Imagine if you will that you are sitting on your couch, watching t.v. minding your own business, and all of a sudden, the SWAT team has guns pointed at you, screaming for you to get on the floor! You are arrested, and during interrogation you figure out that your neighbor claimed that you had a drug lab in your basement.
Exodus 20:16 "You must not testify falsely against your neighbor." Now if you don't have a drug lab in your basement, and this truly happened, that would be the clear definition of the ninth Commandment. But I'll be honest- this one had me a little perplexed for a bit. The first thought that came to my mind was "Snitch". But that would be the opposite of what God is saying. God is saying, do not wrongly accuse. Do not lie about one another.
God wants our words to always be words of truth! This is an extension of "Do not lie", but it adds in another element. Along with not spreading lies about our neighbors, we should also not gossip! We should not be speaking to others about when our neighbors come and go! Or about the visitors that may come to their home. Too often, when we are left to draw our own conclusions, and we take things out of context, the final thought is so far from the truth! When we repeat our own conclusion, we are now inadvertently lying.
Ephesians 4:15 says, "Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of this body, the Church,"
Do not fear the truth. Do not try to cover up anything for anyone- for that will cause you to stumble and lie. If you are legit in a courtroom, speaking the truth- some people may say "snitch". Because somehow loyalty and lying have become classified as the same thing. The only truth about these situations, is that the person who did something wrong... obviously should not have done what they did! They will say things like, "If you love me- then you will lie for me! Get me out of this jam!" The truth is! If they loved you, then they would never ask you to lie for them! Better yet, they wouldn't have gotten in trouble in the first place! And they would not put you in that situation!
Leviticus 19:18 says, "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite (Neighbor), but love your neighbor as yourself, I am the Lord."
Just as you would never put your neighbor in harm's way with your own actions, and you would love your neighbor fiercely with truth and kindness, they hopefully will repay you with the same kindness, and expect nothing less that truth at all times.
I used to have a friend that would call me randomly and say, "If you are ever asked about this night, just tell them I was with you!" Now they were not doing anything illegal in the eyes of man's law. However, they were sinning. Now if that person loved me with a Christ following heart, they would never have had to make that phone call. They would never have had to put me in that situation. I thank God that I was never asked!
Love your neighbors! Don't be shy to share Jesus with them! The more they know and understand, they will be less likely to put themselves in a situation worthy of being "Snitched" on, also they will be less likely to ask you to lie for them!
Until next time:
Numbers 6:24-26
24: May the Lord bless you and protect you!
25. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you!
26. May the Lord show you His favor and give you His peace!
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