Character assassination is a serious matter that impacts both individuals and the community of believers. What people say about others holds significant weight, as it can tarnish reputations and affect standing among fellow men and women. The Bible admonishes against gossip and idle talk, recognizing the harm it causes. While we cannot destroy another's standing before God, we can easily injure their reputation in the eyes of others. In this sense, we are truly our brother's keeper, responsible for the impact of our words and actions on their name. Jesus Himself faced such attacks when the Pharisees falsely accused Him of being gluttonous and a winebibber, and of consorting with publicans and sinners. Out of jealousy, hypocrisy, and hatred, they sought to damage His reputation by judging His outward appearance. This illustrates how reputation, being the estimation others have of our character, is often beyond our full control, yet it remains vulnerable to the malice of others. We must strive to uphold integrity in our speech and behavior, reflecting God's character, and avoid contributing to the harm of another's good name.

GraveODING SATAN'S STRATEGY OF CHARACTER ASSASSINATION Satan preys on our base instincts to unearth past transgressions, exploiting our tendency to dwell on old resentments and grievances. Like feeble-minded lackeys in a horror movie, we are tempted to dig up the sins of others, dangling them like decomposed corpses, even though Christ's sacrifice has buried those transgressions. This grave-robbing motive, digging up long-forgotten and long-repented offenses, often leads to massive character assassination. In marriages and families, rehashing old faults can destroy relationships, separating even the best of friends, as Proverbs 17:9 warns. Similarly, parents sometimes unearth a litany of their children's past mistakes, compounding current issues with irrelevant history. Collecting dirt on others, storing juicy tidbits in mental filing cabinets, creates fertile ground for venomous revenge, propagating horror like the sinister, open-ended endings of classic horror movies where tiny menaces escape to restart the terror. We must bury not only the behavior but also the thought impulses and stimuli that lead to such actions, resisting the urge to note where we disposed of them, lest a little leaven corrupt the whole lump.

Rumors and gossip, often fueled by the desire to seem important or to put down another, carry destructive power. They can strike fear, cause discouragement, depression, and hopelessness, sapping the faith that God is in control and working to bring events to their proper conclusions. More often, rumors produce negative effects, excelling at instilling fear and despair. Christ Himself faced rumors designed to tear down His reputation and destroy His work, as seen in accusations of being a glutton, a winebibber, and a friend of tax collectors and sinners. Since the beginning, satan, the father of lies, has permeated the air with spoiling and destroying attitudes, influencing us to pass on harmful rumors about situations and personalities. Even within local congregations, rumors cast doubts upon the activities, abilities, and reputations of fellow members. Jesus warns that every idle word will be accounted for in the day of judgment, as our speech reflects the abundance of our hearts and reveals our characters. By carefully considering our words before speaking, whether in prayer, private conversation, or public speech, we can stifle harmful impulses and utter wisdom instead of vanity, pleasing God greatly.