I’ve noticed recently how lightly we accuse one another; even if it’s only remotely possible, or totally absurd, it doesn’t stop many of us. Such malice seems to be more common among the political Left, a weapon to put others on the defensive and defame them, but it’s becoming much more common throughout our culture, all across the political spectrum. And I’ve begun noticing this in myself: not good – this isn’t Christ. (Ep 4:20)
I may suspect ill intent, but Love gives others the benefit of the doubt until he has proof.
When I accuse another of wrong I must have verifiable evidence, hard facts, convincing to a reasonable, unbiased person; otherwise I’m a false accuser (2Ti 3:3), and violate the law of love. (Ro 13:10)
For example, in accusing the elderly God requires multiple independent witnesses to verify facts. (1Ti 5:19) These key relationships command a singular respect (Le 19:32), so God takes special measures to protect them, discouraging hearsay, rumors and gossip. Such corrupt communication is similarly forbidden in all relationships (Ep 4:29); it genders mistrust, sows discord, and promotes bitterness and vengeance.
Releasing suspicions as accusations before I have sufficient evidence exposes my malice (Ep 4:31), that I’m hoping to find others in the wrong, speaking evil of them, judging and looking for a verdict before they’ve had a fair trial. (Ja 4:11a) But when I’m judging others like this I’m disobeying God (11b); imitating Satan and furthering his agenda. (Re 12:10)
Being a false accuser is more subtle than merely making untrue accusations, it’s having the tendency to accuse before I verify; it’s posturing myself as certain prematurely, arrogantly, presumptuously (Ps 19:13) – it’s living dishonestly, falsely, in a lying way. (Ps 119:29)
God hates false witnesses (Pr 6:16,19a), highlighting this sin in the Decalogue: “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour” (Ex 20:16), forbidding all forms of inauthentic, untrustworthy, malicious testimony. This is no small sin.
For example, the Left nearly universally accepts it as fact that President Trump is racist, claiming it repeatedly ever since he entered politics and accusing his supporters of the same, yet provides zero evidence of this. (How would you actually prove someone is racist if they don’t admit it?)
However, there’s an obvious problem with this claim. Evidently, Trump wasn’t a racist a decade ago, before he entered the presidential race as a Republican; he was quite popular among blacks, and was frequently honored in their music. He was popular in Hollywood and in the media. No one of any influence called Trump a racist.
So, how do you explain Trump becoming racist the instant he announced his bid for the presidency, since he wasn’t a racist before he entered politics? How does that make any sense?
Who on the Left addresses this problem, or even mentions it? Why would they? Calling Trump a racist works; it benefits their cause. Case closed.
Evidently, the Left feels no need of evidence to make such claims, so long as it’s expedient for them to do so. I see this as an easily verifiable example of blatantly dishonest behavior, sufficient evidence that the Left consistently and deliberately employs false accusation as a winning strategy.
When Christ accused His enemies of malice and ignorance, even rebuking their thoughts, we can be sure He knew their hearts: He wasn’t accusing falsely.
But what of the rest of us? How should we view our own ability to discern the motives and thoughts of others, apart from their confession and/or observing their consistent behavior?
My thought is we shouldn’t presume we’re entirely correct in our discernment, to the point of publicly stating it as fact, unless we have the equivalent of divine revelation, willing to stake our life on the claim, as a prophet should of any claim of inspiration. (De 18:20)
Apart from this, it’s wisdom to act as if a person’s motives are revealed by their behavior (Mt 7:15-20), not merely by what they claim their motives to be. (Pr 14:15)
The overriding principle is charity: in loving others as ourselves we won’t speak with malice, and only accusing to edify (Ep 4:29), with tears (Php 3:18), wishing it weren’t true and hoping they’ll repent.
How do we interpret the behavior of those who claim to be followers of God and yet support politicians who promote perversion and immorality, when they have an obvious choice to support politicians who support a platform more aligned with scripture?
Accusing such folk of being evil, or even thoughtless, seems false unless we have personally interacted with them enough to verify a pattern of evil or irrational behavior. They may be very sincere and thoughtful, seeking good, but misinformed.
The Left has mastered the art of appealing to shallow compassion to win elections while enacting policies which create further dependence and suffering. Shallow Christians believe the propaganda and fail to connect destructive policies with their consequences.