The Perfect Crime
Oh, what the tongue has done!
Slander has shaken many, and scattered them from nation to nation; it has destroyed strong cities, and overturned the houses of the great. Slander has driven virtuous women from their homes, and deprived them of the fruit of their toil. Those who pay heed to slander will not find rest, nor will they settle down in peace. The blow of a whip raises a welt, but a blow of the tongue crushes the bones. Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not as many as have fallen because of the tongue. Happy is one who is protected from it, who has not been exposed to its anger, who has not borne its yoke, and has not been bound with its fetters. For its yoke is a yoke of iron, and its fetters are fetters of bronze; its death is an evil death, and Hades is preferable to it. It has no power over the godly; they will not be burned in its flame. Those who forsake the Lord will fall into its power; it will burn among them and will not be put out. It will be sent out against them like a lion; like a leopard it will mangle them. As you fence in your property with thorns, so make a door and a bolt for your mouth. As you lock up your silver and gold, so make balances and scales for your words. Take care not to err with your tongue, and fall victim to one lying in wait. - Sirach 28:14-26
We live in an age of unbridled words.
It has become so easy for us to post our accusations and suppositions without repercussions! But we don't really see the work our words do, do we?
Whether we send them out publicly, or we whisper them in private, they travel and carry with them a sting that we never feel.
Sirach says we need to bridle our tongues, but where is the incentive? What harm will come to us if we don't?
Most of the time, the one hurt is the one we talk about, and not us. So it is the perfect crime.
Yes, it is possible for us to be charged with slander, and face a legal battle, but chances are that will not happen. Yet there is a case that has generated a lot of attention, and it has resulted in a very costly outcome for the one who spread lies about the massacre of children.
But that was a big story.
So, what is the message here?
Unfortunately, it may be a warning to tell only small lies.
Would it not be better to tell none?
More to come...