The Quiet Poison of Slander

How to Combat It

Editor’s Note: I had planned a different article for today, but a reader asked for something we need to talk about—the damage slander causes. It’s the next step when gossip is allowed to grow unchecked. And it’s doing real harm, both in our culture and inside the church. Below are some suggestions for resisting this growing problem.

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Slander does not always shout. Most of the time, it whispers. But the damage it does is loud and lasting. In today’s culture, slander has become normal. People tear each other down online. Rumors spread faster than the truth. Accusations are made before facts are known. And sadly, this spirit has found its way into the church.

Scripture speaks clearly and often about the sin of slander. God forbids it because He knows how destructive it is. Ephesians 4:31 tells Christians to “put away… all slander.” James warns that the tongue is “a fire” that stains the whole body and sets the course of life on fire (James 3:6). Peter calls believers to “rid yourselves of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander” (1 Peter 2:1). These are commands that are never to be ignored.

Slander is more than careless speech. It is the act of speaking harmfully about someone: questioning motives, assigning evil intent, enlarging faults, or spreading accusations that hurt a person’s name. Sometimes the words are entirely false. Other times, they contain a seed of truth but are twisted or exaggerated. In every case, Scripture condemns it.

Proverbs 10:18 says, “The one who spreads slander is a fool.” Proverbs 16:28 adds, “A slanderer separates close friends.” God places slander in the same category as malice, deceit, and strife; sins that tear fellowship apart.

What Slander Does

Slander damages a person’s reputation.
A single sentence can stain someone’s name for years. Even if the truth comes out later, the wound often remains. See Proverbs 22:1; Ecclesiastes 7:1; Proverbs 10:18.

Slander breaks trust.
When we believe the worst about others, unity collapses. Suspicion replaces fellowship, and relationships weaken. See Proverbs 16:28; Matthew 5:9; Ephesians 4:3.

Slander multiplies conflict.
Careless words ignite quarrels. One harmful statement leads to another until the original issue is buried under drama. See Proverbs 26:20–21; James 3:5–6; Proverbs 15:1.

Slander harms the innocent.
People become targets of accusations they never deserved. The innocent are left defending themselves against lies or twisted truths. See Exodus 23:1; Psalm 35:11; Proverbs 14:5.

Slander offends God.
God takes this sin seriously because it attacks someone made in His image. He warns that He will judge those who harm others through their words. See Psalm 101:5; Leviticus 19:16; Matthew 12:36–37.

How We Combat It

Slow down. Proverbs 18:13 warns against answering before listening. Don’t assume. Don’t react. Don’t repeat what you haven’t confirmed.

Ask questions, not conclusions. “Did this happen?” is wiser than, “I can’t believe they did that.”

Refuse to repeat accusations. If the story does not help, heal, or protect someone, let it die with you.

Protect reputations. Love “believes all things” (1 Corinthians 13:7). Give others the benefit of the doubt, not the benefit of suspicion.

Go directly to the person. Jesus tells us to handle concerns privately first (Matthew 18:15). Most slander would vanish overnight if we obeyed this.

Correct slander gently. When someone tries to speak harmfully, say, “Let’s check the facts,” or “Have you talked to them?” This stops the spread.

Pray for restraint. Psalm 141:3 says, “Lord, set a guard over my mouth.” A guarded tongue honors God.

And I must say this plainly:
There is no excuse for slander, not even when someone claims to be “standing up for the truth.” Scripture never permits us to harm a brother’s name in the name of zeal. And there is no excuse for avoiding direct communication with the person you disagree with. Most slander happens because someone will not take the time to talk. It is easier to assume, easier to accuse, and easier to speak about someone than to talk to them. But that’s not love.

Love must rule our words, and love “does no wrong to a neighbor” (Romans 13:10). That means we refuse to harm someone’s reputation, even when we disagree with them (Ephesians 4:29). It means we are willing to speak directly and honestly with a brother or sister instead of talking around them or about them (Matthew 18:15; Proverbs 27:5–6). When we fail to communicate or when we justify harmful speech, the problem is rarely conviction; it is often laziness, impatience, or pride (Proverbs 18:13).

It is easier to assume the worst than to ask a question (Proverbs 18:17). It is easier to repeat a story than to seek clarity (Proverbs 15:28). It is easier to vent frustration than to practice restraint (James 1:19-20). None of that reflects the character of Christ. He calls us to something better: to guard each other’s names, to seek understanding, and to let our words reflect the love we claim to believe (John 13:34–35; Colossians 4:6).

And it’s not just about people:
Slander often targets congregations, too. Entire churches can be labeled, judged, or dismissed based on rumors, assumptions, or half-truths. One careless accusation can damage a congregation’s reputation in the community or among sister churches. Paul warned against this kind of broad, destructive speech when he told the Corinthians to “speak the same thing” and avoid divisions built on hearsay (1 Corinthians 1:10-11). A congregation is a body of believers trying to serve Christ. To slander a church is to wound many brothers and sisters at once. The same commands that guard our speech toward individuals also apply here: speak truthfully (Ephesians 4:25), pursue peace (Romans 14:19), and refuse to repeat anything that harms the unity of God’s people (Psalm 133:1).

A Higher Calling

While we live in a time where people thrive on outrage, Christians must choose a better way. The church should be the safest place in the world for a person’s good name. Slander tears down, but the gospel builds up. Let’s use our words to heal, protect, and restore, and guard the unity Christ died to create.