Page 189 - COG Publications

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of stamping out this evil from God's Church, and I act, therefore,
in His name.
Following is Mr. Antion's memo to me on this subject. PLEASE
BE SURE TO USE THIS AS SERMON MATERIAL.
To: Mr. Herbert w. Armstrong
From: David L. Antion
Date: July 14, 1978
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Here·is the memo you asked me to write when I was in your office
last Friday. It is on the subject of what God's Law has to say about
false wit�esses and accusations.
As you have taught for many years, the statutes of Scriptures
are derived from the GREAT LAWS of God in the Ten Corranandments. The
ninth commandment -- "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy
neighbor" -- is the basis for the other statutes and judgments in this
category in the Bible.
Most people assume that the ninth commandment is only against () .
lying. Though it does cover lying (Rev. 21:8; Col. 3:9) it is mainly
against false accusations made against another!
You have also taught that the main object of the last six command­
ments is iove of one's neighbor (Rom. 13:9-10). And the ninth commandforbids uttering false witness against one's neighbor -- thus harming
him. The Moffatt and the New English Bible say, "You shall not give
false �vidence ••• (against your neighbor)."
Does God consider it a light thing for a man to falsely accuse
his neighbor (brother) ??
And what about Jesus' words: "Judge not that ye be not judged"?
We know that we can judge a person's actions whether they be in con­
formity or not with God's law. But can we judge his heart?
"But why dost thou judge thy brother? For we shall all stand
before the judgment seat of Christ" (Rom. 14:10). And in verse 13,"Let us not therefore judge one another any more."
The apostle James must have had trouble with judging and accusing
in his day,, for he writes: "Speak not evil one of another, brethren.
He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh
evil of the law and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou 0 art not ac!oer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who ' is able to save and to destroy: who are thou that judgest another?"(James 4 : 11-12. )