Believers can be "innocents abroad" in the matter of spiritual warfare. Although the cunning of our adversary and the wickedness of his tactics in dealing with believers is plain in Scripture, we can still be caught off guard - surprised by the nature and the ferocity of his attacks. Jesus particularly calls attention to slander here. Name-calling is perhaps the most common kind of assault in the school playground, and often the names and the taunts are targeted precisely and said with such malice that they are an effective weapon. Words are mightier than swords. According to Jesus, believers would be wise to expect to be maligned in this world by Christ's enemies - even to the point of being accused of living and acting by the power of the Devil.
Slander often seems to come at the times of our greatest usefulness in God's kingdom, and we can trace attacks of this nature on God's people through the Scriptures. Here are just a few:
- Think of Nehemiah, where those opposed to the re-building of Jerusalem's walls were contemplating spreading false report about him, suggesting that he was planning on becoming king of the city (Nehemiah 6:6).
- Think of the falsehoods Haman attributed to the Jews because of the stand taken by Mordecai in Esther 3:8.
- Eliphaz, so-called friend of Job, poured salt in his wounds by his false assumptions in Job 5. Job's other "friends" joined in elsewhere in the book.
- Consider the accusations leveled at Jeremiah for speaking God's words to the people (Jeremiah 38:1-4)
- Or take a look at the accusations against Daniel's three friends because they would not worship the golden image Nebuchadnezzar had set up (Daniel 3:8-18) and against Daniel because he prayed to God rather than to Darius (Daniel 6:10-13).
- Look at how Amos was slandered, accused of "conspiring" against Jeroboam king of Israel (Amos 7:10-11)
- And of course, Jesus was accused of driving out demons by the prince of demons (see our text above). There are other slanderous accusations made against Him elsewhere - can you think of any?
Satan himself is called the "accuser of our brothers, ... who accuses them day and night before our God" (Revelation 12:10). Most likely, his accusations against us before God are all true (there would be little point in him attempting to lie to God) but they are all deflected and dealt with by Christ's death in our place at Calvary. We may suppose, though, that the Father of Lies is tireless in his efforts to accuse and defame the saints of God in this world to any whose ears are ready to receive such things.
In spite of this, when slander comes our way as we seek to make a difference in God's kingdom (not "if," but "when") we are often taken unawares - a danger Christ specifically warns about in our text and in Matthew 5:11-12. I dare say that experience may have underlined this warning for many of us - and perhaps more than once.
We need to wake up!
How should we react when we are slandered (falsely accused)? When we feel indignation welling up within at the injustice of it all, and the desire to rush out and justify ourselves? Here are a few pointers:
First, Jesus knew a thing or two about unjust suffering, and Peter points us to Him as our example. He did not revile those who reviled Him:
For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2:20-25
Second, remember that apart from Christ, we have no "good name". It is pride and folly to think otherwise. He is the One Who justifies us - it is before Him that we stand or fall and He alone is able to make us stand. Also remember that it is not our place to enter into judgment - that is entirely God's prerogative:
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:16-21
Third, realize that to be maligned for Christ is truly a blessing and a cause for rejoicing among His followers - it assures us that we are His and are walking in His steps. Therefore, our reward in heaven is made all the more sure:
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:11-12
Fourth, take Christ's difficult instruction seriously:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48
Fifth, we are not to be innocents abroad as we imitate Christ in all of this, becoming complete pushovers for any ruse that the evil one may send our way. Rather we are to act as those who understand the spiritual realities of the world in which we live, and that there are many who live as enemies of the cross of Christ. We are to put on the armor we have been given and follow our Captain into the battle:
Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Matthew 10:16-20
Sixth, we need to remember Whose we are and Whom we serve, that we are eternally secure and that we are more than conquerors through Him. Man can do nothing to alter our standing in Christ:
Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Finally, if we review the lives of all those we have mentioned above who were slandered, we see that none of them was deflected from their purpose to live for God in this world. The whole purpose of slander is to undermine and invalidate our work for the Lord if possible - to neutralize us and our impact in the warfare right at the moment when perhaps, by God's grace, we have most possibility to make advances for Him. But we have all that we need In Christ to be able to stand in the warfare, and having done all, to stand (Eph 6:13)!
