False accusation elicits different forms of reactions, depending on the personality involved. But common reactions include, surprise and disbelief, denial of the accusation, anger and frustration; a desire to prove one’s innocence, and a willingness to support all efforts to investigate the situation. Most times, people tend to tackle issues of false accusations by calling on God for His divine intervention while also providing witnesses to prove their innocence. Some children in conversation with BETTY AMUKPO shared their views.
‘I take it to God in prayers to vindicate me’
Handling false accusations can be challenging, but the Bible offers guidance. Proverbs 12:19, says, “Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.” When I am being accused falsely, I try as much as possible to stay grounded in truth, patience, and I trust in God’s justice to overcome such false accusations. The Bible in Romans 12:18 -19 admonishes us not to “Avenge ourselves, but rather give place to wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Matthew 5: 11-12 also advises that “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you”. Whenever I am falsely accused, I take it to God in prayers to fight for me and vindicate me.

• Blossom Akalezi
‘Find your own witnesses and present evidence’
False accusation is a claim of wrong doing that is untrue and otherwise unsupported by facts. In the Bible, false accusation is speaking falsely in any matter, lying, equivocation, and any way devising and designing to deceive our neighbour. The ninth commandment said that “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour” in Exodus 20:16. Bearing false witness or false accusation is bad. In the law, the punishment for bearing false witness is six months in prison. It is very wrong; it is a sin against the ten commandments. In Exodus 23:1, it is written, “You shall not bear a false report; do not join your hand…” You can handle false accusation by asking questions, giving and saying parable to people, by advising a person rightly, by withdrawing from the accusers. False accusation is a vice and not a virtue because it is a sin.
You can handle false accusation through the under-listed means:
• Stay calm.
• Hire an attorney.
• Gather evidence.
• Find your own witnesses and present evidence.
In the Catholic Church, you handle false accusation by:
• Praying for your accusers and offer up your offering.
• Reacting prudently.
• Seeking the truth.
• Trusting in God’s justice, not in man.
Please, my parents and fellow children do not be among those who bear false witness.

• Anyasor Chibuike
‘I will not fight nor use provocative words’
It’s a painful experience. As a child of God, if false accusations are made against me, I will not fight nor use provocative words, rather, I will put everything in God’s hands. Matthew 19:26 says, “With God all things are possible.” Believe and hope that one day the truth will come out.

• Umennadi Francis Chibunna
‘Manage your feelings; be calm’
When accusation tries to frighten you, respond with prayer and stay calm. Do not repay evil with evil. Always defend your case by speaking the truth and continue to walk with integrity and honourably. Matthew 5:11-12; says “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil lies against you because you are my follower. Be happy and glad for a great reward is kept for you in heaven” Exodus 23:1 says, “You shall not bear a false report, do not join hand with a wicked man to be a malicious witness.”
Manage your feelings, determine the proper way to handle the false accusation by being:
• Calm
• Ask for the intervention of the Holy Spirit
• Walk away
• Respond with prayer.

• Chima Anita
‘I do always try to prove my innocence and always pray to God to reveal the truth’
Handling false accusations has always been a difficult situation for me because of my emotions. I do always try to prove my innocence and always pray to God to reveal the truth for all to see. Also, I do rely on the Bible to address issues like this. Psalm 35:19-20 states, “Do not let those who gloat over me who are my enemies without cause; do not let those who hate me without reason maliciously wink the eye. They do not speak peaceably, but devise false accusations against those who live quietly in the land.”

• Eyinade Gideon
‘Respond with prayer, strength and courage’
When false accusations tries to frighten you, respond with prayer, strength and courage. Nehemiah 6:9-10 says “They (the enemies) were all trying to frighten us with false accusations, thinking our hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed/unfinished, but I prayed to the Lord of host and He answered and surprised them.”

• Victory Stephen
‘God will make the truth known; let Him fight for you’
The Bible makes it clear that false accusations are evil and should have no place in the life of a child of God. “When false accusations try to frighten you, respond with prayer and strength”, just like Nehemiah (Nehemiah 6:9-10). Do not be afraid when false accusations try to intimidate you and give you a bad name. Joseph, Moses, David and even our friend, Jesus, were falsely accused too, but God vindicated them. If you have been wrongly accused of something, know that God knows. He not only knows; He has the power to make the truth known. Let Him fight this battle for you. Let Him expose the finger-pointers. No amount of convincing, arguing or cajoling another party to believe you can do the work that simple prayer can do. Yes, we should be responsible enough to try to clear the air. After that, the battle is the Lord’s. If you are suffering, Jesus can sympathise with you, especially if you are falsely accused of something. He was hanged on the cross because of a false accusation.

• Abigail Martins
‘Pray to God for strength and vindication’
False accusation can be devastating and can damage one’s personality. Be strong and pray to God for strength and vindication, and also pray to God to expose the accuser. Susanna was falsely accused in the book of Daniel 13, she cried out to God, and God vindicated her. when you are falsely accused, be calm and let God fight for you, Exodus 14:14.

• Chibuike Agnes