What do Nehemiah, Jeremiah, and Jesus have in common?
They were all lied on.
Accused of crimes they didn’t commit.
Misrepresented by the very people they were called to help.
And their enemies didn’t just whisper lies…
They weaponized public opinion, manipulated systems of power to silence them, and they tried to bury their mission beneath slander and shame.
But here’s the truth:
When God appoints you, no lie can unseat you.
In today’s video, we’re exposing the strategic power of slander—
how it works, why it’s so effective, and how God ultimately defends His own.
Honestly, this episode is one of the only times in my life where I have felt like I am behind on God’s timetable. I’ve known I needed to do this and so many things have come up in between but I pray this message gets in front of everyone who needs to hear it.
In the last episode, we looked at how large groups of people were on the wrong side of history both in culture and in the church, and we ended by exploring what it’s going to take for us to make sure we don’t miss the next move of God. If you haven’t heard that episode then, I suggest you start there and meet me back here afterwards.
I’m gonna take my time with this because this episode is a warning against a time to come. Well, honestly, it looks like we are headed in that direction now.
Here’s where we’re going in this episode:
- Biblical examples where slander was used against a man of God
- Extract the 5 point methodology used by satan in each example. He ran the same play over and over and it worked so well that he is still running it today
- Why each method is effective and what it is used for
- We’ll end with looking at what we should do now that we have this information
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What is Slander?
Before we get into the first point, I want to make sure we are on the same page regarding what qualifies as slander. A good place to start is with defining our term. According to Merriam Webster dictionary, slander is the utterance of false charges or misrepresentations which defame and damage another’s reputation.
So in order for a false statement to qualify as slander, it must be said out loud. False written statements are not slander. They are something else entirely.
The Greek word for slander used in scripture is the word blasphēmia (blas-fah-me-ah)which means search injurious to another’s good name.
Okay, now let’s look at the last part of the definition of slander. This part of the definition shows us that not all spoken false statements are slander—only the ones that damage someone’s reputation will be considered slander.
Based on this definition, there are A LOT of examples of slander being used in the Bible to attack true servants of God. We’re going to look at three. Up first is Jeremiah
Biblical Examples of Slander
1. Jeremiah
The rundown of this scenario is in Jeremiah chapters 37 and 38.
- Who lied? A governmental leader
- What happened? Jeremiah was accused of being a traitor for delivering God’s judgment messages and was thrown into a cistern.
- Outcome: He was later rescued and his words proved true.
2. Nehemiah
Nehemiah was the cupbearer to the Persian King Artaxerxes. We don’t really have modern day context for the significance of a position like a cupbearer because we don’t live in times where cupbearers really exist. A cupbearer isn’t just a person that stands between the king and death by tasting all of their food and drinks before the king does, but cupbearers are also highly ranked administrative officials. Think: Chief of Staff.
- Who lied? Sanballat and others who were opposing the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s wall
- What happened? They spread a false rumor that Nehemiah planned to rebel and crown himself king which would put him in direct opposition to King Artaxertes who he served in Persia.
- Outcome: Nehemiah denied the accusations, stayed focused on God’s work, and completed the wall.
3. Jesus
In Matthew 26:3, the chief priests and elders of the Jewish people got together in the courtyard of the home of the high priest and conspired against Jesus. In this meeting, they tried to find a way to arrest and kill Jesus without anyone knowing what they were doing.
- Who lied? False witnesses at His trial
- What happened? Religious leaders brought in false witnesses to accuse Jesus of blasphemy and threatening the temple.
- Outcome: Jesus was eventually brought before the governor and the governor gave Jesus over to the people for them to do what they want, which was to crucify him.
While ultimately it was a mixture of lies and truth that led to Jesus being crucified, the fact remains that the chief priests tried their best to rely on slander.
Methodology
There is a commonality in the approach of each of these examples. When analyzing the actions of the accusers in the cases of Nehemiah, Jeremiah, and Jesus, several striking common strategies and patterns emerge. These examples show how opposition—especially toward godly leadership and truth—often uses similar tactics.
In no particular order, in each instance of slander I just highlighted, the enemy implemented the following strategies: 1) false accusations, 2) manipulation of public perception, 3) the use of official channels to enforce justice, 4) targeting in the midst of righteous work, and finally 5) pressure to stop or retreat from God’s mission.
Let’s take a look at each of these tactics one by one. Starting with false accusations.
1. False Accusations to Undermine Credibility.
- Nehemiah: Nehemiah was accused of plotting a rebellion against the Persian King he worked for and he was accused of trying to make himself king of Judah (Nehemiah 6:6–7).
- Jeremiah: Accused of treason and being a traitor (Jeremiah 37:13).
- Jesus: Accused of blasphemy, threatening to destroy the temple, and claiming to be the son of God (Matthew 26:59–61).
Commonality: each person was painted as a political or religious threat
In each of these cases, the false accusations were crafted to paint the person as a political or religious threat.
False accusations that frame someone as a political or religious threat are highly effective tools in slander because 1) they exploit deep-seated fears in those who hear the false accusations, 2) they tend to provoke institutional power, and 3) false accusations almost always shift focus from truth to emotion. Here’s more on why this tactic is so effective.
● Exploits Fear of Disorder and Loss of Control
Accusations of political or religious subversion suggest that the individual threatens the social order, they threaten authority, or they pose a threat to public safety. These are threats that trigger emotional, reactive responses from both authorities and the public.
This matters because humans are deeply wired to protect sacred values. When someone is framed as attacking those sacred values (whether they are religious norms or national loyalty), people often abandon reason and act defensively. See Jonathan Haidt, The Righteous Mind (2012)
● Leverages Group Psychology and Mob Mentality
Labeling someone a political or religious threat is also effective because it leverages group psychology and mob mentality. This tends to rally the crowd which creates an “us vs. them” dynamic. The individual being slandered as a political or religious threat ends up becoming an outsider or enemy, which can justify harsh treatment against them in the name of preserving unity. In crowds, people become highly suggestible, especially when told their “group” is under attack. This makes slander of a political or religious nature especially powerful in igniting outrage.
● Redirects the Conversation from Message to Character
Labeling someone a political or religious threat by accusing them of rebellion, heresy, or blasphemy is effective because it redirects the conversation from being about the message to being about the person’s character. It avoids engaging with their actual ideas. Instead, it shifts focus to their perceived identity or danger. This is done to control public perception which involves creating emotional associations, not debating facts. Accusations that are tied to identity (e.g., “traitor,” “blasphemer”, “liar”) create lasting reputational damage regardless of what the truth actually is.
● Mobilizes Institutional Power
Labeling someone a political or religious threat is also effective because it mobilizes institutional power. When an accusation hits political or religious nerves, it often gives license to governmental or religious institutions to act swiftly. These systems are designed to neutralize perceived threats efficiently, sometimes at the cost of justice. Institutions, especially religious institutions, sometimes use discipline to control threats to their authority and their perception. False accusations are effective because they trigger institutional defense mechanisms.
● Reputation Damage is Hard to Reverse
Finally, labeling someone a political or religious threat is highly effective because reputation damage is VERY hard to reverse. Even after a person is vindicated, the stigma still lingers. Being accused of something that makes someone a political or religious threat often sticks in the public memory more than the actual truth. Initial impressions create what’s called cognitive anchors, and humans tend to stick with the first narrative they hear, even after it’s proven false. This is why we have to keep our mouth off of people unless we hear from God about a situation. We can end up perpetuating lasting tarnishes on a true man or woman or God’s reputation.
This tactic shows up repeatedly in Scripture—Jesus, Nehemiah, and Jeremiah were all painted as threats. Yes it was about their message, but it was really about protecting the systems their message challenged. In short, false accusations work because they:
Stir primal fears of chaos
Galvanize groupthink
Shift focus from ideas to identity
Justify institutional suppression
Leave long-lasting reputational damage
2. Manipulation of Public Perception.
Let’s look at the next part of the slander method the enemy used against God’s leaders which is manipulation of public perception.
Commonality: weaponization of public opinion.
All three accusers in our examples weaponized public opinion, which twisted the narrative to make the righteous person appear dangerous, heretical, or disloyal.
- Nehemiah’s enemies tried to make the people fear that a rebellion would break out.
- Jeremiah’s critics accused him of defecting to their enemies because that would turn public sentiment against him and ultimately lead the people to not believe any of his prophecies.
- Jesus’ accusers rallied the crowd and used religious influence to ensure He was condemned. By the time Pilate asked everyone wanted him to do with Jesus, the people in the crowd were asking that a rebellious murderer be released and yelling over and over for Jesus to be crucified.
We touched on public perception a little in the last tactic dealing with false accusations, but the manipulation of public perception and the weaponization of public opinion are extremely effective tools when it comes to slander because they exploit psychological biases, social pressures, and the dynamics of collective behavior.
What makes these tactics even more effective is that they tend to create long-lasting damage—even when the accusations are false—because perception often becomes reality in the public mind. So let’s take a closer look at some reasons why this method works.
● People Respond More to Emotion Than Truth. Slander that manipulates perception is effective because emotional narratives overpower logic AND they overpower facts and truth. When slander triggers fear, outrage, or disgust, then people are more likely to accept it without critically examining the evidence.
● Repetition of False Information Increases Believability. The more often a lie is repeated publicly, the more believable it becomes—this is a phenomenon known as the “illusory truth effect.” People who want to manipulate public opinion know that visibility breeds credibility, even without proof.
Studies have shown over and over that repeated exposure to false claims and lies makes people more likely to accept them as true—especially when the slander aligns with pre-existing beliefs or suspicions that a person already has.
● Public Shame is a Powerful Social Weapon because it isolates the victim. Public opinion acts as a social enforcer of sorts, because it pressures others to distance themselves from the person being accused of wrongdoing—even if they know the truth. Think about how Peter denied Jesus three times when people tried to connect him to Jesus. He was distancing himself.
● The Accused Must Prove a Negative. Once a person has been slandered, they are forced into the difficult position of proving what didn’t happen, which is much harder than the accuser simply making a claim. This is nearly impossible which is why our justice system in America has the standard of innocent until proven guilty. A person is not always able to prove that they did not do something. There is no way for me to prove that I did not drink water this morning. How would I even begin to show that. Instead, the person accusing me of drinking water must have evidence that I drank it. The court of public opinion rarely waits for a defense. Slander sticks because public perception resists change.
When used skillfully, slander that manipulates public opinion not only discredits the target but also deters others from standing with them, which makes it a potent weapon.
Ready to keep going? Good.
The next method the enemy uses when deploying slander against true followers of Christ is one that has been used time and time again, and it is the use of official channels to enforce injustice.
3. Use of Official Channels to Enforce Injustice
Commonality: The accusers against Nehemiah, Jeremiah, and Jesus all used systems of power and influence—whether political, religious, or legal—to try to silence or eliminate their target.
- Nehemiah’s opponents wrote an open letter to make the accusation appear official and widespread (Nehemiah 6:5).
- Jeremiah was seized by an officer of the guard and taken before the city officials and judged by princes based on the slander used against him (Jeremiah 38).
- Jesus was tried by the Sanhedrin, then handed to Roman authorities with charges adjusted to suit their legal framework. And by Roman authorities, I mean the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. They did this because it was only the governor who had the authority in the land to put someone to death. He had the power of execution. So the chief priests and other church leaders needed to convince him to put Jesus to death.
The use of systems of power and influence—such as government, religious institutions, or legal structures—is an effective strategy for silencing or eliminating a target because it grants slanderers legitimacy, amplifies reach, and neutralizes resistance under the guise of law, order, or morality. Here’s more on why this approach works so powerfully:
● Institutional Power Adds Legitimacy.
When an accusation comes from or is supported by an established system (like a court, church, or state), it appears more credible, even if it’s false. In Jeremiah’s case, the accusation came from an officer in the royal guard. The chief priests and elders sent a mob to arrest Jesus and he was tried by the Sanhedrin, which was the great council in Jerusalem. It was composed of 71 members that included scribes, elders, prominent members of high priestly families, and the high priest who was the president of the assembly. The Sanhedrin wasn’t just any council, they were the council where the most important causes were brought. Clock that.
When a matter is heard by a tribunal as powerful as this, there is no question about the legitimacy of the verdict they reach.
● Systems Have Enforcement Capabilities.
The use of official channels to enforce justice is further effective because they have enforcement capabilities and can take action against the accused. Unlike gossip or personal attacks, institutions can actually punish, imprison, censor, or execute. Their power is not just symbolic—it’s actionable. This turns slander into something that has real-world consequences. A lie can get someone thrown into prison like it did with Jeremiah, or killed, as it did with Jesus.
● People Fear Opposing Powerful Systems.
The use of power and influence through official channels is also effective because even if people believe the target is innocent, most of them will stay silent or comply in order to avoid becoming targets themselves. Institutional backing causes bystanders to fall in line out of self-preservation
● It Shifts Focus from Personal Attack to 'Justice' or 'Protection.'
If we look a bit further, we’ll also see that using official systems reframes slander as a matter of law, doctrine, or public safety—it no longer looks like a personal vendetta. This masks the malice and deception behind procedure and it gives the illusion of due process.
● It Creates a Precedent That Silences Others.
The last reason that I will cover on why using official channels to enforce the narrative is so effective is because it creates a precedent that silences others. When systems are weaponized against a target, it sends a message, and that message is: “This is what happens to those who speak out.”
It puts the kabosh on any dissent that might be brewing and in turn protects the accuser/the liar’s position. This is one of the main goals of bringing false accusations against a follower of Christ—to silence them and those who have the same stance as them.
It has been said for many years that systems of power often create what authors have called a narrative monopoly—which is so true. This narrative monopoly works by discrediting or removing voices that challenge dominant interests, while using institutional levers to maintain control.
● Biblical Echoes
- Jesus was condemned by both religious (Sanhedrin) and civil (Rome) systems.
- Jeremiah was imprisoned and nearly executed via legal structures.
- Nehemiah was nearly set up through letters and false reports made to sound official by leaders of neighboring cities.
These examples show that the most effective silencing often happens not through mobs alone, but when power systems are manipulated to make evil look righteous and to make righteousness appear evil. And we know what God has to say about that. “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20, NASB
Ready for the fourth method? The fourth strategy the enemy used in slandering God’s chosen was targeting in the midst of righteous work.
4. Targeting in the Midst of Righteous Work
Commonality: The slander came while each figure was in the middle of fulfilling God’s assignment.
- Nehemiah was actively rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall.
- Jeremiah was faithfully delivering God’s word.
- Jesus was healing, teaching truth, and preparing to lay down His life for God’s children.
This drills home the fact that resistance often increases in the midst of obedience to God.
Jeremiah’s message was true. He delivered the word of the Lord about Judah’s destruction at the hands of the Babylonians and the king consistently tried to silence him. We know His message from God was accurate because while Jeremiah was still imprisoned, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon breached Jerusalem’s walls, entered the city, advanced against Jerusalem tearing down its walls, and laid siege to it with his ENTIRE army. Jeremiah 39:1
Let’s take a look at the final part of Satan’s slander strategy which is his main objective, and that is the application of pressure to the person being slandered so that they will stop or retreat from God’s mission.
5. Pressure to Stop or Retreat from God’s Mission
Commonality: The goal was not just to ruin their name but to derail their mission through intimidation, fear, and/or manipulation.
- Nehemiah was told to meet in the temple (a trap) and pressured to pause the work he was doing and leading in rebuilding the wall.
- Jeremiah was thrown in a dungeon, isolated, and told to stop prophesying.
- Jesus was mocked to save Himself since he was the son of God. He was also placed in a position to deny His identity because if He did, he would have been able to escape death.
What Do We Do With This?
Now that we know this, what do we do with this information? I’m definitely not just sharing it just because. This is a strategy that the enemy will use and is already using against people who are truly doing the work of God and being the hands and feet of Jesus.
Our responsibility is to internalize this information and make sure that we are not deceived by slander. Here are two quick tips:
- Be slow to judge. Nothing is what it seems. In the days to come, many things will convincingly look a certain way. So much so, that the logical thinker would certainly come to the conclusion that what they are seeing is what actually is. As Jesus was being crucified, the scribes and elders, and chief priests mocked him saying:
…“He saved others, but he cannot save himself! He is the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God rescue him now—if he takes pleasure in him! For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” In the same way even the criminals who were crucified with him taunted him.” Matthew 27:41-44, CSB
It really looked like Jesus was not who he purported himself to be because SURELY, the Son of God could save himself from crucifixion.
- Rely on the Holy Spirit. God is our guide. His spirit lives on the inside of us and He will guide us into all truth.
Throughout both Scripture and history, we see that slander is rarely random—it is strategic. The examples of Nehemiah, Jeremiah, and Jesus reveal a clear pattern: slander thrives when it is framed as a threat to political or religious order, amplified through public perception, and enforced by systems of power. These tactics are effective not because they are rooted in truth, but because they exploit human psychology, social dynamics, and institutional authority.
When a person is falsely accused of being a subversive or heretic, the focus shifts from their mission to their perceived danger. This emotional framing makes people more reactive and less discerning. When slander is repeated and spread publicly, it activates the mob mentality and the shame mechanism, isolating the target and deterring their supporters. When institutional systems join the attack, they give slander the force of law, theology, or policy, making resistance feel not only dangerous but almost impossible.
These patterns are not just tactics of ancient enemies—they are timeless tools of spiritual warfare. Jesus warned that truth-bearers would be persecuted, not always for what they do, but for what they represent. The enemy fears truth, and so he wages war through confusion, character assassination, and corruption of justice.
Yet in every case—Nehemiah’s wall was completed, Jeremiah’s words proved true, and Jesus rose from the dead—God vindicated His servants. While slander may succeed in the short term, those who remain faithful to God’s call will be upheld by His hand. In the end, truth is not just a concept—it is a Person, and no lie can prevail against Him.
“No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn.”
— Isaiah 54:17
Want More?
If you enjoyed this episode, then you may also enjoy the episode of the show about the fear of success and how it hinders purpose or this episode detailing what to expect when operating in your purpose.
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