Dealing with Accusations
John 8:3
"And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,"
Accusations are easy to throw out, but just because someone has been accused of something does not mean that they are guilty. The scribes and Pharisees accused this woman of being caught in the act of adultery. That is a very serious accusation to hurl at someone. Yet, when Jesus heard this accusation He dealt with it in a godly manner. Jesus' goal in handling this accusation was to be sure it was true and to restore the one who was fallen if they were guilty.
When someone accuses another of something in your presence, how you handle that accusation could make or break your credibility. If you handle the accusation in a wrong manner, it could stain your credibility for a long time. On the other hand, if you handle the accusation in a right manner it could not only save the one who was accused of being destroyed, but it could also save your name. Dealing with accusations must be handled in a deliberate manner. Let me give you several thoughts on how to handle accusations.
First, don't believe the accusation just because it has been given. You should always fall on the side of innocent until proven guilty when you first hear the accusation. Just because someone says it is true does not make it true. You may even trust the person who gave the accusation, but every person is capable of making mistakes. Whenever you hear an accusation about anyone, your immediate response is that they should be innocent.
Second, don't move quickly. Just because someone else wants you to move quickly does not mean you have to move at their speed. You need time to deliberately work through the accusation. Many people have had their name soiled because they moved quickly through the accusation without giving time to find the whole truth. It would be wiser to move slower than faster.
Third, always get the story from the other side before determining your opinion. It is never right to take one person's word. The just thing to do is to ask the accused what they have to say. You will find out quickly that there are always two sides to a story. Even if your first opinion was right, how you came to that opinion was wrong if you didn't listen to both sides.
Fourth, ask God to guide you through the accusation. God can help you know the truth if you will ask Him. Your desire should be to come to the truth, and God certainly knows it. You will find that God will guide your mind down the right paths if you will ask Him to help you come to the knowledge of truth.
Fifth, don't cover up sin if you find out that sin has been committed. Dealing with sin truthfully is the best way to deal with it. It may not be easy, but to prevent further damage in the future it must be dealt with in a godly manner. This society is known for its coverups, and when you cover up it will always come back to get you in a greater way.
Unfortunately you will have to deal with accusations throughout your life. Be careful that you handle the accusations in a spiritual manner. When you follow God's method of handling accusations, then you will find that God will lead you to the truth.