Evil Speaking by John Matteson

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 15, 1865

Evil Speaking.

By John Matteson

“SPEAK not evil one of another, brethren.” James iv, 11.

Among the sins of the last days, evil speaking stands prominent. Whisperers and backbiters are numerous. And through the work of such, the love of many waxeth cold. Satan is “the accuser of our brethren,” and whosoever gives himself to speak evil of the children of God takes part with him. The evil consequences of such work are not seen at first; but alas, its withering influence drives out love and peace from the heart and brings in prejudice, suspicion, envy, and many other evil things. Evil angels rejoice in such work.

That we hear so much evil speaking among the world's people and lukewarm professors, is not to be wondered at, but that those who profess to be looking for the soon coming of Christ, also take part in the same, is lamentable. “My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”

Especially when a messenger comes into a place, there is most everywhere some who are very anxious to whisper in his ears all the bad news they know about their brethren. They often tell things which are not strictly true, or they magnify their brethren's faults and injure their characters. Such individuals are not worthy of confidence. A man who will not tell his brother to his face what he has against him, but does tell it behind his back, violates the principles of the gospel. Some such say, they believe strongly the testimony for the church. Please look at No. 4, pages 14–16. Brother, “show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.”

Love and evil speaking can not flourish together. Love “is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil.” If we would love one another, we must try to speak well of one another. Remember that we are members of the same body, and if one suffer, all suffer. Which is the greatest crime, to steal a man's money or his honor? But commandment-keepers do not steal.

Another branch of evil speaking, is to speak lightly or to make fun of a brother because his intellectual capacities are smaller. The Lord does not require so much where but little is given. If we have better judgment than others, it is the gift of God. And even the opportunities that we have had to develop our faculties, are blessings from a kind Providence Where is boasting then? It is excluded. If therefore my brother is weaker than I, it is my duty to sympathize with him, not with his wrongs. If he be overtaken in a fault, it is my duty to endeavor to restore him in the spirit of meekness, and at the same time, remember that I also have weak points, though they may be different from his. The hardest case to reach is him who saith or thinketh, “I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.” May the Lord have mercy on such also, that they may repent. May we all seek for eye-salve and anoint our eyes that we may see our own faults, and by the grace of God come nearer to Jesus the perfect pattern. This we will try, not in our own strength, but in the strength of God. Then shall the precious promise be ours, “To him that overcometh, will I grant to sit with me on my throne, even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father upon his throne.”

JOHN MATTESON.