Rethinking the Notion of "The Snitch": Why Being a Snitch is Biblical

I've always found it a bit odd when throughout my years, consistently, I have been called a snitch. In every circumstance, I would quickly be scoffed at and back slapped by the word “snitch”. There was no embarrassment or guilt, but always confusion and anger on why being a snitch was a bad thing.

People in the hood kill if you are a snitch. Friends abandon you if you snitch on them. Family harbor bitterness and even disown you if you even think about snitching on them or other family members, because, well, we all know doing that is the evil of all evils.

I was always that person. I would be the one to tell on someone and proudly do so; aware, but apathetic of the consequences.

I vividly remember always telling on my brother when he would do something wrong like trying to get over on my mom. I still do.....as of yesterday. I remember always hoping I would find that criminal and turn him in for a $50,000 reward. My friend and I even came up with a phrase that said "Snitches get stitches full of money". Let's not even get started on the number of classmates I have told on for cheating, either on me or someone else. No lie, I have literally, during a test, said out loud to the teacher, the person’s name who was cheating on me in the midst of silence in a room filled class.

I can also remember this one time in class, trying to find a way to not snitch and get beat up in the hall way, but also find another route to justice. My classmates and I were taking a test in a 9th grade geography class. Now this test was a little different because we had remotes to plug in our answer on the remotes themselves to get an immediate score back at the end of the test. The guy sitting next to me had a tendency to glance at my paper for answers, often, like every test often, but thank God for peripheral vision. Unlucky for him, I would circle the wrong answer on the paper, which he copied from, and plug in the right answer on my remote. How convenient it was to get our scores back right away and at the same time. I finished my test and submitted my answers and got a B and looked over at him spazzing out at what his grade was. He turned over to me and asked me what grade I got, hoping that it would align with his. I told him straight up that I got a B. His reaction was priceless. I casually asked him his grade, with frustration, he said D.

All this to say that I am and have always been “the snitch”. An unapologetic one.

I remember a situation with one of my good friends a couple months back where he had a dispute with one of his friends over a girl and something she posted on Snapchat about his friend (thinking she was making fun of him). He wouldn’t tell his friend about it because he didn’t want to be labeled a snitch, however, he told his friend (who liked the girl that made fun of him) the girl is not a good girl.

I was a bit confused. Why wouldn’t he tell his friend straight up, but instead beat around the bush to be vague enough to not be labeled a snitch? Wouldn’t it be just and right to speak up for your friend when he knowingly likes a girl, but doesn’t know she does not like him back and is even making fun of him? That whole situation is thankfully resolved, but still confused about the drama.

All in all, why does it matter if I tell on every person I catch cheating off of someone else’s work? It is right for me to notify the teacher and let them know that the person is “stealing” from another person and using the items taken as their own original work. To not do so would be injustice.

It is right for me to tell my mom that my brother went behind her back and pulled from his closet a controller to his XBOX when she took his controllers for being disobedient. To not do so is injustice.

It is right for me to turn someone in if I see them rob a bank. To not do so is injustice.

It is right for me to notify my manager when I see someone drinking under the age of 21 at a work related event around other managers. To not do so is injustice.

It is right for me to notify the office, as a substitute teacher, when I see a student or students cussing at and bullying another student in class. To not do so is injustice.

Some might say, “Who am I to tell on someone else for something? It’s none of my business”. However where did we get the idea that it’s not our business? I think a better way to phrase it, is to say, “It is my choice to speak up or not”. The reality is that when you have seen someone commit a crime or injustice, it is now your business. You have the choice to speak up or not. This is where the heart of the matter is. We think that speaking up turns us over to shallowness and cowardice.

Where did we get the notion that telling on someone for a wrong they have done is wrong? That idea is evil and twisted. I mean, all that a snitch is, is someone who informs an authority figure of a bad behavior. We have twisted it to mean “a shallow person who tells on someone else with hate for gain”. Though there are some with bad intentions, not all have them. This is where the idea flops.

The bible has a great amount to say about the term snitching. All over the bible is commands to speak up for the innocent and the least of these. You can find all over where it is sin if you do not do what is right or speak out against injustice. Below are a list of examples of what the bible teaches about snitching and justice.

“Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin,” (James 4:17)

“Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent,” will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations. But it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come on them.” (Proverbs 24:24-25)

“For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them.” (Isaiah 61:8)

“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow”. (Isaiah 1:17)

“Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.” (Leviticus 19:15)

“Woe to those who enact evil statutes And to those who constantly record unjust decisions, So as to deprive the needy of justice And rob the poor of My people of their rights, So that widows may be their spoil And that they may plunder the orphans.” (Isaiah 10:1-2)

“Blessed are those who act justly, who always do what is right.” (Psalms 106:3)

Overall, the line is drawn between what is just and what is unjust. As a society, we tend to think keeping silent is just and telling on someone for a wrong they have committed is unjust. Because of this, when we read in Isaiah that those who act justly and do right always are blessed, we don’t have any discernment with what true justice is. If we think snitching is unjust we cannot heed the words written in the book of Isaiah or anywhere in scripture that talks about justice and speaking up when someone commits an evil act, no matter how small it may seem. We tend to think blessings come and punishment is withheld when we are silent, but the bible teaches us that when we speak up for someone’s wrongdoings, the Lord is pleased with them and that punishment comes when we are silent on witnesses of injustice.

When we tell on someone for a wrong they have done, whether it is a stranger we have witnessed break into a home or a family member being dishonest in their speech or actions, our heart should be set on reconciliation and restoration, never hurt and bitterness. Snitching is often pursued because of either envy, bitterness, or lack of compassion. Snitching should always end with speaking up for the justice of the innocent, unknowing, and, helpless.

Who cares if you are labeled a snitch or a tattletale (first grade snitch)? You are upholding a characteristic of the Supreme King. Justice.