Truthspresso

Spring boarding from our series on slander Chelsea and I talk about parenting.

As important as how husband and wife treat each other is how they treat their children.

We give three reasons parents can find themselves tearing down their own children:

1. Power (abuse of)
2. Impulse (anger)
3. Deception (two parenting extremes that show lack of love)

Scriptures Cited:

1 TImothy 5:21

James 3:17

Matthew 18:6

Colossians 3:21

Ephesians 6:4

*** Castle Rock Women's Health is a pro-life and pro-women health care ministry. They need your help to move into a new office to serve the community better. Please consider a monthly or one-time donation. ***

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For this 200th episode of Truthspresso Andrew Rappaport joins me to talk about Christian podcasting and the Christian Podcast Community. Truthspresso is a member podcast of the Christian Podcast Community.

Andrew Rappaport is the executive director of Striving For Eternity Ministries and the Christian Podcast Community.

Andrew grew up in a Jewish home and converted to Christianity at the age of 16. He is a pastor, apologist, and international speaker. He frequently engages in evangelism through street preaching.

Learn more about Andrew Rappaport:

Andrew Rappaport's testimony

Andrew Rappaport's ministries:

Striving For Eternity Ministries

The Christian Podcast Community

Andrew Rappaport's podcasts:

Andrew Rappaport's Rapp Report

The Daily Rapp Report with Andrew Rappaport

Apologetics Live

Theology Throw Down

So, You Want To Be A Podcaster?

Andrew Rappaport's books:

What Do They Believe?

What Do We Believe?

Chelsea and I conclude how we treat others with our words.

Using the acronym GREATS we present six ways to build up others with our words.

1. Graceful words
2. Respectful words
3. Encouraging words
4. Affirming words
5. Truthful words
6. Sincere words

Scriptures Referenced:

Colossians 4:6

1 Peter 2:17

Romans 12:10

1 Peter 3:15

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Proverbs 25:11

Deuteronomy 1:38; 31:6

James 4:11

Ephesians 4:24-25

2 Corinthians 1:12

*** Castle Rock Women's Health is a pro-life and pro-women health care ministry. They need your help to move into a new office to serve the community better. Please consider a monthly or one-time donation. ***

Chelsea and I shift gears to how we can find ourselves talking bad about others outside our home: extended family, neighbors, friends, coworkers, or church members.

Why do we speak negatively to or about others?

Envy, grudges, and competition can all make us slander people who are not the closest in our lives.

What are ways we tear down others?

1. Say negative things about or to them
2. Gossip
3. Bear false witness

Scriptures Referenced:

Proverbs 18:21

Ecclesiastes 4:4

Acts 13:45

Mark 15:9-10

Acts 7:9; 13:50

Proverbs 11:12

1 Timothy 5:13

Proverbs 16:28; 6:19; 14:5; 26:18-19

*** Castle Rock Women's Health is a pro-life and pro-women health care ministry. They need your help to move into a new office to serve the community better. Please consider a monthly or one-time donation. ***

Chelsea and I finish our discussion of slander in marriage by giving positive alternatives to hurtful words.

What are ways we can build up our spouse to avoid temptations to slander?

1. Show kindness
2. Allow for positive silence
3. Display grace
4. Use encouraging words
5. Express a thankful attitude
6. Forgive
7. Intentionally make time together

Scriptures Referenced:

Isaiah 40:31

Ephesians 4:32

Psalm 46:10

Psalm 4:4

Philippians 4:6

Matthew 6:6

Ecclesiastes 9:9a

Proverbs 17:22

1 Peter 3:7-10

Ephesians 4:2

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Proverbs 22:10

Philemon v.7

1 Thessalonians 5:15-18

Philippians 1:3

1 Thessalonians 1:2

Colossians 3:12-15

Proverbs 5:18

*** Castle Rock Women's Health is a pro-life and pro-women health care ministry. They need your help to move into a new office to serve the community better. Please consider a monthly or one-time donation. ***

We can find ourselves slandering our spouse in different ways: even "silent" ways!

Chelsea and I continue our discussion of slander in marriage to finish our answer to the question:

What are ways we tear down our spouse?

1. Absence
2. Negative Silence
3. Assuming motives.

We fleshed out "Negative Silence" with how it shows up as...

1. Avoidance/"peace at all costs"
2. Bitterness
3. Busyness/distractions
4. Passive aggression
5. Power/control
6. Safety

Scriptures Referenced:

Colossians 3:19

James 3:11

Proverbs 25:28; 16:32

Sources Cited:

Todd Foley, "Silent storm: When your spouse won't talk," Focus on the Family Canada, Accessed September 11, 2022.

*** Castle Rock Women's Health is a pro-life and pro-women health care ministry. They need your help to move into a new office to serve the community better. Please consider a monthly or one-time donation. ***

Slander finds its way into marriages way too easily and often.

But slander doesn't belong in words toward our spouse!

Chelsea and I first give an acrostic for S-L-A-N-D-E-R, then how we should E-D-I-F-Y.

Then, we answer some questions:

Why do we react, respond, or talk negatively about or to our spouse?

1. Anger
2. Bitterness
3. Childhood experiences
4. Expectations
5. Life events
6. Low self-esteem
7. Need for attention

What are ways we tear down our spouse?

1. Critical or belittling comments
2. Putting down
3. Manipulation
4. Sarcasm
5. Quick, snappy statements
6. Insensitivity

Scriptures Referenced:

Matthew 12:34-37

Proverbs 4:23-24

Proverbs 18:6

Sources Cited:

Todd Foley, "Words that bruise: Are you emotionally abusive?" Focus on the Family Canada, Accessed September 4, 2022.

*** Castle Rock Women's Health is a pro-life and pro-women health care ministry. They need your help to move into a new office to serve the community better. Please consider a monthly or one-time donation. ***

How can I avoid slandering others?

How do I handle when other people slander me?

Chelsea and I look at some good verses from the Bible to help us answer these questions

How do I avoid slandering others?

1. Think before you speak (Jas 1:19; Pro 13:3; 21:23; 29:11)
2. Let your motive for speaking be to edify (Eph 4:29,22-32)

How do I handle when other people slander me?

1. Diffuse it with a pleasant response (Pro 15:1a; Rom 12:17-21; 1Pe 2:12)
2. Focus on living right (1Co 4:12-13)
3. Truth God and be patient with the results (Pro 20:22; Psa 109:2-4)

*** Castle Rock Women's Health is a pro-life and pro-women health care ministry. They need your help to move into a new office to serve the community better. Please consider a monthly or one-time donation. ***

After four months I finally did it! A new episode of Truthspresso Express!

While driving to work on Thursday morning I outline some thoughts on President Biden's announcement of a program to "forgive" some student loan debts.

When we clear away the politics and emotions, we see the problems with schemes like this. Particularly, the ideology of so-called student loan "forgiveness" is:

1. Fantasy
2. Theft
3. Moral hazard

I also address an article I read that tries to claim student loan "forgiveness" is a Christian idea. The article raises Deuteronomy 15, which I argue cannot possibly qualify.

Sources consulted:

Matt Bernico, "I Paid Off My Loans. As a Christian, I Still Hope Biden Forgives Yours," Sojourners, May 4, 2022.

Can slander be a tool in our belt? A weapon in our arsenal?

The Bible has a lot to say about slander. Neither the one slandered nor the slanderer is the better for it.

Chelsea and I show from the Bible how slander leaves wreckage in every wake.

How slander affects the slanderer:

1. It destroys your reputation (Pro 23:7; 29:20; 22:1)
2. Its gains are temporary (Pro 12:19; Joh 8:44; 1Pe 3:10; Pro 21:28; 10:6)

How slander affects the one slandered:

1. It can make enemies (Pro 15:1b; 26:28)
2. Its wounds can be lifelong (Pro 11:9; 25:18)

Sources Cited:

Lewina O. Lee et al, Bruce S. McEwen, ed., "Optimism is associated with exceptional longevity in 2 epidemiologic cohorts of men and women," PNAS, August 26, 2019.

*** Castle Rock Women's Health is a pro-life and pro-women health care ministry. They need your help to move into a new office to serve the community better. Please consider a monthly or one-time donation. ***