Our thoughts,
Some brethren who might have been family and friends will distance themselves from you, withdraw from you, and some even blindly and bitterly condemn you with the cunning slander of another, never once reaching out to hear your defense against the lies. I was once guilty of being that way, participating in unrighteous thoughts and actions against faithful saints at the hands of a deceitful manipulator, never contacting them to know their side of the account, unquestioningly trusting a divisive sower of discord. I mean, why would a strong "gospel preacher" who's been to "the best preaching school" ever steer me wrong, right? But by the passion of my conscience, I have since spoken to those brethren I had "thrown under the bus," and we have now healed broken bridges; they quickly forgave me once they saw my heart producing fruits of repentance.
To live through a harsh reception of wisdom can be most challenging to persevere, but not impossible with God. If and when this happens, take a breath and realize that you had misjudged those you thought were your "friends," learn from the lesson, and embrace the blessing of discernment and insight between the faithful and the corrupt.
Personally, in our lives, we've had to live through this fact of our faith two memorable times; the first slander campaign was in regards to our required presence at the FHU lectureships; slanderers made us out to be approving of all sorts of sinful things. I still remember getting home at the dorm to an online onslaught of attacks and hateful rhetoric; I could not fully understand what I had done so "wicked." The other slander campaign came years later at the hands of psychological abusers, and it was to diminish our integrity and honesty in the mission field, to cover up a deceitful sin they were habitually guilty of practicing throughout the chaos of their resume.
Ultimately, all these attempts to destroy our trust in Christ only strengthened us in His blessings, humbling us by His grace and saving us from toxic sources.
Dear friends, don't give up; putting Jesus first when hostilities appear will bless you with the ability to recognize good from evil.
Do NOT go through this life without the charity of Jesus; cling to kind and loving brethren; through them in Christ, you will find hope and peace.
Your servant,
SM