A paraphrase of the legal definition of slander is that one tells a lie to one or more people about someone else. 

In my mind, there is not alot of diference here between slander and gossip.  Except that sander has overtones of malicious intent.  Whereas gossip may have a relatively innocent tone.  And gossip has to do with passing on what someone else has said.  While slander has a particularly focused origin.

Now, when we think about the word “lie”, we do not necessarily have to contrive something from our imagination.  There is a lie in slander, in which we know the truth but twist it purposely to cause injury. 

Likewise there is a lie in slander in which we think we know the truth but I do not have the full information.  This is the place where slander is very similar to gossip.

The first is malicious in its intent.  The second is just full of stupidity.  (alright, alright, think PC…… Ignorance)

The reason I bring this up has to do with the slander of celestial beings.  There’s no need for me to waste my time on the topic of slander between men.

While we may know the truth in regard to the gospel, it does not necessarily follow that we know that truth in regard to the history of heaven.  So when we speak about certain issues we speak without knowledge.

I’m not sure how much more I need to point out before the reader gets a grip on where I’m going with this.  But let me surmise ignorance, if you please.

In human terms, we slander one another all day long.  We suppose what good another should do, but we do not know what comprises the thoughts of the person we slander.  That is to say, we don’t know the history of that person.  We don’t know the reason why they cannot accomplish our expectation.

So it is with Satan and all his dominion.  What man was there to see him in all his splendor?  What man gave God counsel to ban him from the throne? 

Make no mistake, I am not siding with the evil one in his undeserved plight.  I am once again pointing out something I hear spoken quite often.

How should we best approach this entire subject regarding Satan?  In the interest of avoiding slander, would it not be better to put our focus on the things we can know?

For instance, we know what we should do, yet we fail to accomplish God’s expectations.  I suspect, if we gave that our all, we would be consumed far too heavily to spend wasted moments in slander of another.  Would it not be better to close our mouths and simply do what we are told.

I understand the zeal of a Christian.  When understanding of the plight of God comes clear, there is a very zealous desire to chastise the one who has brought such pain.  But this is something we should strive very hard to avoid.  God will take care of himself.

Our indignation is warranted.  Even a seething anger finds no apparent fault.  But to castigate without full knowledge is simply stupidity.

Then there is the moment when we realise the plight of man.  How we were unjustly tricked into sin and death.  Every hideous thing has come upon us.  And thoughts of rage begin to grow.

The very reason for this post is to help wisdom find a place to live.  Let’s get one thing straight.  We are born again that we may become victims.  We are to suffer for the name of Christ.  We are not called to judge all creation.  God will do that using us as examples.  And we are not called to challenge all creation to a fight.  Jesus did that and won!

I hope this has been helpful to someone.  It is not the kind of conversation that is brought up at dinner very often.  It is not the kind of conversation you would hear from a pulpit(sadly).  And it’s not the kind of conversation you would have with your mom as you’re driving to the store.  But slander of celestial beings is done popularly everyday (particularly by Christians).