It is unfortunate that the Bible must deal with negative qualities and expose the baser character of men in and out of the church, but that must be done when necessary. Evidently even the early church was beset with problem people, as suggested by some of the statements made by the inspired penmen. There were false teachers and spiritual seducers (2 Tim. 3:12-13; 2 Pet 2:14-21; 1 Cor. 5). Paul wrote of some who were "proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness, from such withdraw thyself" (1 Tim. 6:4-5). It is a study of the sin of "evil surmisings" that forms the basis of this article.
The NASV translates the phrase "evil suspicions". Hence, evil surmisings would be inferences regarding another's behavior; such inferences being made without regard to sufficient evidence and without just cause. When one observes the sins with which evil surmising is listed, he is acutely aware of the gravity of that sin. The evil surmiser is classified among those who with perversity of mind, desolation of spirit, and a warped concept of Christianity.
Evil surmising is evidence of an uncharitable disposition. In his beautiful passage on love, Paul contends that love is a quality that "rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things" (1 Cor. 13:6-7). This tells us that Christians must not place the worst possible construction on another's actions or words without proper substantiating evidence. Evil surmisers, however, are capable of concocting sin in YOUR life if they cannot easily detect what they are looking for! Such people never see any good in others but will be quick to imagine all evil. This is a miserable way to live, but it is the way chosen by so many.
Evil surmisers are not as quick to grant to their brethren the same charitableness that they expect to be shown toward them. The philosophy behind this is: "You be kind to me and think the best of me, but I don't trust you!" Such low suspicions of our brethren rob us of the fullness of fellowship that should be enjoyed. The New Testament rule is "receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God" (Rom. 15:7). In the context of this statement is a strong indictment against factionalism that occasions unfair judgment of one another based on personal opinions that one has toward the other (Note Romans 14).
Jealous for a faction may be fueled by evil surmisings. It is so easy to degrade and defame others to boost "my group". Mutual support is the rule of the New Testament. "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man on the things of others" (Phil. 2:3-4). "Lowliness of mind" and esteeming others better than self is not the way of the evil surmiser! He is so afraid that someone else is going to get ahead of him.
Evil surmisings can foster slander. The case of Job is an appropriate example. Seeing Job in the pits of despair, three friends of his heaped on him allegations of terrible sin in his life. They reasoned that such suffering could only be the divine penalty imposed for sin. These men could not wait to learn what awful deed Job had done! Job's response is most caustic; he labeled these "friends" as "forgers of lies...physicians of no value" (Job 13:4). He needed help rather than unjust criticism (Job 16:2-5). Evil surmisers today relish their negative estimates of others even when those estimates are totally groundless.
Evil surmisings are evidence of presumption. Such men presume to question the motive of others when they do not fully accord with them in every detail. Motive judgment and heart inspection is God's business. Of course, there is the necessity of discerning where sin and error are clearly evident. Jesus forbids presumptive accusations (Mat. 7:1-5), but in the same chapter He approves proper discrimination in the fruit of lives (vv. 15-20). Overt sin must be dealt with (1 Cor. 5; 2 Thes. 3:6-15; 1 Tim. 5:20-25), but personal suspicion of another is NOT the ground for such action!
Evil surmising is an attitude problem that needs to be addressed.. If left unchecked, much harm can be done to the body of Christ. There are enough suspicions among us without manufacturing our own!