Tag Archives: the Tongue

Shame on the Mainstream Media: Stop the Lies and Slander!

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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!

 

Words and more words…the wrong kind!

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There are too many words spoken by men; they refuse to shut up.
It strains the ears and wearies the soul.
 I am drowning in a sea of them and can’t take it anymore!   
Yet at the same time, I’m burning up in a vast desert void where there’s a dearth of words being expressed to glorify You Abba.     
What a pitiable shame and such a reversal of priorities.    
The foolishness and vanity of men is an endless wasteland leaving in its wake emptiness and ruination!  

You are my lifeline and my cool, refreshing drink. Thank you Abba!

This addendum comes a couple days after I initially made this blog post. This is a comment from Jerry and Lisa in response to this post. It’s an excellent Spirit-led word of exhortation for us all. Selah (pause and reflect)

Yes, that’s true. I feel it too.

 

I’m also convicted to do better in this myself as I find myself sick and tired of the ignorance, foolishness, arrogance, deception, unrighteousness, injustice, and more. Then I find myself allowing myself to be provoked within myself by it all, and then at times I find myself displaying the same shameful foolishness in the reactions of my flesh, thinking I am speaking truth, which I often am, but not of the right spirit. even returning evil for evil sometimes. I confess and repent, even now.

 

We must not be lured into it and lower ourselves to such carnality, vanity, and even demonic destructiveness. We must be sober and alert. We must walk circumspectly and be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to wrath.

 

Thanks for expressing this heartfelt grief and longing. I agree in prayer that He pour out His Spirit on all flesh, convict of sin, righteousness, and judgement, that He set us apart in the truth through His word, and that His word would dwell richly in us, and not depart from our mouths.

These are His Words that have come to me in hearing what you have shared here:

 

“Do not be quick with your mouth nor hasty in your heart to utter a word in God’s presence. For God is in heaven, and you are on the earth—therefore, let your words be few.” [Ecc 5:1]

 

“Even a fool, if he will hold his peace, shall be counted wise: and if he close his lips, a man of understanding.” [Pro 17:28]

 

“Who among you is wise and understanding? By his good conduct let him show his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not boast and lie against the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. or where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, not hypocritical. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in shalom by those who make shalom.” [Jas 3:13-18]

 

“I solemnly charge you—in the presence of God and Messiah Yeshua, who is about to judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His Kingdom—proclaim the Word! Be ready when it is convenient or inconvenient. Confront, rebuke, encourage—with complete patience and instruction.” [2Ti 4:1-2]

 

“As for Me, this is My covenant with them,” says Adonai: “My Ruach who is on you, and My words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, or from the mouth of your offspring, or from the mouth of your children’s offspring,” says Adonai, “from now on and forever.” [Isa 59:21]

 

Please pray for me, even as I will pray for you.

 

How does a red flag, sin and the mouth correlate?

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Woman waving red flag

Leviticus 13:45, Cry, “Unclean, unclean.” A skin disease was like a red flag, which if a person had it was regarded as a judgment from Elohim for the sin of slander, gossip, murder with the mouth, false oaths and pride as well as sexual immorality, robbery, and selfishness. That person was considered to be physically and spiritually contagious and so was put outside the camp of Israel until the disease was gone. According to Samson Hirsch, quarantine was a means of shocking the sinner into recognizing his moral shortcomings and his need to repent (The ArtScroll Chumash, p. 613).

What if each time we sinned with our mouth we were quickly struck with a visible sin disease for all to see resulting in our being quarantined and shunned? Perhaps the incidences of lashon hara (the evil tongue) would greatly diminish. If you received heaven’s judgment each time you misspoke, how would you change your speech habits and heart attitude toward others? Now live your life from this point on as if the next time you spoke evil of someone (without a righteous and biblically justifiable reason) you would be instantly judged by YHVH in a visible and public way.

What is the connection between Leviticus chapters 11 and 13? Both involve the mouth. The former Torah passage deals with uncleanness that goes into the mouth through what we eat. This defiles the man from within. The latter passage deals with what comes out of the mouth and how the man with a defiled heart corrupts society through the wrong use of his mouth. What did Yeshua say about this in Mark 7:14–23? What were the penalties in the Torah for eating unclean meats? (Read Leviticus 11.) Though the Torah calls eating unclean meats an abomination and declares that doing so defiles a person, interestingly there are no stated penalties for doing so. Now what are the penalties for speaking gossip and slander? It is a skin disease and required excommunication from the camp of Israel. Both eating unclean meats and speaking gossip and slander are sins to be sure, but the penalties for the one is much greater than for the other indicating the seriousness YHVH places on the right usage of the mouth. Ponder this for a moment: How easy it is for us to overly focus on what goes into our bellies, while at the same time ignoring the raw sewage spewing out of our mouths at times.

In conclusion, lest anyone think that clean and unclean meats is not a serious issue, YHVH clearly states in Isaiah 66:17 that in the end times during the day of Elohim’s wrath (referred to as the great and terrible day of the YHVH), those who are found to be eating swine’s flesh and other abominable foods will be consumed by the fire and sword of YHVH Elohim. We can infer from this that by then (presumably, the Millennium or Messianic Age) if people still have not repented of their sins and are refusing to turn to YHVH and obey him, they probably will deserve to die because of the perennial rebellious state of their hearts. This all the more underscores the fact that the mouth—what goes in and what comes out of it—are difficult issues for humans to deal with, but YHVH demands that we take personal responsibility for the use of our mouths. Let us not forget the warning admonition of Yeshua,

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)

 

Your Mouth: Your Best Friend and Worst Enemy!

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Numbers 12:1–3, Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses. This is slander! None of us are immune from this sinful proclivity of man’s fallen nature. Sadly, such activity is rife within our congregations! As long as we give in to gossip and slander we will grieve the Spirit of Elohim and will not advance spiritually. We’re all guilty of this. Confess your sin and repent now! What does YHVH say about those who sow seeds of discord among brethren? How does view it? (See Prov 6:16 and 16.) How did the apostles handle such individuals? (Note Rom 16:17; Tit 3:10; 2 Thess 3:6; 1 Tim 3:5.) What was the penalty that YHVH prescribed for Miriam because of the evil misuse of her mouth? (Read Num 12:14.) How does this penalty compare with that which Paul prescribes for those who cause division and strife with in the congregation? What does Paul teach about slandering or rebuking an elder in the congregation? (See 1 Tim 1:19.) What does he call such activity? (Read verse 20.)

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Seven Ways to Misuse the Mouth

(From a book entitled Stop the Runaway Conversation by Dr. Michael Sedler)

The Backbiter: One who speaks against an absent individual. All criticisms and comments, as the name implies, are made without the accused being present or are behind his back. (Ps 15:2–3; Rom 1:30; Prov 25:23; 2 Cor 12:20)

The Busybody: One who seeks out information on a false report and spreads it by means of gossip, slander, backbiting, etc. YHVH takes this very seriously. In fact, he equates being a busybody with being an evildoer or even a murderer. (1 Pet 4:15; 1 Tim 5:13; 2 Thess 3:11)

The Complainer: One who finds fault. This type of person often uses a personal situation as a platform for his or her complaint. “I was treated unfairly.” “Do you know what this person did?” You think that’s bad, let me tell you what happened to me.” These are the types of phrases that will come from such a person. (Num 11:1; Jude 16)

The Murmurer: One who grumbles. We find that this person is usually complaining but only loudly enough for those in close proximity to hear. The murmuring person is seldom happy or pleased with the outcome of situations. Like the complainer, he looks for faults and then justifies a bad attitude with his comments. (Phil 2:14; Num 16:2; Jude 16)

The Slanderer: This is an individual who tries to injure someone’s reputation or character by false and defamatory statements. (Num 14:36; Jer 6:28; 9:4; 1 Tim 3:11; Prov 10:18; Ps 101:5)

The Talebearer (or Gossip): This is a person who elaborates and exaggerates so as to make a story more dramatic or “juicy”). (Prov 11:13; Lev 19:16; Rom 1:28–30; see also Prov 18:8; 20:19; 26:20,22; 1 Tim 5:13)

The Whisperer: This is an individual who talks about other people privately, secretly and covertly in order to hurt them. (Prov 16:28; Ps 41:7)

 

BEWARE: the Mouth!

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Numbers 12:1–3, Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses. This is slander! None of us are immune from this sinful proclivity of man’s fallen nature. Sadly, such activity is rife within our congregations! As long as we give in to gossip and slander we will grieve the Spirit of Elohim and will not advance spiritually. We’re all guilty of this. Confess your sin and repent now! What does YHVH say about those who sow seeds of discord among brethren? How does view it? (See Prov 6:16 and 16.) How did the apostles handle such individuals? (Note Rom 16:17; Tit 3:10; 2 Thess 3:6; 1 Tim 3:5.) What was the penalty that YHVH prescribed for Miriam because of the evil misuse of her mouth? (Read Num 12:14.) How does this penalty compare with that which Paul prescribes for those who cause division and strife with in the congregation? What does Paul teach about slandering or rebuking an elder in the congregation? (See 1 Tim 1:19.) What does he call such activity? (Read verse 20.)

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Seven Ways to Misuse the Mouth

(From a book entitled Stop the Runaway Conversation by Dr. Michael Sedler)

  1. The Backbiter: One who speaks against an absent individual. All criticisms and comments, as the name implies, are made without the accused being present or are behind his back. (Ps 15:2–3; Rom 1:30; Prov 25:23; 2 Cor 12:20)
  2. The Busybody: One who seeks out information on a false report and spreads it by means of gossip, slander, backbiting, etc. YHVH takes this very seriously. In fact, he equates being a busybody with being an evildoer or even a murderer. (1 Pet 4:15; 1 Tim 5:13; 2 Thess 3:11)
  3. The Complainer: One who finds fault. This type of person often uses a personal situation as a platform for his or her complaint. “I was treated unfairly.” “Do you know what this person did?” You think that’s bad, let me tell you what happened to me.” These are the types of phrases that will come from such a person. (Num 11:1; Jude 16)
  4. The Murmurer: One who grumbles. We find that this person is usually complaining but only loudly enough for those in close proximity to hear. The murmuring person is seldom happy or pleased with the outcome of situations. Like the complainer, he looks for faults and then justifies a bad attitude with his comments. (Phil 2:14; Num 16:2; Jude 16)
  5. The Slanderer: This is an individual who tries to injure someone’s reputation or character by false and defamatory statements. (Num 14:36; Jer 6:28; 9:4; 1 Tim 3:11; Prov 10:18; Ps 101:5)
  6. The Talebearer (or Gossip): This is a person who elaborates and exaggerates so as to make a story more dramatic or “juicy”). (Prov 11:13; Lev 19:16; Rom 1:28–30; see also Prov 18:8; 20:19; 26:20,22; 1 Tim 5:13)
  7. The Whisperer: This is an individual who talks about other people privately, secretly and covertly in order to hurt them. (Prov 16:28; Ps 41:7)

 

 

Speaking Evil of a Ruler

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Acts 23:5, Speak evil. Actually, the passage in the Torah to which this verse makes reference is Exodus 22:28, which forbids reviling Elohim and cursing (i.e., condemning, putting a spell on or threatening) a ruler, which is what Paul does when he threatens the high priest with the judgment of Elohim, even though Paul, as an apostle commissioned by Yeshua, may have been justified in executing righteous judgment. He nevertheless set us an example of showing resect to human leaders though evil and lawless they maybe.

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 Exodus 22:28, Curse a ruler. The TWOT notes that in Hebrew there are six words that are all translated into the English word curse in the KJV. Each word has a different connotation, which our word curse fails to convey. In this verse, behind curse is the Hebrew word arar meaning “bind with a spell, to hem in with obstacles, render powerless, to resist.” This word is used for Elohim cursing the serpent and the earth (Gen 14, 17), Cain, and Balak hiring Balaam to curse Israel (Num 22:6ff). In the majority of times, the use of arar is used in the Scriptures falls under three broad categories: (a) the declaration of punishments (Gen 3:14, 17); (b) the utterance of threats (Jer 11:3; 17:5; Mal 1:14); (c) the proclamation curses for violation of Elohim’s laws (Deut 27:15; 28:16–19) (Ibid.).