"Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool (Proverbs 10:23), and "he who spreads slander is a fool." (Proverbs 10:18) Wanton pursuit of the "lusts of deceit" and a lying tongue are the trademarks of the kesil fool. This episode unpacks this deadly combination, particularly focusing on a tongue commandeered by wickedness. This fool's mind is consumed by lusts (Ecclesiastes 7:4), and the lust for reputation ("the boastful pride of life") produces many casualties via lying, slander, gossip and dissention. In the dog-eat-dog world of the fool, slander and destructive gossip are counter-intuitively the means of preserving reputation: incited negative attention on competitors deflects from the plots of the fool. So the Proverbs connects slander with concealment: "He who conceals hatred has lying lips, and he who spreads slander is a fool." (Proverbs 10:18) No one is safe, for even "the companion of fools will suffer harm." (Proverbs 13:20) The episode notes that believers, as recovering fools, have an advantage. We know the dynamics of fooldom since all of us are still being delivered from the "lusts of deceit." The program admonishes believers to challenge residing sympathy with the deeds of the flesh, particularly sins of the mouth that often get a pass, in light of the usual suspects of immorality and sensuality.
Responding to Slander
This episode addresses how believers should respond to slander. The ultimate slanderer is the devil, who typically seeks to accuse believers based on their past failures. Just as Nehemiah confessed the sins of his people before being used by God, anyone pursuing ministry should initially come clean before God with prior failures (1 John 1:9) This helps inoculate the believer against possible accusations and slander made by carnal believers, tares, and unbelievers. The ultimate objective behind demonically inspired slander is to cause fear and derail the work of God. Nehemiah continued his work and entrusted the divine project and his reputation to God Himself, even when Sanballat and Tobias supposedly maligned the work among the nations. The lesson for believers is obvious: continue the work God began through you and trust God to vindicate you when opposition arises through slander.