Do Not Slander or Grumble

One might ask.  “Why should I not slander or grumble against another?” Here are some harmful consequences that come to mind:

• This behavior damages our personal relationship – and our ministry relationship – with the other person
• As a leader, such behavior reduces our followers’ loyalty to us and likely to the organization as well
• When others see the leader behave in these harmful ways, they will tend to model our bad example. This can lead to a toxic work or church environment that negatively impacts many people.
• Slander, that is, intentionally trying to damage the reputation of another person, creates strife within the Body of Christ. This, too, is toxic and extremely harmful.
• When unbelievers see us treating others this way, it reinforces their bad opinion of Christianity. They may think, “if that is the way they treat one another, I don’t want any part of it.”