When I was in college, a particularly pernicious rumor began to circulate around campus about me. I had left the pseudo-fraternity to which I had been accepted only a year earlier, and in hindsight I believe my former "brothers" were the ones to have started it. As far as rumors go, it was nowhere near the worst I'd ever been subjected to, but it was by far the least substantiated one at the time, which is why it brought the greatest pain.
It was rumored that I was no longer living on campus, and was instead living at my parents' house a few minutes away, commuting to classes every morning. Yes, I know: the shock and the horror of it all. But for a young teenager obsessed with popularity, it proved very damaging to my reputation.
Anyone who knew me also knew that it would have been physically impossible for me to have been living with my parents in those days, because our family's entire estate had just burned to the ground, and my parents were essentially homeless, squatting with relatives and staying at motels. In hindsight, I probably should have been spending more time with them. But I did not, because I had a life to live. Or so I thought.
That did not keep the rumor from spreading, though. And it took an especially stubborn hold among those who through lack of acquaintance with me were ignorant of my circumstances. Women I was interested in refused to date me, while my former friends all seemed to be busy when I wanted to hang out. In short, I was completely ostracized from college life.
The Holy Bible is very clear when it comes to the subject of false witness. The Ninth Commandment strictly forbids it (Exodus 20:16), while Christ states in the Gospel that one should rejoice when subjected to it, for it is a blessing in disguise (Matthew 5:11).
The United States Constitution, however, is somewhat murkier. Under some interpretations, it can constitute libel, slander, and/or even defamation, while under others it is a form of protected speech, and carries no penalties whatsoever. From the perspective of law enforcement, search warrants that rely on anonymous rumors alone, or hearsay, usually exceed the standards demanded by probable cause, and any evidence obtained from them is theoretically inadmissible in a court of law. But unless a well-paid lawyer raises the objection during a trial, a commoner who is ignorant of their rights can very easily be convicted nonetheless. And even if exonerated, an American citizen is not entitled to police protections by virtue of a damaged reputation, which means that misplaced vigilantism can and will destroy even innocent people.
What all of this means, to me at least, is that even in America, false testimony can and will ruin a person's life, if not end it altogether, leaving divine retribution as the only source of justice for many in this world. Such heavenly judgments can often be a long time coming. But when they arrive, they bring with them complete vindication for the falsely accused, even from beyond the grave, as well as damning condemnation for those whose penchant for malicious dishonesty harmed their fellow men and women.
As for such purveyors of rumors, Christ had another famous saying: "Let them be," He said, "for they are but blind guides, who will one day stumble into the abyss." (Matthew 15:14) Devoting the greater share of one's time to the clandestine destruction of your fellow man is the very definition of a wasted life. And the fact that one has enemies who would peddle in such trivialities is an indication of having actually accomplished something in this brief life, which is a feat one's detractors can only dream of.
Add new comment