A House Divided
“If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand” (Mark 3:24-25). Jesus may have been speaking to the Jerusalem scribes about Satan and his kingdom, but the truth, logic, and common sense of the statement is valid in reference to the church of Christ as well.
Slander seeks to destroy. Slander is, “To speak critically of another with the intent to hurt.” Also, it is, “Wounding someone’s reputation by evil reports or evil speaking.” I forget now where I received those definitions, but I find them to hit the mark. You can see, then, why in speaking of slander and in speaking of a house or kingdom divided, destruction is the common outcome. I am not writing this to admonish myself and everyone to avoid slander of just anybody, though that would be good; I am writing this to urge us to avoid slander, especially, in the church among brothers and sisters in Christ.
Where slander does fit directly with Jesus’ parable is in the fact that it is a devilish act. That is why we must take it off as we put on Christ. Slander does not belong to Christ. It is directly opposed to Him, especially regarding His church, because to wound or hurt the church – an individual in the church being a part – is to tear apart the garment of Christ you have chosen to put on. It makes no sense. It is an act that, if we have been guilty of it, should make us fall on our knees in repentance.
Slandering Who?
To slander an individual in the church is to slander Jesus Christ. For if that individual has put on Christ, and God knows their heart, and that individual is the body of Christ, who is the head (Col. 1:18), then Christ has been slandered along with that individual. On top of that, for one to commit slander against the church is for that person to hate himself and Christ because he slanders both. “For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body” (Eph. 5:29-30). Those verses from Ephesians are in reference to husbands being the head of their wives as Christ is the head of His body, the church, but it is still useful for us here. As was said before, do we tear apart the garment of Christ we put on? Do we hate it or love it? For we are members of one another (Rom. 12:5) and we are members of Christ.
To slander an individual in Christ is to attempt to destroy the kingdom and dwelling place of God. “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit” (Eph. 2:19-22). What are we doing when we slander one another? We are defacing the property and dwelling of God. It is spray-painting with intention a specific stone in the building whatever choice and hateful words we have. Picture that the next time slander is attempting to slip from your mouth and when it begins to stir in your heart. God knows the intentions of the heart.
What does a citizen of God’s household look like, instead? Certainly not someone who steps outside to demolish what God has built. Psalm 15 asks and answers the question for us. It says, “O Lord, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart. He does not slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor takes up reproach against his friend” (vv.1-3). What does God think of this person? Psalm 50:16-17 says, “But to the wicked God says, ‘What right have you to tell of My statutes and to take My covenant in your mouth? For you hate discipline, and you cast My words behind you.” And vv.19-20, “You let your mouth loose in evil and your tongue frames deceit. You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother’s son.” Put together, these two Psalms speak to what is being said, here. How could we slander our neighbor, our friend (Ps. 15:3), and even our brother or sister (Ps. 50:20)? What is more, how could we slander our brothers and sisters in Christ, the kingdom of God, ourselves, and Jesus Christ?
Lift Christ High
I have been guilty of slander, and I have been slandered. Neither sit well within. Why do we do it? I believe the overall context surrounding James 4:11 that says, “Do not speak against one another, brethren,” is showing what pride produces and in turn calls for humility. “Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you” (Js. 4:10). Our pride wants to elevate ourselves but the only way to get to the top of the hill is to push everyone else beneath us. Instead, God calls us to fall down so we can be lifted up.
Though, not to be lifted high and exalted in ourselves for ourselves. No, to be lifted and exalted in Christ and for Christ. “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory” (Col. 3:1-4). This is completely contrary to the way of the world (Js. 4:4). But that is what we are doing! We are being separated from the world, we are removing the old to put on the new, we are being made holy in Christ.
And so we must humble ourselves when slander comes crouching at the door with its desire to discolor the temple of God and body of Christ. We must humble ourselves as to lift Jesus high, rather than to divide and destroy with our pride. A kingdom and house divided against itself cannot stand. And regarding that person in the church you are tempted to slander, “Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand” (Rom 14:4). God is able to make him stand and in this also we have a guarantee, God’s house will stand. God’s house and kingdom will never fall but will remain forever. Speaking of that heavenly Jerusalem and kingdom, Revelation 22:3-5 says, “There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.”
Before we speak or act, let us fear the Lord or else we might be found fighting against God. Speak love with one another and about one another. Love Christ, love his church, and make sure to be found in it, in Him.
-Pastor Ben