This is what Christians have traditionally taught about speech. – (From a 16th century catechism explaining how to obey the 9th commandant.)
And it gets me every time… more than just not bearing false witness Christians refuse to “twist anyones words”… (I mean, basically quote-tweeting). We refuse to gossip, slander… and this one hurts – we “refuse *join* in condemning anyone rashly or without a hearing.”
I have a hard time imagining a world where people lived by this creed. I think our world of speech looks more like the “devices of the devil” than most of us are comfortable admitting. (Reflections from this weeks’ sermon – watch at www.Goshen.Church/Watch)