Section 9: Evil-speaking

1. A salvation soldier must not speak evil of his comrades.
2. To speak evil of a comrade means to talk to others about his faults--or what are thought to be his faults--when there is no necessity to do so, or when no good end will be served thereby.
3. Many think that, in order to speak evil of a man, something false must be said about him: but in that case it would not only be evil speaking, buy lying or slander as well.
4. Evil-speaking is a very serious sin. By one hour of such talk, a man can inflict greater injury on the Kingdom of God than he will do good by twelve months' hard work.
5. Evil-speaking is cruel. It is unquestionably wrong to do a man incalculable injury by spreading forth his faults and failings, merely from envy or some other uncharitableness, or for the pleasure of talking about another's wrong-doing.
6. Evil-speaking is cowardly. No one should say behind a man's back what he does not, or dare not, or would not, say to his face.
7. Evil-speaking is unscriptural. It is direct disobedience to the word of God: 'Speak evil of no man' (Titus 3:2)
8. Evil-speaking and slander are of the devil, whose followers will be ready enough to 'revile' and 'persecute' and 'say all manner of evil falsely' against Army soldiers, without their comrades joining in this vile business.
9. Instead of publishing the faults and sins of his comrades, a true soldier will seek to cover them up--for Christ's sake, for his comrades' sake, and of the interests of the kingdom of God.

Yes...it's a long one. But well worth the read of every word. This is rich stuff...worthy to be digested slowly and mulled over. No word of a lie...I wept with conviction when I read this section. I am SOOOOooo guilty. As are (I imagine) many of us who wear the uniform but are quick after the meeting around coffee and cookies to 'critique' the sermon, or the worship leading, or any number of things about their fellow comrades.

Hardcore...this stuff is pure hardcore.