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False Accusations
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. -
Exodus 20:16.
You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice. Exodus 23:1-2.
A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies will not escape. - Proverbs 19:5.
How would you feel if you were falsely accused of a serious crime? Just today there are two stories of such false accusations in the news. In one incident a coach was falsely accused by seven sixth graders (six girls and one boy) of watching girls undress and worse at a Maryland school. After several weeks of investigation the stories of the students fell apart and they confessed to having made up the whole thing. They were angry with the teacher who is a disciplinarian because he had reportedly yelled at them. The students face a 10-day suspension and community service. They may also have to move to another school.
In another incident a college student running for campus president in Florida was accused of being a child molester. An honor society opposing his election posted dozens of filers making the false accusation. A jury has awarded a six million-dollar judgment against the person primarily responsible for the smear campaign.
In Proverbs there is a list of six things the Lord hates (Proverbs 6:16-18) and it includes a lying tongue, and a false witness who speaks lies. Not bearing a false witness is the ninth of the Ten Commandments. Lying and bear a false witness are more subtle than a robbery, a carjacking, a murder, or theft but the writer of proverbs makes it clear it is just as bad. In Proverbs 25:18 we are told: A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow. When you make a false accusation about someone it is just like taking a gun out and shooting them. Not as obvious but the results can be even more devastating to a persons life.
Could it be that we really do need that ninth commandment up on the wall somewhere in our schools so all the children may read it frequently?
By Ed Wrather
Submitted by Richard
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. -
Exodus 20:16.
You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice. Exodus 23:1-2.
A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies will not escape. - Proverbs 19:5.
How would you feel if you were falsely accused of a serious crime? Just today there are two stories of such false accusations in the news. In one incident a coach was falsely accused by seven sixth graders (six girls and one boy) of watching girls undress and worse at a Maryland school. After several weeks of investigation the stories of the students fell apart and they confessed to having made up the whole thing. They were angry with the teacher who is a disciplinarian because he had reportedly yelled at them. The students face a 10-day suspension and community service. They may also have to move to another school.
In another incident a college student running for campus president in Florida was accused of being a child molester. An honor society opposing his election posted dozens of filers making the false accusation. A jury has awarded a six million-dollar judgment against the person primarily responsible for the smear campaign.
In Proverbs there is a list of six things the Lord hates (Proverbs 6:16-18) and it includes a lying tongue, and a false witness who speaks lies. Not bearing a false witness is the ninth of the Ten Commandments. Lying and bear a false witness are more subtle than a robbery, a carjacking, a murder, or theft but the writer of proverbs makes it clear it is just as bad. In Proverbs 25:18 we are told: A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow. When you make a false accusation about someone it is just like taking a gun out and shooting them. Not as obvious but the results can be even more devastating to a persons life.
Could it be that we really do need that ninth commandment up on the wall somewhere in our schools so all the children may read it frequently?
By Ed Wrather
Submitted by Richard
