When falsely accused

Have you ever been falsely accused? If you have, then you know how terribly troubling and hurtful it can be.
For example, there are those who excuse and even enjoy their sin. When confronted about their sin by a believer in Christ, those who take pleasure in their sin might falsely accuse the believer of being judgmental, hypocritical or even hateful. What they fail to realize is that the believer has an obligation from God’s Word to be a preserving influence in this world of that which is holy, as well as an obligation to show others the way out of the darkness of their sin.

Today, the world has grown increasingly hostile toward Christians and the truth for which we stand. When we are falsely accused, we should remember that we are in good company.

In the Garden of Eden, the serpent falsely accused God, Himself (Genesis 3:1-24). Then, there was Potiphar’s wife, who falsely accused Joseph (Genesis 39:1-20). Of course, Jesus was accused of being a glutton and drunk (Matthew 11:19; Luke 7:34), and even accused of casting out demons in the name of the ruler of demons (Matthew 12:22-32).

So what are we to do when we know we have been falsely accused? How are we to react?

Instead of following our natural inclination to get mad and retaliate, we should follow the great example the psalmist set for us in Psalm 4. There, he shows us that we are to do the following;

1. Cry out to the Lord. The psalmist wrote in Psalm 4:3, “The Lord will hear when I call to Him.” (NKJV) God cares for us and will comfort us when we have been falsely accused.

2. Be angry, but refrain from sinning (verse 4). Anger is a real emotion that rises inside of us when we are falsely accused. It is righteous indignation. The challenge for us is to feel that anger but keep from sinning in response to it. We can only do so when we are under the control of the Holy Spirit.

3. Meditate (verse 4). It is important that we get alone with God, sit quietly and allow Him to direct our thoughts and actions. We should ask for wisdom in terms of what to do. He will always guide us to do the right thing.

4. Allow God to take care of those who falsely accuse you. There is a payday in the future for all false accusers. The psalmist recorded in Psalm 5:5-6, “Therefore, the proud may not stand in your presence, for you hate all who do evil. You will destroy those who tell lies.” (NLT) And the apostle Paul wrote in Romans 12:19, “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” (NKJV)

Being falsely accused comes with the territory when we live for Jesus. The truth is, as Christians, we have to develop a thick skin and remember that “...we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12).” (NKJV) Those who falsely accuse us are simply tools being used in the hands of Satan, under his influence, to attack us with his fiery arrows. He is our real enemy.
So, put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-18) and remember what Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:11-12, “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (NKJV)

Read Isaiah 54:17; 1 Peter 3:16; Revelation 12:10