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Let's Talk About Falsehood

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“Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” (Ephesians 4:25, ESV)

Brothers and sisters, please—let’s heed what God is saying here. There’s no way to make light of this. No Isabella wit to take the edge off.


Forms of Falsehood

Slander and reviling both appear on Paul’s short list of sins that warrant removal from Christian fellowship. And Jesus condemns hypocrisy and false teaching not only in Revelation 2–3, but consistently and sharply throughout the Gospels (Matthew 23; Mark 7; Luke 12). He warned that tolerating these poisons corrupts whole communities and places souls in jeopardy.


Why so Serious?

Because God is Truth and Love (John 14:6; 1 John 4:8). To live in falsehood is to echo Satan—the father of lies (John 8:44), disguised as an “angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). It smacks of pride when we hide and edges God out—the essence of narcissism. We also miss out on the freedom, humility, and authentic fellowship—walking in transparency before God and one another.


What God Says:

1️⃣ Slander and reviling endanger the whole community.Paul commands the church to separate from anyone who “claims to be a believer” yet is a reviler (along with sexual immorality, greed, idolatry, drunkenness, swindling): “not even to eat with such a one… Purge the evil person from among you” (1 Corinthians 5:11–13; cf. 5:2, 5–7). This protects the common welfare of Christ’s body—“a little leaven leavens the whole lump” (1 Corinthians 5:6–7; cf. Acts 20:28–30).


And let’s be clear: slander and reviling aren’t the same as the obedient confrontation that produces godly sorrow (Matthew 18:15–17; Galatians 6:1; 2 Corinthians 7:9–11). One destroys through falsehood; the other heals and frees.


2️⃣ Jesus rebukes tolerated false teaching and hypocrisy.In Revelation’s letters, Jesus rebukes churches for tolerating false teachers (Balaam, Nicolaitans, “Jezebel”) and for spiritual pretense (“you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead”; “lukewarm”): Revelation 2:2, 2:6, 2:14–15, 2:20–23; 3:1–3; 3:15–19. The call is urgent: repent, or Jesus removes influence (“lampstand”) and brings discipline.


3️⃣ Words carry life-and-death power.“Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). James calls the tongue “a fire, a world of unrighteousness” that can set whole lives ablaze (James 3:6, 9–10). Jesus warns that every careless word will come into judgment (Matthew 12:36–37).


4️⃣ False words divide christ’s body and align with satan.Jesus prayed that we “may be one” (John 17:21). To “bite and devour one another” risks mutual destruction (Galatians 5:15). God hates “a false witness who breathes out lies” and “one who sows discord among brothers” (Proverbs 6:16–19). This is no “side sin,” it’s a Ten Commandments–level offense (IX).


5️⃣ False words reveal and harden the heart.“What comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart” (Matthew 15:18; cf. 12:34). Unbridled speech exposes empty religion (James 1:26). Believers are commanded to put away malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander (1 Peter 2:1; cf. Ephesians 4:29–32; Colossians 3:8; Titus 3:2; James 4:11).


6️⃣ Persistent reviling imperils salvation.“Revilers… will not inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9–10). Slander sits among the Romans 1 catalog of sins revealing a darkened, God-rejecting heart (Romans 1:29–32). The warning is not theoretical.


7️⃣ Discipline aims at repentance and restoration.God’s purpose is corrective, not cruel: “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness” (Galatians 6:1). Matthew 18:15–17 outlines a process that escalates only if the sinner refuses to listen.


More Uncomfortable Truth

Because slander and false teaching wound publicly, public repentance may be necessary. Zacchaeus modeled it (Luke 19:8–9). James 5:16 calls us to confess to one another. Paul required public correction of leaders (1 Timothy 5:20). This may feel humiliating, but it’s far less painful than refusing to repent.


Scripture warns soberly: “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God” (Hebrews 10:26–27). Coming clean may sting for a moment, but it opens the door to healing and restoration (Matthew 5:23–24).


And if public repentance is necessary, remember: Jesus is sufficient, but you don’t have to stand alone. A compassionate brother or sister can walk with you as a living witness to His grace. Paul says, “If anyone has caused grief… you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him” (2 Corinthians 2:7–8). That’s the picture: repentance met with compassion, not abandonment. But we need to come clean. “Half measures availed us nothing.”


Not Cancel Culture--Compassion!

This is where the Church must reject the spirit of cancel culture. Cancel culture exposes but never restores; it demands penance but never forgives. It’s one reason the Church has gone astray—because when someone does confess a weakness, instead of being met with love, they’re often condemned and cast out. But God’s way is different: discipline leads to restoration, confession opens the door to healing, and mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:13).


Comfort for the Wounded

And for those who’ve been wounded by slander, reviling, or corrupt spiritual leadership, Jesus says: “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account… Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven” (Matthew 5:11–12).


Plus, you'll be vindicated (Romans 12:19; 1 Corinthians 4:5). But don’t gloat (1 Corinthians 13:6; Galatians 6:1).


Reflect

Ask yourself—

✦ Have I used false words to tear someone down?

✦ Have I repeated accusations that I knew weren’t true?

✦ As a leader, have I misrepresented God’s truth?

✦ When corrected, do I confess and repent—or defend and deflect?

✦ Have I pretended to be righteous while hiding sin?


Good News

As intense as these words are, the fact we can read these warnings today means we can still turn it around. If this strikes a nerve, don’t panic—but don’t procrastinate either. Conviction is a gift, not a curse. It means God’s Spirit is still at work in you. The same Word that warns also offers mercy, but the time to respond is always today (Hebrews 3:15).


Jesus doesn’t want anyone to perish but for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive (1 John 1:9).


PRAYER

LORD of love and truth, forgive us for every careless word, every false story, every cutting remark. Expose the lies that come from the enemy, and cleanse our hearts of the poison of slander. Teach us to confront sin Your way—gently, truthfully, with love—never to destroy, but always to restore. Protect and vindicate the vulnerable, and surround them with Your blessing and comfort. May Your Church be a place of light, where truth heals and love binds us together. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Thank You. I love You.💖



DIG DEEPER


Produced with AI help for ease and accessibility.

 

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