Last week I mentioned how Satan can affect our attitude with his accusations: "He turns one or two to envy, jealousy and resentment over an imagined injustice (‘Look what God did!’)—then into disloyalty" (Mystery of the Ages, pages 85-86, hard copy version).

Satan’s methods have not changed over the centuries. He works the same way today as he did back then, before the creation of man.

Instead of being influenced by this attitude, when we hear accusations against a brother or sister in the faith, we should remember what God tells us about making accusations: "One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established" (Deuteronomy 19:15).

In fact, in ancient Israel if the accusation involved a sin worthy of death (idolatry, for example), then the witnesses had to be the ones to cast the first stones: "Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness. The hands of the witnesses shall be the first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So you shall put away the evil from among you" (Deuteronomy 17:6-7).

Making accusations against a brother or sister is serious business in God’s eyes!

The principle of Deuteronomy 19:15 is also part of Jesus’ instruction for us in the New Testament (Matthew 18:15). We are to go our brother privately and seek to resolve the sin that separates us.

When someone comes to us and says, "Did you hear about . . ." and then makes an accusation against a brother or sister, we should ask two questions:

1. Are you a first-hand witness?
2. If so, why aren’t you following the process outlined in Matthew 18:15?

Of course, there is a different second question if the person is not a first-hand witness: Why are you a talebearer?

Satan is a roaring lion who seeks to destroy us (1 Peter 5:8). In an attempt to make us bitter, he often spews out accusations against his favorite targets, God and the brethren. Let’s be on guard against his attempts to succeed with us as he did with the angels who followed him in his rebellion against God.

With these thoughts I wish us all a rewarding Sabbath!