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Most persons consider Vikings to have been warriors with horned helmets. That is the popular image. Vikings did not wear horns on their helmets. Scandinavian Viking raiders and traders, who swept through Europe from the 8th through the 11th centuries AD, were pagans. Leaders of the Church chose to demonize them. Hence, they portrayed them with horns.
To slander means to speak in the presence of a third party something untrue and damaging to an other's reputation. "Libel" is generally used to refer to such in written form.
The Gospel of Mark has Jesus say, "For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you” (Mark 7.21-23, NLT). Slander, a popular practice in our so-called civilized culture is called "vile" and affirmed as defiling to the person who commits it.
Paul says to the church at Corinth, "For I am afraid that when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior" (II Corinthians 12.20, NLT). All behaviors listed, including slander, are sins against another person or persons, are communal sins. They fit together as a unity of vileness.
Paul to the Ephesian church counsels, "Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you" (Ephesians 4.31-32, NLT). Again, we see a unit of vileness that brings harm to relationships and community.
To Colossian Christians Paul writes, "But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds (Colossians 3.7-9, NLT). Once more, we see the unity of the listed sins.
Slander is as pervasive as to extend from private gossip sessions on telephone or internet, to late night stand-up comedy, and to the latest celebrity news at the supermarket checkout. We live in a culture saturated with slander; slander has become entertainment, whether private or public.
I have seen on different occasions slander cause much harm within a church. I could joke that we in the clergy get paid to get slandered, but it really is not funny. I have found the same vileness to affect religious community, both clergy and laity, as Paul lists in the above passages.
Likely, we have all spoken slander. We have possibly done this at times without knowing ~ as when we repeat something on the assumption that it is truth, only to find out later it was not.
At one time I had someone close to me. I noticed that I was being pulled into the negativity of this person, entailing words of criticism against persons in a church. I could, at times, see the assumptions were simply not able to be validated, but were solely that ~ assumptions. I, finally, had to pray, confessing that I had become drawn into the assumptions and criticism. I approached the person about the matter, affirming such was just not right. I have since felt better both about others and myself, as well as Christians whom God is teaching me to love, even though they might disappoint me as their spiritual leader ~ even as I disappoint them at times.
A good prayer to pray daily or revise for use would be Psalm 19.14, for we each know how easy it is to speak harmfully, even unknowingly:
May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. (NLT)
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*For several years OneLife has been a free offering and has not asked for donations or fees. However, charitable contributions would be appreciated to assist Brian in the continuance of his work of ministry. For charitable contributions, contact Brian through the Inquiry below.
*Brian's book of mystical love poetry, An Ache for Union: Oneness with God through Love, can be ordered through major booksellers, or through the Cokesbury on-line store, at www.cokesbury.com .
*The example of Viking helmets is from www.ozsermonillustrations.com : slander [accessed July 15, 2008].
*Brian K. Wilcox lives with his two beloved dogs, St. Francis and Bandit Ty, in Southwest Florida. He serves the Christ Community United Methodist Church, Punta Gorda, FL. Brian is vowed at Greenbough House of Prayer, a contemplative Christian community in South Georgia. He lives a contemplative life and inspires others to experience a more intimate relationship with Christ. Brian advocates for a spiritually-focused Christianity and renewal of the focus of the Church on addressing the deeper spiritual needs and longings of persons, along with empathic relating with other world religions, East and West. Brian has an independent writing, workshop, and retreat ministry, for all spiritual seekers.
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