Is It a Sin to Publicly Defame Someone?

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Yes! And I would hope that no Christians would be involved in such shady business as defaming someone else’s character.  Christians are admonished not to speak evil of any man (Titus 3:2) and James says in James 4:11, “Speak not evil one of another, brethren.”  Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”  So the Christian ought not to engage in idle gossip and character assassination of his brother.  However, that doesn’t mean that it will never happen to us.  Sometimes due to circumstances beyond our control, our name or reputation gets defamed by someone else.  Whether it is malicious or just a simple misunderstanding, the Bible will guide us right if we will listen and obey it.  How ought we to respond when such happens?

First, we need to remember Jesus words in Matthew 5:39, “But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.”  There is a principle in this passage that we need to respect when it comes to those who are trying to ruin our reputation.  If someone does us evil, then our response to that needs to be to simply allow it to happen and not retaliate against it.  When we stoop to the same level of the one who is attacking us, then we act no better than they.  Another passage that contains the same principle is Romans 12:17, “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.”  Paul follows up with another, similar sentiment in verse 21, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”  It is hard to not react to those whose intent it is to do us evil, but we must not.  We must overcome evil with good.  That is the appropriate way to manage such situations.

Second, we need to understand something about lawsuits.  It is a sin for one brother to sue in public court another brother.  Paul points this out in 1 Corinthians 6:1-8.  Evidently, some of the members of the church at Corinth had some disputes and they were taking each other to court to settle them.  Paul says, “Don’t do that!”  Instead, we are to allow things to be settled in and among our own selves, even to the point of appointing a Christian arbiter, if necessary, to settle our dispute.  Such matters ought to be handled outside of public scrutiny and attention.  Paul goes on to say in this passage that it would be better to suffer wrong and even be defrauded than to demand justice in such a situation.

Really, the only person that we hurt when pursuing legal actions against our fellow brother is our self.  Instead of knowing and practicing the love and mercy of God in Christ, suing our brother brings out jealousies, envying, maliciousness, and all sorts of bad attitudes in ourselves and it leaves a stain on the church in the community that won’t be overcome for many years.  It hurts to have your name defamed, but it simply isn’t worth pursuing in such a manner.  Sometimes it is better to suffer wrong than to demand your rights.