The Eighth Commandment
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God so that we do not betray, slander, lie, or gossip about our neighbors, but defend them, speak well of them, and put the most charitable construction on all that they do.
Luther's Small Catechism
We should never try to disparage the name of another as we read in Proverbs 22:1 (EHV), "A good name is worth more than great wealth. Respect is worth more than silver and gold." If another does so on his or her own, let it be on them, but, as Christians, our calling is to edify or build others up. We live in an age where it seems that so many try to paint each other in the worst possible light. Sadly, this seems to intensify every political cycle as we not only see the divide arise between the candidates, but also between our populous. This is not unique to the United States but is a part of human nature. As Christians, we are called to be different.
We are called not to be led by the spirit of the world, but in the Holy Spirit to seek ways to be a light to others in their lives. When we see a brother or sister struggling or faltering in his or her walk, we are called in love to help them and not to bring shame or embarrassment upon them as Peter reminds us in his first letter (1 Peter 4:8, EHV), "Above all, love each other constantly, because love covers a multitude of sins." Love doesn't mean we ignore failures, but we try to help our brothers and sisters in Christ to move on from them and beyond them. We don't say that things that are not OK are OK, but we do seek to quietly lift up one another and pull us out of the muck and mire that the world seeks to draw us into. This love extends for those that are a part of our family of God and will overflow into the world as we go out and witness our faith to all who will listen.
As we practice this reality in our congregations, we will definitely be different from others in our communities, and this may be the greatest transformative force to the communities in which we live. As we walk in a positive life together with all Christians of all traditions that faithfully hold to the values of the Church and the Word of God. As we proclaim the love of Christ, we stand fast in the Word and can hold the witness that He gave us with the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4 and we can look to the woman thrown at His feet in John 7:53-8:11 as both times we find Jesus not ignoring the sin, but calling them to transformation specifically in John 8:11 with the words, "Go and sin no more!" We are continually to be called and to call others away from sin as we offer forgiveness and the promises of new life.
The power of our Lord and the faith which we hold is centered in Christ and His message of hope and love. It is in a hope for a better life for all and, most importantly, the eternal hope that we will have once we enter into eternal glory. As we live in the light of our Lord, we carry His hope out into the world with us. Let us seek to paint each other's words and actions in the best possible light and not engage in tearing down others or unnecessary talk that would only engage in furthering divisions. Our calling is not to gain agreement in all things, we may seek understanding, but our ultimate calling is to stand in unity with all brothers and sisters in Christ. We are called to be unified in faith. We stand fast in the promises and the Word given to us by our Lord. A faith that places Christ Jesus front and center in our words, actions, and our treatment of others. A faith that endures and has a firm foundation centered in the principles set forth from Genesis to Revelation. A faith that calls us to humble ourselves to our God and seek to stand faithful to Him and never tempted to follow directions contrary to Him. Let us stand firm and let our lips be anointed with words that reflect our Lord and our lives be salted in the faith that we hold to be true.