Evil Speech -- Slander!
by Charlie Hatchko
"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (Exodus 20: 16) . This is the Eight Commandment. Almighty God forbids us to detract from our neighbor's honor, or bear false witness of any kind. This Commandment forbids injuring our neighbor in his honor. Look at the manipulation and deception in today's society. Look at the slander and evil speech we find in today's society. Look closely at the political sector. Look at the half-truths used in political advertisement. Look how words are taken out of context to absolutely diminish the credibility of one's opponent in the political sector. Both political parties are guilty of deceitfulness in regards to political advertisement. Political slander is absolutely evident in today’s society. Look very closely at the news media. Look at the manipulative liberal establishment that violates Natural Law and Biblical Revelation in their pro-choice views. The reprobate mind is absolutely castigated and condemned by the Word of God. Those who see no harm by laws in society regarding the Terri Schiavo case have the reprobate mind. Death by Starvation--Lack of food and water is absolutely demonic. It is murder in the eyes of the Lord! Abortion and Euthanasia violates Biblical principles, the ordinances, precepts and testimonies of God himself. Homosexuality and Lesbianism violates Natural Law and Biblical Revelation. Look at the Biblical evidence that condemns sodomy, homosexuality, lesbianism, and all sexual perversity. Look at Genesis 18: 16-21--Genesis 19: 1-14--Leviticus 18: 6-30--Romans 1: 18-32--1 Corinthians 6: 9-10--1 Timothy 1: 9-10.
Show me one Biblical Text that advocates this lifestyle. There is none! Yet, look at the promotion of falsehood by the liberal media who advocates this abominable lifestyle. Evil slanderous speech, in today's pagan culture, and heinous acts of deep malignity are leading this great country into reprobation. The liberal media has fostered a sterile individualism of moral depravity. Autonomous individuals wanting laws that rest on depersonalized and utilitarian views of morality, sexuality and procreation. Coherent Natural Law approaches and affirms objective norms rooted in nature. Natural Law provides an objective standard of right or wrong. Human life and the human person are respected. Natural Law jurisprudence based on the philosophical view of the Angelic Doctor --St. Thomas Aquinas is an integral constituent of morality, a concept of truth coming from Christ and his Apostolic Church, which takes cognizance of, and absolute direction from Divine Revelation. The exercise of authority is meant to give an outward expression to a just hierarchy of values to facilitate the exercise of freedom and responsibility.
Do not be vexed by inhuman avaricious politicians or news media with their own agenda that in their social capacity use their positions for their own aggrandizement. The inner dubiousness of the liberal news media correlates with the inner motivation of the Pharisees in the time of Jesus Christ. Look at the words of John the Baptist to the Pharisees and Sadducees:-"You Brood of Vipers" St. John the Baptist like the Lord Jesus made use of this sharp reprehension to those who came to them with a mind of hypocrisy and on the outside were white washed tombs, but on the inside were full of hypocrisy, iniquity and rapacity (Matt. 3: 7). Look at Matt. 23: 25-27. The Lord Jesus Christ knew their interior corruption. Today's modern liberal media absolutely through a demonic agenda preach absolute falsehood regarding issues on life. The condoning of abortion, euthanasia, and gay marriage absolutely violates Biblical Revelation. Look at the "Woe" from the Almighty God regarding those who call evil good and good evil. A "Woe" is a condemnation by God in a forcible language, threats of impending judgment or reprehensions because of hypocritical actions. Look closely at the words of the great prophet Isaiah speaking through the Almighty God. Isaiah absolutely aims at the critical confrontations of those who speak falsehood. "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil" (Isaiah 5: 20). The liberal media in their proclamation of manipulative evil speech propagate falsehood. Condoning abortion, euthanasia, and gay marriage, they produce a harvest of thorns in one's spiritual life. Look closely at the Terri Schiavo case! Euthanasia at its best, Murder! Yes--Murder! (Exodus 20: 13 ---Deut. 5: 17) Thou shalt not kill! Look at Abortion--The Culture of Death! Yes--Murder! Look at the Anti-Catholic media in today's society. Vehemently against the doctrines and teachings of the Catholic Church with self-complacency and pushing laws that violate broad and idealistic concepts of dignity. Laws that rest on depersonalized and utilitarian views of morality, sexuality, and procreation are based on truncated notions of man and his freedom. Let us never forget the words of the Lord. "Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire (Matt. 7: 19)." The words of Christ are not aimed at the human ear, but at the human heart and will.
The greatest scandal and slander in the world is the violation of children's rights by pedophile Priests. Although the media with its vicious attack on the Catholic Priesthood makes it look like there are numerous acts of pedophilia going on in the Priesthood, the truth of the matter is there is no difference in other religions regarding pedophilia. About 1% of Priests are pedophiles as in other religions and denominations. Those figures were given by a very competent University poll. In the Catholic Hierarchical Priesthood 1% is too much. Let me explain why! The greatest honor and title given to mankind is the Hierarchical or Ministerial Priesthood of the Catholic Church. The Catholic Priest is given the Sacramental power of God to bring forth the Sacrament. Latin--Alter Christus--The Priest serves in the person of Christ! Look at the duties of a priest in the distribution of the Sacraments.
1) "Eucharist-- Bringing forth the Lord Jesus Christ in the Mass by the power of God through the prayers of consecration over the bread and wine. Yes, the bread and wine become the "Body--Blood--Soul--and Divinity of Christ!" This power of God is only given to the Hierarchical or Ministerial Priesthood of the Catholic Church.
2) Forgiveness of Sins--The power is given by Christ himself to forgive sins. By the power of God given by Christ himself, the Priest has been given the power to forgive and retain sins. Hierarchical Priests forgive sins through the power of God. Jesus exhorts, "But he that shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the dept of the sea. Woe to the world because of scandals. For it must needs be that scandals come: but nevertheless woe to the man by whom the scandal cometh" (Matthew 18: 6-7).
Because of these acts of pedophilia by Priests, the Priesthood of God is slandered by other religions and nonbelievers. Many Protestants have told me that a married priesthood would eliminate this problem. This is absolutely false. I would beg the reader to read the Book --Celibacy in the Priesthood--by Father Peter Stravinskas. There are great Protestant contributors to this book that absolutely agree with Catholic teaching regarding the celibate Priesthood. Please read this book.
The millstone around the neck and drowned in the sea is relevant to the Apocalypse (Cf. Revelation 18: 21). The mighty angel of God throws a millstone into the sea, as Babylon the great city will be thrown. Yes, God will cleanse his Priesthood! A good reputation is one of the best things on earth. God made man is his own image and likeness and it is the will of God that man should live in holiness and strive for honor. Genesis 1: 26-27 and Genesis 5: 1 gives definitive affirmation that God created man in his own image and likeness. God created man and woman and blessed them. It is the will of God and the obligation of man to strive for honor and live in holiness among his neighbors. Sacred Scripture gives definitive affirmation of the call to holiness. 1 Thess. 4: 3 gives evidence that it is the will of God that all men be sanctified. Hebrews 12:14 states "make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord." Let us look at the magnificent words of Jesus Christ the Savior in Matthew's gospel. "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5: 16)/ Evil speech--and Slander are condemned and castigated by Holy Writ.
The great Catholic Saint and Doctor of the Church, St. John Chrysostom in his Second Catechesis draws numerously from the Book of Sirach in his explanation of controlling the tongue in instructing the new Catechumen. The Wisdom Books of the Bible give numerous affirmation regarding evil speech and slander. (Proverbs 6: 16-17) gives definitive affirmation of six things the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him. Verse Seventeen gives evidence that one is a lying tongue.
Proverbs 11: 20 "Men of
perverse minds are an abomination to the Lord."
Proverbs 12: 22 "Lying lips are an abomination to the
Lord!"
Proverbs 12: 13 "An evil man is snared by the temptation of
his lips, but the righteous escapes from trouble."
Proverbs 12: 19-20 "Truthful lips endure forever, but a
lying tongue is for a moment."
Proverbs 13: 3 "He who guards his mouth preserves his life;
he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin."
Proverbs 13: 5 "A righteous man hates falsehood, but a
wicked man acts shamefully and disgracefully."
Proverbs 15: 1 "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh
word stirs up wrath."
Proverbs 17: 5 "He, who mocks the poor, insults his
Maker."
Proverbs 18: 21 "Death and life are in the power of the
tongue."
Proverbs 21: 14 "A gift in secret averts anger; and a bribe
in the bosom, strong wrath."
Proverbs 22: 1 "A good name is better than great riches, and
favor is better than silver or gold."
Proverbs 25: 11 "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold
in a setting of silver."
Sirach 20: 18 "A slip of the pavement is better than a slip
of the tongue."
Sirach 20: 24-31 "Regarding lying and opinions, the liar is
a prime example of the foolish man."
Sirach 28: 12-16 states, "Curse the whisperer and deceiver, for he has destroyed many who were at peace. Slander has shaken many and scattered them from nation to nation, and destroyed strong cities, and overturned houses of great men. Slander has driven away courageous woman, and deprived them of the fruit of their toil. Whoever pays heed to slander will not find rest, nor will he settle down in peace."
Proverbs 26: 20-22 states, "Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out. where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaeseth. As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly."
Proverbs 16: 27-28 states, "The wicked man diggeth evil, and in his lips is a burning fire. A perverse man stirreth up quarrels and one full of words separateth princes."
Look at the punishment of God upon the grumbling Israelites and the slanderous evil spies who gave a bad report in the Book of Numbers. They received the chastisement of the Lord upon them, even the spies except Caleb and Joshua. Read Numbers 14: 20-38, the chastisement of God! Proverbs 10: 18 states, "He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool. Proverbs 18: 3-8 states, "When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach. The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook. It is not good to accept the person of the wicked to overthrow the righteous in judgment."
In Matthew 5:33-37, Jesus says this concerning Oaths, "Let your Yea be Yea and your Nay Nay!" Let us never wound our neighbor's honor and live in the righteousness of Christ. Let us refrain from all things that would ruin one's honor, such as false testimony, which if given under oath involves a three-fold guilt, falsehood, perjury and injustice. Calumny or slander is the sin, which is the imputation of crimes and faults to others unduly. Silence is the best prevention of sins of the tongue. Contumelious speech is rebellious, perverse, stubborn, willful and obstinate. Speech that is disobedient to authority, insulting and humiliating words to one's neighbor. The talebearer is the person who spreads malicious gossip that will cause trouble or injury to another person. Evil speech, tale bearing, slander, reviling, railing, is used in all contumelious speech. Blasphemy, reviling, tale bearing, and all defamatory speech is sinful. Contumelious speech is speech that is berating, vilifying, insolent, indignant and contemptuous. Cursing one's father or mother is a violation of the Ten Commandments. Cursing parents one transgresses the fourth commandment. Exodus 20: 12 and Deut. 5:16 give definitive affirmation! Honor your father and your mother. Transgression against one's father or mother leads to destruction. Look at the following Biblical text. "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and your mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise) "that it may be well with you and that you live long on the earth" (Ephesians 6: 1). Leviticus 19: 13, 16 states, "Thou shalt not calumniate thy neighbor, nor oppress him by violence. Thou shalt not be a detractor or a whisperer among the people." Psalm 109: 29 states, "May my accusers be clothed with dishonor; May they be wrapped in their own shame as in a mantle." The Book of Proverbs gives magnificent instruction regarding one's speech.
Prov. 10: 14: "Wise men store
up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin."
Prov. 13: 3 "He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but
he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin."
Proverbs 14:3 "The talk of a fool is a rod for his back, but
the lips of the wise will preserve them."
Proverbs 14:5 "A faithful witness does not lie, but a false
witness breathes out lies."
Proverbs 15:1-2,4 "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a
harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise dispenses
knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly. A gentle
tongue is a tree of life."
Proverbs 18:6-7 "A fool's lips bring strife, and his mouth
invites a flogging. A fool's mouth is his ruin. His lips are a
snare to himself."
Proverbs 25:18 "A man who bears false witness against his
neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow."
Proverbs 26:7,9 "Like a lame man's legs that hang limp is a
proverb in the mouth of a fool. Like a thorn bush in a drunkard's
hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool."
Proverbs 30: 10 "Do not slander a servant to his master, or
he will curse you, and you will pay for it."
Proverbs 15: 1-2 "Who will live on the Lord's holy hill? One
who speaks truth from the heart!"
In Colossians 3: 8-10 St. Paul states, “But now put them all away; anger, wrath, malice, slander, and foul talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its practices and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” In Colossians 4: 6 St. Paul gives definitive affirmation that our conversation should be always filled with grace. In Ephesians 4: 25, 29 St. Paul gives evidence we must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to one's neighbor. The Apostle Paul exhorts, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful and beneficial to others."
Look at the magnificent words of the Biblical texts of St. James regarding calumny. "If any man among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man's religion is vain." (James 1:26). Look at how St. James castigates detraction. James 4: 11 states, "Do not speak evil against one another, brethren. He that speaks evil against a brother or judges his brother speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge." The Almighty God in his magnificent Word castigates liars, rash judgment, and suspicion, which imply malice of the heart, detraction, and verbal abuse, and tale bearing. Please remember that evil speech, tale bearing, calumny, slander, reviling, railing is used in all contumelious speech.
Evil speaking translated in the Greek is blashemia. The Old Testament concept of blasphemy is the Hebrew word naqab. Leviticus 24:11,16 gives evidence the blasphemer will be put to death. Hebrew "to revile" or gadap can be found in the following Biblical texts. Numbers 15: 30 --Psalm 44:16--2 Kings 19: 6--2 Kings 19: 22-- Isaiah 37: 6, 23--and Ezekiel 20: 27. Ecclesiasticus 21: 31 states, "The talebearer shall defile his own soul."
Let us look at further abominations against the commands of God. Backbiting, contumely, which consists of insults, raillery, and words of reproach, offered a person in his presence. Slanderous and abusive damaging speech is sinful. Look at the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ regarding evil speech. In Matthew 12:34-37, Jesus exhorts, “You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you on the Day of Judgment men will render account for every careless word they utter; for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” In this teaching we see the attack on Pharisaic hypocrisy by the Lord Jesus Christ. Blasphemous words will be judged accordingly. Words will be the criterion of the righteous judgment of Christ that will justify or condemn the person. Sacred Scripture gives evidence of blasphemy, reviling, and all contumelious speech: Matt. 27: 39--Matt. 26: 65--Mark 2: 7--Mark 15: 29----Luke 22: 65--Rom. 3: 8--Rom. 14: 16--1 Cor. 4: 13--1 Cor. 10: 30--Acts 19: 37--Eph. 4: 31--Titus 3: 2--Rev. 13: 6--Rev. 16:9.
James 3: 6 gives magnificent evidence of the evil power of the tongue: "The tongue also is like a fire, a world of evil among many parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and itself is set on fire from hell". The devil is the source from which the tongue derives its destructive powers which originate from innate concupiscence and selfish evil desires. The destructive powers of the tongue are graphically depicted as a forest fire. The tongue's influence can be described as the little part of the body corrupting the whole person. St. James compares the tongue to a small rudder that guides a ship, or a bit in the mouth of a horse. The perversity of the tongue is humongous and cannot be tamed by the human person. The tongue is full of deadly poison. The speech of a man is a great determination of one's spiritual condition. In 1 Cor. 13: 5, St. Paul gives definitive evidence that "Charity thinketh no evil." Detraction consists in disclosing the fault committed by another without necessity. The sin of detraction is the damaging of one's reputation. This is an act of injustice against one's neighbor. Lies are an abomination against the Lord. Sacred Scripture castigates the liar. The pernicious habit of lying is an abomination that leads into mortal sin and to eternal perdition. Let me again remind the reader. Proverbs 12: 22 states, "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord." Psalm 5: 4-6 gives definitive affirmation that God does not delight in wickedness, evil may not sojourn with God. "Thou hatest all evildoers, Thou destroyest all who speak lies, and the Lord abhors bloodthirsty and deceitful men." In John 8: 44 Jesus exhorts, "the devil is a liar and the father of lies." Wisdom 1: 11 states, "Beware of useless murmuring, and keep your tongue from slander. Because, no secret word is without result, and a lying mouth destroys the soul." Psalm 140: 11 states, "let not the slanderer be established in the land." Proverbs 10: 18 states, "He who utters slander is a fool." Sirach 5: 13-14 states, "Glory and dishonor come from speaking, and a man's tongue is his downfall. Do not be called a slanderer, and do not lie in ambush with your tongue." In Matthew 12: 36 Jesus exhorts, "Every idle word men speak, they shall render an account for it on the Day of Judgment." Rev. 21: 7 gives evidence that all liars their lot shall be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. Seek first the Kingdom of God and all of his righteousness.
Proverbs 10: 11 states, "The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life." (Proverbs 13: 3) states, "He that keepeth his mouth, keepeth his soul, but he that does not guard his mouth shall meet with evils." In 1 Peter 3: 15-16 St. Peter states, "but in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander." 2 Peter 1: 3-5 states, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. The truth of God is in Christ. Jesus Christ is the living Word." Romans 1: 17 "Through the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed through faith, for faith." John 1: 1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God". John 1: 14 "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as the only Son from the Father." In John 17: 17 Jesus in his Priestly prayer to the Almighty Father prays, "Sanctify them in the truth, thy word is truth". In 1 Timothy 3: 15 St. Paul calls the Church! "The Pillar and Foundation of Truth."
May God Richly Bless You! Amen! Hallelujah
Charlie Hatchko
The Catholic Legate
June 10, 2005