Don’t Associate With Revilers (online)
By Adam Groza
This will be a short post with a simple message: Christians need to stop reading blogs that practice slander and gossip. I am basing this on St. Paul’s words in Corinth in 1 Corinthians 5:11. St. Paul makes is clear in the beginning of the verse that he is talking about so-called Christians; that is, people who profess to be saved but by their unrepentant lifestyle prove they are not members of the Redeemed (the new lump, verse 7). Specifically, Paul mentions in verse 11 the sins of immorality (pornos, or fornication), covetousness, idolatry, reviling, drunkenness, or swindling. Paul says we are not to associate with such a person, not to even eat with such a one. There is debate as to whether the Supper is in view in this latter prohibition, but for my purposes, Christians are first commanded by St. Paul not to associate with such people who (1) claim to be Christians and (2) exhibit such unrepentant ways.
There is a practical application of this verse in regard to blogs that generate readership by reviling people, especially (but not limited to) those whom God has put in authority, such as pastors, religious, or government authorities. The Bible is clear that God establishes those in authority over us, and our respect for God is demonstrated in our submission to them (1 Peter 2:13-15). People who revile others are not Christians (1 Corinthians 6:10). Those who verbally abuse or blaspheme others will not inherit the kingdom.
Some blogs have literally become popular for the kind of scoffing mentioned in Psalm 1. Spurgeon says that those who tempt others sit in the seat of the scornful. Many blogs daily tempt Christians to engage in gossip and slander, or to take joy in other peoples troubles. Spurgeon calls such tempters the “Doctors of Damnation”. The Psalmist warns that those who scorn and revile will not stand on the Day of Judgment. If we have interaction with people who contribute to online slander and gossip we should witness to them because they need to be redeemed. Furthermore, their churches are negligent for not practicing church discipline.
St. Paul commands followers of Christ to have no association with those who revile others. In the same way that you should leave or stop a conversation in which someone is being reviled or blasphemed so too Christians should avoid such blogs. If you enjoy listening to gossip in a traditional conversation you sin, being yourself guilty of gossip. Having nothing to do with those who revile means walking away from conversations in which people are being attacked and I am suggesting it means we avoid online sites that engage in gossip and slander.
Praise God for friends like Brent who use their sites to help us reflect on the glorious truth of God as it relates to life and culture but not at the expense of others. Don’t let your internet traffic be the fuel for the online fire of slander.
- Read When People Are Big and God is Small by Edward T. Welch
- Read Speaking The Truth in Love by David Powlison
This is a good word, and oftentimes hard to actually accomplish.
You’re right! It’s also interesting that those who waste their time talking about others, usually are doing nothing more than talking… people get criticized because they’re doing something…
I’ve seen a couple examples of what you’re talking about. What tipped me off is that they were devoted to mocking and thinking the worst of a particular pastor.
[...] - Adam Groza from Colossians Three Sixteen shares a wonderful article and some good advice entitled, Don’t Associate With Revilers (online). [...]
[...] Reading Blogs that Practice Slander and Gossip Adam Groza has written a guest-post at Colossians Three Sixteen about the danger of associating with blogging [...]