What should Christians do if they know or think that another Christian has given a false witness?
Category : Ask Jesus
This is a difficult question. On the one hand we want to be defenders of the faith; if we know that by their words or actions somebody is misrepresenting the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ then we want to go in and correct their “evil ways”. On the other hand there are so many flavours of Christianity that who is to say who is correct on any given issue.Fortunately (though maybe it’s unfortunately with this particular question in mind) Christianity, contra to popular belief, is not about a collection of rules and there are very few black and white issues.
So who is to say who is right? The world looks on at Christian communities and churches and sees a bunch of people who are divided against themselves. A group of people who are more concerned with what separates them rather than what unites them. Whatever damage a false witness may cause, a solution which leads to division and disunity among God’s people is not a good one.
This sounds a little bit like I am avoiding the question. *smile*
What did Jesus have to say on such issues?
- Remove the plank from your own eye before you look at the spec in someone else’s eye! (Matthew 7: 1-5)
- Let God deal with them as you don’t want to get it wrong and be fighting against God. (Acts 5: 29-39 – Maybe read the chapter to give a bit of context to this excerpt.)
- How will people know that you are my disciples? By how you love one another! (John 13: 34-35)
All good advice but what does it mean in a practical way in this context.
- Pray, for yourself, that you have clarity on the issue. Then pray for individual in question that they will be prompted by the Holy Spirit.
- Talk to them; quietly, personally, without making a scene or a big fuss. Ask about what they doing / saying and ask them to explain how it is compatible with a relationship with Jesus Christ.
- If you still disagree explain your point of view.
- If you still don’t agree, leave them to it.
Ultimately Jesus was always interested in the individuals far more than what they were doing or saying. The classic ââ?¬Ë?Christian’ line, hate the sin, love the sinner holds some water in this instance.Ã? Let’s love each other, focus on what unites us, and let God worry about the rest.
please give me your take on false witness in the context of standing before a jury and giving a false witness such as Potiphers wife making a false witness that she had been sexualy assulted by Joseph? What should we as believers do in this case? What should someone do if they have done this sin/crime to another person and what should someone who may think that someone they know has done this and what should you do if you are the victim of some one doing this to you? and what should the church do if there are these situations happening within it?
Obviously, giving a false testimony is bad. Our integrity is key here. The testimony we give my not necessarily be correct but we need to give it as we see it. A Christian should be known as a person of integrity if even they are not know for getting everything right (getting everything right is really hard *smile*).
The difficult part is what to do when others give false witness against you. In extreme cases, as you rightly point out, this can have massive implications.
The short answer is; there isn’t a lot we can do. Again, itâ??s about integrity. We are responsible for the state of our own hearts in the face of whatever life throws at us. It sounds like a hard path to walk but we need to pray that Christ will give us the strength we need to walk it.
Bless those who persecute you. Pray for them. In all things act honourably. Of course defend yourself. Protest your innocence. But do so in a way that is pleasing to God.
We will be judged for the state of our own hearts; for our own actions. Some people get an easier walk than others; that’s just the way it is I fear. But remember that in all things Christ works for the good of those who love Him. It’s a mystery that we have to hold on to in faith.
thank you for replying. please can you respond to, What should the church be doing in cases like this? i believe to give false witness to this level of falsely accusing someone in the same way as Josephs accuser is much more than bad. it is a sin, a crime and a mockery of our justice syistem. this person has lied and deceived their own family and friends, police, jude and society as well as insulting true victims of this awfull crime when it is true. how can someone protest their inocence in this situation. please can you also look at your Ask jesus blog with this persons insight to what Josephs life would of been like in todays times with this crime on his c.v and would he have been able to have children?
Are you suggesting that there should be some sort of retribution in such circumstances? And that the Church should be administering this?
I can understand the sentiment, of course I can. When we have been wronged it is human nature to seek vindication and even revenge. However, if this was to be a system that should be introduced who would decide what crimes would come under this banner?
Grading sin in this way is a dangerous game to play. Who makes the rules?
Maybe this is a good example of when we should “leave room for God’s anger”?
It’s a difficult subject.
It was dark when I woke. This is a ray of sunihsne.