ACCUSATIONS! ACCUSATIONS! WHAT DOES GOD SAY?
By Tom Russell
There has never been a time when accusations of wrongdoing were more prevalent. The accusations of “racism”, “fascism”, etc. are becoming so common that one would think the charges would be meaningless, but that isn’t how it works. The old adage, “If you tell a lie often enough it becomes the truth.” is true. Regrettably, if you throw enough mud some of it is bound to stick.
What are the faithful to believe? As always we must follow the Lord’s will, and God has clearly communicated His requirements related to making and receiving accusations against another.
Note God’s requirement!
Deuteronomy 19:15-21 15 “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established. 16 If a malicious witness arises to accuse a person of wrongdoing, 17 then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the Lord, before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days. 18 The judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely, 19 then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. 20 And the rest shall hear and fear, and shall never again commit any such evil among you. 21 Your eye shall not pity. It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
We find this requirement for witnesses in place throughout God’s word. For instance, Matthew 18:16, 2 Corinthians 13:1, 1 Timothy 5:19, and Hebrews 10:28 all demonstrate the same requirement that for an accusation to be received/accepted there MUST be a plurality of witnesses.
An example
Let’s consider the accusations made by Christine Ford against Judge Brett Kavanaugh during his Supreme Court Nomination Hearing. Ford has stated that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in the 1980s when she was 15 and he was 17, and that the assault occurred at a house party where those present had been drinking alcohol. Ford alleges that she, Kavanaugh, and another friend, Mark Judge, were in a bedroom when Kavanaugh attacked her, yet both Kavanaugh and Judge deny that it ever happened. Ford has presented no other witnesses, or physical evidence, i.e. security video, audio recordings, etc. that would enable others to serve as witnesses to the alleged attack.
What is a fair-minded person to believe in such a case? We must remember that the burden of proof is on the accuser and we must believe in the innocence of the accused (1 Corinthians 13:7) until sustainable proof has been presented.
Simply put, it is wrong to MAKE or RECEIVE a charge of wrongdoing that hasn’t been confirmed by witnesses!