WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU SUFFER INJUSTICE? 1. Everyone has suffered injustice at least once. 2. The cruelty of public opinion and slander. II Timothy 3:1, 3. Know this, that in the last days, difficult times will come. 2 For men will be ... inhuman, irreconcilable, slanderers, incontinent, fierce, haters of good... The state of mind of those who have suffered injustice: Joseph was slandered by Potiphar's wife. Genesis 39:7-23 Nehemiah was slandered by Sanballat and Tobiah. Nehemiah 2-6 Mordecai was slandered by Haman. Esther 3 3. Jesus was slandered, the student is not above the teacher! Matthew 26:59-61. Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin sought false testimony against Him, so that they might put Him to death. 60 Though many false witnesses came, they found none. But at last two came forward, 61 and said, This man said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days. Matthew 10:24, 25. A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his teacher, and the servant as his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household? Matthew 24:9. Then they will deliver you up to be afflicted, and will kill you; and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. 4. What does the Bible teach about slander? Be careful, lest we become slanderers of others! Leviticus 19:16. Do not go about slandering among your people, nor devise against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD. James 1:26. If any man thinketh himself to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, his religion is vain. On God's side: He hath the duty of vindicating. Proverbs 4:18. But the path of the just is as the light that shineth brighter and brighter until the perfect day. Romans 12:19. Beloved, avenge not yourselves, but leave place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. On him that soweth slander: As he soweth, so shall he also reap. Galatians 6:7. Be not deceived: God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. On our side: God permits us to suffer slander as an exercise in virtue. Whatever people think of us or do to us, it need not disturb our union with Christ, our fellowship with the Holy Spirit. EGWhite Matthew 5:11, 12. Blessed are you when men revile you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 1 Peter 4:14-16. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, ye are blessed: for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you. 15 Let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evildoer, or a busybody in other men's matters. 16 But if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed: for he hath not spoken evil of him. and let us rather glorify God in that name. 1 Corinthians 4:12, 13. …When we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; 13When we are slandered, we entreat; we have become as the filth of the world, the dregs of all things, even to this day. 1 Peter 2:19-20. 19 For it is gracious if, because of conscience toward God, we endure afflictions and are wronged. 20 For what credit is it to you, if when you do evil, you endure it patiently? But if when you do good, you endure it patiently, this is gracious to God. Colossians 3:3. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.