If we live long enough we will eventually be falsely accused of something. It’s a shock when this happens, especially regarding people who we thought should know better. These accusations can be tossed out when a misunderstanding happens, a perceived betrayal takes place, or unresolved grief takes over a person’s emotions. To be unoffendable when this happens does not mean we are not initially offended by such things when they take place. To remain spiritually unoffendable and pliable in God’s hands requires that we choose to not play the victim card and let God have His way, not the way of our offended emotions.

Jesus was falsely accused, “Many false witnesses spoke against him, but they contradicted each other. Finally, some men stood up and gave this false testimony” (Mark 14:56-57). Once Jesus was resurrected and the disciples carried on His ministry, they were also accused of all kinds of things using those accusations as evidence to beat them and put them in prison. I stood on the very spot on a city square in Europe where believers were falsely accused of heresy during the Reformation and burned at the stake. False accusations have been used since the beginning of time to bring punishment and pain.

The saddest of all false accusations come from those within our own ranks as believers. We can become too quick to accept false testimony from another believer about someone without knowing all the facts about a matter. At this point, our premature judgment is no different than the accusations that come our way from people who have yet to come to know the Lord.

What can we do when a false accusation comes our way? Peter wrote, “Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing.” (I Peter 3:9).

Forty years ago, when when Jan and I were beginning our ourpastoral ministry, an accusation based on false evidence came against us. In that moment of pain, sorrow and confusion, the Lord gave us an assignment that we have carried with us for all the ensuing years since that first incident.  Our assignment has kept us from becoming bitter when the shock of a false accusation or betrayal took place. 

When a false accusation comes our way, our first response is to forgive the offender and then begin to bless them each time they come to mind, no matter how long it takes. That action would lay the groundwork for any future thought or response we might have regarding our accusers. To bless our accusers opened the door for the possibility of healing and redemption of the relationship if the other party was willing.  We have seen significant miracles of restoration take place because of that single choice.

In certain toxic relationships, there have been times when we needed to define distinct boundaries regarding future interaction with the offenders who chose to remain toxic, but never without the hope of restoration.  With God, all things are possible.