have them do to you" (Lk 6:31), often termed the golden rule.

What is the root cause in my heart?

Reflection and Application:

  • Refuse to repeat or embellish unverified reports about another person.
  • Put to death the old nature’s impulse to tear others down with words.
  • Speak only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs.
  • Examine your heart for jealousy, hurt or bitterness, and bring it to the cross.

See also: criticism, golden rule, gossip, speech, tongue, truth, words.