How much of what we say would not be said if we had to establish every word in the mouth of two or three witnesses as the Torah-word of Elohim and Yeshua commanded?
Consider this: How much of what the mainstream media pawns off as news is actually lies, hearsay and gossip?
As an academically trained journalist who studied at two university journalism schools and wrote for a major daily big city newspaper and several smaller newspapers while in my teens and twenties, I am appalled at what passes as news reporting today in the mainstream media! This is NOT what we were taught in J-school.
The lives and reputations of many people and organizations are being destroyed because some self-seeking and profiteering “journalist” or “news” organization is trying to make a name for themselves and a buck. Period. Reporting the news is no longer about truth, much less righteousness. That’s one reason I didn’t pursue a career in journalism. It was bad 35 years ago, and it’s even worse today.
As a published author and trained journalist, I say shame on most of the unrighteous upper level journalists and news reporters today who have sold their souls to the world, the flesh and the devil to make a buck and a name for themselves with no thought of whose lives they ruin in the process.
At the very least, have you never heard of the golden rule?
[Yeshua/Jesus said,] Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. (Matt 7:12)
Moreover, didn’t your mother teach you that if you have nothing good to say about someone, don’t say anything at all? “Ah, but it’s news…” you say as if that would justify your sinful and criminal behavior. Well, then consider this:
Be not deceived; Elohim is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (Gal 6:7–8)
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. (Matt 12:36)
Now consider this:
Deuteronomy 17:6 (and 19:15), By the testimony of two or three witnesses. One could not be accused of a crime without the testimony of two or three eyewitnesses. This admonition is repeated in the Testimony of Yeshua:
But if he will not hear you, then take with you one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. (Matt 18:16)
This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. (2 Cor 13:1)
Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. (1 Tim 5:19)
He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses. (Heb 10:28)
Most gossip and slander would stop if this commandment were followed, and thus much division and strife within the congregation of believers. How many times have you repeated hearsay and gossip without checking the source? Even if you know it to be true, is it beneficial and righteous to repeat it to others? One Jewish sage goes so far as to say that Messiah has not come back because of all the gossip and slander of the people of Israel. Perhaps. At the very least, the Spirit of Elohim is greatly grieved, our intimacy with Elohim is diminished, and our marriages, families, friendships and congregations are fractured, hurt or destroyed because we speak things that should not be uttered.
How often do we accuse, slander and gossip about other people through use of the “evil tongue” (lashon hara) without going through proper channels and following proper biblical protocols to resolve interpersonal conflicts as Yeshua instructed in Matthew 18? How often do we attack others and spread our evil reports and accusations about others when we were not even eyewitnesses to what occurred or were not involved in the matter? How often do we attack YHVH’s leaders and accuse them of evil when there are no other witnesses (1 Tim 5:19)? YHVH hates those who sow discord among brethren and lying false witnesses, and calls this practice an abomination (Prov 6:16–17, 19). So let’s all be careful with our mouths!
