📚 Scripture Readings: Genesis 4:16-26 | Isaiah 5:16-25
🛠️ The Ladder of Divine Ascent – Step 10: Slander and Malicious Gossip
Be sure to comment at the bottom if you found this reflection edifying so we can be iron sharpening iron.
The Power of Words: Creation or Destruction?
Words have tremendous power. They can inspire or stifle, heal or wound, build up or tear down. A person’s fate can be shaped by a single sentence. Think of how a teacher’s words of encouragement can propel a child to success or how a hurtful comment can cause a scar that lasts for years.
Scripture tells us, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). Yet how often do we speak without thinking? How frequently do we repeat rumors, tear others down, or take pleasure in exposing another’s faults? Even though engaging in gossip and slander is nearly effortless, the damage they cause is severe and almost impossible to undo.
The world is shaped by words. With a single phrase, we can build someone up or tear them down, inspire hope or spread despair, heal wounds or deepen them.
Shakespeare’s Othello tells the story of slander destroying many lives. Iago starts a disastrous series of events with his malicious slander of Desdemona, which gives Othello the false impression that she is unfaithful. As a result of Iago’s deception and the rumors he spreads (such as the handkerchief “evidence”), Othello becomes so enraged that he strangles Desdemona out of jealousy. When the truth is revealed too late, Othello commits suicide because he is too overcome with guilt.
Unfortunately, this scenario is not limited to literature. Art mirrors life. In the famous case of the Duke Lacrosse team, three Duke University lacrosse players were accused of raping a stripper, Crystal Mangum, at a team party. The slander exploded in the media, fueled by racial tensions and a prosecutor’s agenda. The players were suspended, the coach was was was fired, and their lives were upended. In 2007, evidence proved the accusations false—Mangum had lied, and the case collapsed. Though exonerated, the players’ college years and reputations were irreparably damaged, with the truth arriving after the harm was done.
Social media thrives on public humiliation, outrage, and tearing others down. The human appetite for scandal is insatiable, and we often participate in it without realizing the damage we cause.
But Christ calls us to something higher. St. John Climacus, in Step 10 of The Ladder of Divine Ascent, warns us that slander is a deadly disease of the soul. He writes:
“Slander is the child of hatred, a subtle yet coarse disease, a leech lurking unperceived, wasting and draining the blood of love.”
If we wish to ascend toward Christ, we must put an end to slander. We must master our tongues and become people who speak life rather than death.
Step 10 of The Ladder of Divine Ascent: Slander and the Disease of the Soul
St. John Climacus does not treat slander lightly. He describes it as:
“The shameless servant of a lying heart, the ruin of chastity, blindness that sees faults, a false justification of our own sins, a lover of condemnation, a barrier to repentance, a hypocritical zeal for holiness, a false angel of light.”
In other words, slander is spiritually deadly because it blinds us to our own sins while magnifying the faults of others. It allows us to feel righteous at another’s expense, while keeping us far from true holiness.
St. John warns that those who slander are often deceiving themselves:
“He who wants to conquer the spirit of slander must not judge others at all, but rather watch over himself at every moment.”
The cure for slander, then, is humility—recognizing that we are sinners in need of mercy rather than judges of others’ faults.
And today’s Scripture readings reinforce this truth.
Do not listen to gossip at your neighbor’s expense, and do not spend time talking with those who love to find fault in others, otherwise you will fall away from the love of God and find yourself alienated from eternal life.
Genesis 4:16-26 – The Descendants of Cain and the Spread of Sin
Yesterday, we reflected on Cain’s jealousy and murder of Abel. Today, we see the aftermath of his sin—how his descendants continue to walk in wickedness. Cain’s great-great-grandson Lamech boasts to his wives that he has killed a man in revenge, declaring:
“If Cain is avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.” (Genesis 4:24)
Here, we see how sin multiplies—one evil act begets another. Just as Cain’s anger led to murder, so now his descendants glorify vengeance and pride. This is the same pattern we see with slander: one whispered rumor can spread, poisoning relationships, communities, and even entire societies.
But in contrast to Cain’s line, the passage ends on a hopeful note:
“At that time, people began to call upon the name of the Lord.” (Genesis 4:26)
This reminds us that there is another way—instead of following the path of destruction, we can turn to prayer, humility, and righteousness.
Isaiah 5:16-25 – The Judgment on Pride and Injustice
In today’s reading from Isaiah, we hear of God’s judgment against those who twist justice and oppress others. The prophet condemns those who:
“Call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness.” (Isaiah 5:20)
This passage applies directly to slander and false speech. How often do we twist truth to fit our narrative, justify our gossip, or tear others down under the guise of righteousness?
Isaiah warns that God will bring down the proud and arrogant:
“The Lord of hosts is exalted in justice, and the Holy God shows himself holy in righteousness.” (Isaiah 5:16)
If we wish to stand before God, we must pursue righteousness, not the cheap pleasure of tearing others down.
If you speak against your brother, you wound your own soul, for the tongue is a sharp sword that cuts both ways.
Practical Steps to Overcome Slander
- Pause Before Speaking – Ask yourself: Is what I am about to say true? Is it necessary? Is it kind? If not, remain silent.
- Confess Gossip and Slander – Treat them as serious sins, bringing them to confession regularly.
- Redirect Conversations – If someone starts gossiping, change the subject or steer the conversation toward something edifying.
- Practice Humility – Remember that we all have sins—focusing on our own repentance leaves no time for criticizing others.
- Speak Words of Life – Intentionally build others up rather than tear them down. As St. Paul says:
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up.
Reflection Questions
- Do I participate in gossip or slander, even in subtle ways?
- Do I use social media to make passive-aggressive digs I would not make if I were physically in the presence of the person I am referring to?
- How can I be more mindful of my words and use them to bring life instead of harm?
- Who in my life needs encouragement? How can I speak blessings over them rather than criticism?
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