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Sermon preached on Proverbs 18:17 by Rev. W. Reid Hankins during the Morning Worship Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 08/31/2025 in Petaluma, CA.
Sermon Manuscript
Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
I wanted to preach on this proverb in response to something I see too often today, especially on social media, where accusations are assumed to be fact by others. For example, I’ve seen many times people posting on social media where they make some detailed accusation against others, then you look at the comments and you find many people lamenting with them at how horrible that was that they were treated like that. I’m not talking about stories that are told after the accused was given due process and found guilty of those accusations by a court. I am talking about people who didn’t follow biblical principles of justice, reconciliation, and peacemaking, and have instead jumped to social media to denounce other people. I’ve also seen cases where there was due process given, and the accused was found innocent, and the accuser is still posting their accusations and denouncing the court that didn’t agree with them. Our culture can be quick to make judgments, without all the evidence, sometimes within moments of a few seconds of video footage being posted without sufficient context. Yet, informed by biblical teachings, our legal tradition has historically embraced the principle of “innocent until proven guilty”. Lately, many today seem to make a presumption of guilt whenever a credible accusation is made. Some even seem to treat people as “guilty even though proven innocent.” May God grow us in wisdom so we can promote biblical justice, peacemaking, and reconciliation.
In our first point, I would like us to consider the idea of a credible accusation. For something to be credible it means it sounds believable. If someone accused me of eating 15 hot dogs in ten minutes, sadly, that would be credible. But if someone accused me of eating 313 hot dogs in ten minutes, that does not seem credible. We would be wise to assume non-credible accusations are false. But credible accusations are, by definition, believable. But that is not the same as them being true. They might be true, or they might not be true.
Our proverb begins by saying, “The one who states his case first seems right.” The Hebrew here is full of legal language. The word for “case”, “right”, and “examine”, along with the context, describe a legal dispute among two parties. But this proverb teaches us something proverbially true. The first person in a conflict to make their case to us will sound like they are in the right, and the other party is in the wrong. Another way to say it, is that the first person to tell their side of the story is going to sound like a credible accusation, and we’ll be tempted to believe their believable report. Had the other person presented their case first, we might have been inclined to believe their report instead. Let us note that this is a proverbial truth, which means this is commonly true, even if it isn’t always the case. It is warning us to be on guard against this common temptation to believe the first credible accusation.
The ninth commandment says that you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. In a dispute, justice demands due process to get to the truth. The process protects our neighbor’s good name while the truth is being determined. We shouldn’t treat a credible accusation alone as fact and pass judgment prematurely.
There could be several reasons why you might be tempted to presume guilt upon accusation. You might be all the more inclined to believe someone’s initial accusations if they are your friend or relative. You might be more inclined to believe because you hold some prejudice against the accused or other bias. You might be more inclined to believe someone’s accusations due to forms of bribery, like if the accuser is someone who gives you lots of nice gifts all the time. Surely there can be other reasons. However predisposed you may be to believe someone who makes an accusation, we still need to confirm it is true.
In this vein, let us appreciate that there can be multiple reasons why someone might make a credible accusation that isn’t actually fully true. They could be what the Bible calls a malicious witness. Exodus 23:1 condemns this as evil, when someone intentionally spreads a false report. A crafty malicious witness is going to make their false report sound believable. Another reason why someone might make a false accusation is due to a mistake or an error on their part. They might have come to some conclusions without all the evidence, or they might have received some incorrect facts, or they might have misinterpreted a situation. They also might be mistaken at what righteousness demands in those circumstances, or simply misjudged things.
So then, in this first point, I want us to recognize that while a credible accusation is believable, that doesn’t mean it is true. It also doesn’t mean it is false. What is needed is the due process to try to determine if it is true not. That leads us to our second point to consider how to determine the truth.
Again the proverb says, “The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.” The examining language here is about seeking out and investigating to determine what is true or not. The proverb especially calls attention to the idea of cross examination, where the other party has an opportunity to challenge, question, and test the case presented by the first party.
This idea of examination is at the heart of settling disputes. This is how old covenant case law addressed the potential for malicious witness. In Deuteronomy 19:16, it says that both parties will have to appear before the judges who will then inquire diligently into the matter. The point is that both sides of a story need to be presented in a dispute and there needs to be opportunity to examine and cross-examine the cases that are brought. Judges should be ultimately trying to get to the truth. This was the problem with Jesus’ trial in Mark 14:55. The council sought testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but the witnesses’ testimony didn’t agree, proving it was false.
Jesus’ trial there highlights another important biblical principle when seeking the truth amidst a dispute, the need for multiple witnesses. Deuteronomy 19:15 says, “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed.” Two or three witnesses are required, instead. Having multiple witnesses with their various perspectives increases the likelihood that the truth can be determined so that a fair verdict can be made.
In this second point, we are recognizing that a credible accusation needs to be tested. This due process provides for opportunity for all the evidence to be considered and the truth sought out from the various angles. Both sides of a dispute are given opportunity to participate in this process. Let us recognize that human courts are fallible due to the limitations of humans. We aren’t omniscient. Sometimes we can’t prove someone’s guilt even though they might be guilty. We have to be prepared to accept these limitations. And human sin can also play into things. Sadly, if sinful malicious witnesses collude to perjure with false witness, that could keep the judges from arriving at a verdict that is consistent with the truth. While our attempts at justice are not perfect in this age, we should still strive to pursue using the wisdom and righteousness that God teaches in hs Word. If paired with mercy and efforts towards peacemaking and reconciliation, wonderful things can come from this important due process that seeks to determine the truth.
In our last point, let us get even more practical in two related areas. One, what are some things you need to consider before making an accusation if you believe someone has sinned against you. Two, what are some things to consider if you hear an accusation for something that you are not a party to the conflict.
So then, I will offer some things to consider when potentially making an accusation. First, is this a criminal matter, something like physical assault, rape, robbery, etc? If your accusation is about a crime you believe someone committed against you, especially a violent crime, then call the police. You might still have opportunity afterwards to follow biblical reconciliation principles, but God has ordained the state and given them the sword for such matters, and that should be your first response. Church courts don’t replace the role of the state and its sword in such matters.
Now, if this is not a criminal matter, but a civil dispute, where you have something against a fellow Christian, that is when biblical reconciliation principles and peacemaking should be sought. An initial question to ask, is this something I can just overlook in love? Prov. 19:11 says, “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.” Not every sin against you needs to end up as a formal accusation against someone. Love covers a multitude of sins. But sometimes for the peace and health of a relationship and even for the soul of whom you would accuse, bigger sins are going to need to be dealt with.
For this, the standard practice would be to follow the steps of Matthew 18. You first go to your brother and speak with them about your concern and seek reconciliation. If, after a concerted effort, that doesn’t bear fruit, then you bring along one or two witnesses and try again. If still that doesn’t work out, bring it to the elders and that may ultimately require filing official charges against the person in the church courts. Then the due process will formally happen and both sides will be considered and the truth sought out and appropriate judgment rendered. That judgment might include a public censure against the guilty party with the church then to call that person to repentance with the goal they would be restored in godliness after demonstrating repentance. Let me note a clarification about Matthew 18. If the person who you believe sinned against you is in some sort of position of authority over you, or for some reason you don’t feel safe going alone, wisdom might suggest you to start on step 2 and bring someone along with you. The spirit is to limit the amount of people that know your concern until you give the accused the opportunity to hear you and resolve the matter before having to go any further. Surely that is what any of us would want in return, and so let us do unto others as we would have done unto us. Indeed, if any way along the process reconciliation can be had, then praise be to God for the peacemaking efforts God calls us to seek.
Let me add that if you believe you have been sinned against, and you are not clear on how to pursue biblical reconciliation, get a trusted Christian advocate to help and give you counsel. Your pastor or an elder are good options, though others may be suitable too. That’s different, of course, than going around and telling lots of people your complaints in the name of “seeking counsel”. But you should be able to find a confidant to help you while limiting spreading around the matter while reconciliation is pursued.
Here’s some other advice to someone considering making an accusation. Remember, to look at yourself too. Check to see if you have a log in your own eye before worrying about a spec in someone else’s. The Bible also says to be angry but do not sin. Don’t let your frustration for how someone has treated you to become a reason you sin against them in revenge. Jesus calls us to forgive others as he has forgiven you. So really strive for any accusation you bring to someone to be for the pursuit of real reconciliation with the opportunity for you to be able to grant forgiveness to them. In other words, pray that your heart would have an attitude to restore and forgive instead of for vengeance.
Let me pause and say the circumstance can really affect how easy it will be for someone to pursue forgiveness and reconciliation. Sometimes the injury a person has experienced from another can be really significant. The more grievous an injury, the more difficult it will be for them to really want to pursue reconciliation instead of simply justice. Some worldly wisdom today would suggest it is abusive to ask for an injured party to pursue a path toward real reconciliation. I don’t want to ignore that injured people may need a lot of time to heal. We certainly wouldn’t want to shield the offending party from the consequences of their sin in the name of forgiving them. We also wouldn’t want to be dismissive of the extent of the injury of an injured party. Certainly, we would not want to minimize any grievous sin as if the goal is only reconciliation and not in the healing of an injured person. If a saint has been greatly injured, they will need great care and love and support. Wisdom will need to know how to help them through the grieving and healing that may be needed. I could imagine some sins against someone would be so severe, that even though we know we should pursue reconciliation that it can seem impossible in this life. Nonetheless, the gospel still calls us to pursue a path that would want to forgive and reconcile. This only makes sense because of how much Jesus has forgiven us. Both reconciliation and a healing of an injured person should be goals among Christians, even if some extreme circumstances seem hard to know how to get there.
So then, what are some things to consider if you hear an accusation? I’m not talking about what to do if you are a party to the conflict, or you are the person’s counselor, those are both separate topics. I’m talking about what to do if you hear a credible accusation before due process has happened to determine the truth? Well, first, remember this proverb and today’s sermon. Remind yourself that a believable accusation will needed to be examined and tested. Be on guard against accepting as fact the first side you hear. Just because someone posts their story on social media doesn’t mean it’s the full story or even true. Even if you saw a video clip of something, that doesn’t mean you know all the details and context. Don’t just rush to judgment.
Another thing to remember is that in most cases you aren’t in a place to be the one to make official judgments in the matter of a dispute. Conflict resolution will begin and hopefully end in informal efforts to be reconciled. But should a conflict rise to the level of a formal trial, either in a church court or a civil court, unless you are one of the judges it is not your place to determine and pronounce their guilt or innocence. How much more careful should we be then when responding to public accusations people make on TV or social media or anywhere when due process is still underway.
Another thing to remember is that a failing in this way can result in gossip and/or slander. If someone broadcasts accusations against someone before justice has had time to work, and you go and spread that accusation around, you are contributing to the gossip. If the accusation turns out to be incorrect, you have now also slandered the accused. The ninth commandment would have us instead look to safeguard the good names of our neighbors while the process of justice is working.
Now once due process has happened on a formal dispute, then that changes things. When a censure is pronounced by a lawful authority, now it is proper to speak about it as fact. If someone was found guilty of an evil thing, we can say that was an evil thing. Indeed, in many cases, we are called to speak up and denounce evil as evil. Particularly in the church context, when someone is censured, the church is to speak in words of admonishment to the person to help enforce the censure. This glorifies God to declare evil as evil. It also tells everyone else in the church that evil is evil. But it also hopefully has a remedial effect on the guilty. The hope is that God would use the united voice of the church in condemning their actions to spark them to genuine repentance. We want them to recognize their sin, sorrow over it, and turn to Jesus Christ for forgiveness. We want to see them ultimately restored in their relationship with Jesus. The pursuit of the due process that we have talked about today not only includes protecting innocent people from false accusations, but it also is about looking to reclaim the guilty by promotion genuine repentance. And the hope is that such repentance can also lead to reconciliation between the parties that were in dispute, for, indeed, “blessed are the peacemakers.”
Trinity Presbyterian Church, the matters we’ve discussed today are so very important because they are so intimately related to the gospel. Our legal system has rightly emphasized “innocent until proven guilty”. Yet, we recognize that each of us, on our own record alone, would be proven guilty before our God of justice. Yet our God is also merciful, and has satisfied justice by declaring Jesus guilty in our place so we could be declared innocent for his sake. Jesus even endured a failed due process that convicted him to death when the principles of justice proved he was innocent. But Jesus did that to save us. We didn’t deserve to be reconciled to God, but in Jesus, God reconciled us to himself, making peace. All who have turned and put their faith in Jesus have been reconciled to God. We have known such mercy and reconciliation and peacemaking. Jesus calls us to be such people toward others. Yes, we have been reminded that the church needs to do this while also caring for those who have been injured. Let us pray for wisdom to seek both. To God be the glory as we look to walk in righteousness and wisdom and as peacemakers.
Copyright © 2025 Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
All Rights Reserved.
