The children of these complainers listen with open ears and receive the poison of disaffection. Parents are thus blindly closing the avenues through which the hearts of the children might be reached. How many families season their daily meals with doubt and questionings. They dissect the characters of their friends, and serve them up as a dainty dessert. A precious bit of slander is passed around the board to be commented upon, not only by adults, but by children. In this God is dishonored. Jesus said: “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.” Therefore Christ is slighted and abused by those who slander His servants. {4T 195.1}

Disse klageres børn lytter med åbne øren og indsuger utilfredshedens gift. Forældre lukker således i blindhed de døre, gennem hvilke børnenes hjerter ville kunne nås. Hvor mange familier er der ikke, som krydrer deres daglige måltider med spørgsmål og tvivl! De kritiserer deres venners karakter sønder og sammen og serverer dem som en lækker dessert. En kostelig sladderhistorie sendes bordet rundt til bemærkninger ikke blot fra de voksne men fra børnene. Derved vanæres Gud. Jesus sagde: »Hvad I har gjort imod een af mine mindste brødre der, har I gjort imod mig.« Det er derfor Kristus, de ringeagter og taler ilde om, når de bagtaler hans tjenere.