Because evil is opposed does not automatically mean that good triumphs. Championing good involves more than opposing evil. Championing good involves doing good as well as resisting evil. In Luke 11:17-26 Jesus shared a parable. In context, opponents tried to discredit Jesus' actions in casting out a demon by declaring Jesus could cast out demons because he was a demon of superior evil power. Jesus said that suggestion could not account for his deeds because it made evil resist evil, Satan oppose Satan. If that were the situation, evil would defeat itself by opposing itself.

Jesus then shared a parable about an unclean spirit that left a man. The situation seems to be the unclean spirit left because it was unwelcome in the man's life. Two circumstances resulted. (1) The man did not fill the void produced by the unclean spirit leaving. (2) The departing unclean spirit found no place to reside. Therefore, the unclean spirit came back to the man and found the man's life orderly but empty. All the unclean spirit needed to do was "move back in." Yet, he was not content just to "move back in." The unclean spirit found seven other evil spirits who were more evil than it to bring with him. (He wanted company--it would be more difficult for the man to dispossess eight evil spirits than just one.)

Who were these people who slandered Jesus to discredit his teaching? They were the religious establishment who prided themselves on "having an answer from God for everything." They saw no relationship between Jesus and God. Because they could not see God's work in Jesus, they called him a demon. Their explanation for what they saw: not God at work, but Satan was work.

Jesus said their explanation was totally unreasonable. If they saw Jesus' work for what it was, they would realize that God's kingdom was manifesting itself.

An ancient way to destroy a message one disagreed with was to slander the messenger. Today when people who claim to know and follow God resort to slander to "oppose evil," they eventually find themselves justifying numerous evil attitudes, emotions, and acts. Logic calls this use of slander "poisoning the well." The concept declares, "Destroy the person's credibility and you destroy his message. Declare because the person is evil the message cannot be trusted. Say the message has the appearance of giving life, but it produces death. Challenge people to be safe! Avoid deception! Reject the message by rejecting the messenger! Do not listen to the person!"

It is amazing how often Christians resort to slander to discredit a messenger because "we conclude what he/she is saying is evil." It is amazing what other kinds of evil are justified when Christians resort to slander to destroy another Christian.

When Paul heard what the Judaizing teachers said about him to the churches of Galatia, he was not surprised. However, when he heard what the churches of Galatia believed after the Judaizing teachers came, Paul was astounded. Suddenly Paul found himself in a position of declaring himself to be a trustworthy teacher to defend his message--the message that brought those gentile congregations into existence!

One can hear the agony within Paul when he wrote, "I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel... " (Galatians 1:6) Then the exasperated Paul said, "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!" (Galatians 1:8). Remember, the Judaizing teachers were Christians--people who because of faith in God's work in Jesus Christ had been baptized!

Paul was accustomed to being slandered by Jewish and gentile Christians. "Paul was not one of the twelve! Paul did not tell you the whole gospel!"

Some gentile Christians attacked Paul in several ways. (1) They said, "Paul is two-faced. He promises one thing and does another." Paul said, "Therefore, I was not vacillating when I intended to do this, was I? Or what I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, so that with me there will not be yes, yes and no, no at the same time? But as God is faithful, our word to you is not yes and no" (2 Corinthians 1:17, l8). (2) They said, "His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible" (2 Corinthians 10:10). Paul said, "Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present. For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding" (2 Corinthians 10:11, 12). (3) They said, "He is a deceitful talker who takes advantage of people." Paul said, "For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed--God is witness--nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority. But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children" (1 Thessalonians 2:5-7).

Paul was the person who wrote these words to the Christians in Ephesus: "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:31, 32).

Sincere, devout Christians will disagree. They will not be uniform in their understanding of scripture or their pursuit of God's will and purposes. However, sincere, devout Christians allow God through scripture to determine who and what they are. Ethically, just as their Savior, they will be people who live by their knowledge of Jesus Christ and their consciences. Even when they disagree they act with respect. They are not controlled by negative emotions. They do not seek to destroy opponents with slander. Out of a respect taught them by Jesus Christ, they are a kind people filled with compassion who exist with a good conscience, who prefer above all else to treat others with the forgiveness God gives them through Christ.

They live in the spirit of the one who said in an unjust death, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34). As did their Savior, this people of good conscience seek to overcome evil by doing good (Romans 12:21).

For Discussion

Why do Christians use slander in an attempt to destroy the message of Christians with whom they disagree?

Link to Teacher's Guide Lesson 13

Copyright © 2005
David Chadwell & West-Ark Church of Christ

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