Jesus stayed silent when the high priest accused him falsely. The speaker argues silence protects your character while the slanderer's words reveal theirs. Speaking back gets twisted against you, so endure and let God handle it.
This is how Jesus handled slander. Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you? But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. While there are times when speaking out is the necessary thing to do, generally speaking, the best response to slander is silence. Your silence speaks to your character, Their slanderous speech speaks to theirs. When you respond to someone who is committed to seeing you in a certain way, even your reply will be warped and then used against you. Yes, it can be painful. Yes, some will believe your critics, but stay silent and let the Lord handle it.
