Gossip
Insights by Larry Andes | What in the World are you Saying?
Me Gossip? As a child I learned that I was responsible for the good and bad things that I said. Sometimes, we would be having a discussion as a family and one of us kids would say something that was not right and Mom or Dad would ask the question, "What in the world are you saying?" It was accountability time. Did we know what we were speaking to be fact? Was it true? Was it exaggerated? Should it be discussed at all?
Not long ago I read an article entitled "Harmless Gossip Falls Heavily On Ears" from the Dear Abby column reported by Abigail Van Buren. A lady who wrote her was seriously concerned about the harm to a child who heard adults be polite to a person's face at church events but when one of them wasn't present, the adults would say mean things about her as she walked away. The lady said that her mother always defended this behavior as a harmless pass-time. She wrote:
"I don't know whether or not it hurt the people who were the brunt of gossip, but I know it harmed me and the children who were listening. Their behavior taught me not to trust anyone, especially people who were nice to my face. I had trouble making friends with other girls because I was afraid to open up and reveal my feelings for fear that whatever I said would become grist for the gossip mill. After a year of therapy, I have finally found the self-confidence I lacked. My sisters haven't been so lucky. Neither has friends. Both are married to abusive men. Abby please inform your readers that there is nothing 'harmless' about gossip, especially to children who may overhear it."
In the Book of Numbers the nation of Israel was brought to the edge of the Promised Land called Canaan. Before they entered the land they sent out a scouting party to see what was ahead of them. They stayed forty days and when they returned they all had a bad report except for Joshua and Caleb. Today, too many Christians give evil reports and speak negative words and listen to them as well. Scripture classifies these people as busybodies (1 Peter 4:15), whisperers (Psalms 41:7), gossipers who magnify and sensationalize rumors and partial information or slanderers (Numbers 14:36) who seek to destroy someone's reputation with damaging facts, distortion of facts or evil suspicions.
The evil report that the majority brought back from the Promised Land spread quickly to a million and a half people within a few hours. The evil report cost them their lives as the slanderers wandered for 40 years and died in the wilderness. Gossip and slander has no place in the lifestyle of Christian people. Never!
This is the response from Dear Abby. It is called Nobody's Friend and is written by an unknown author:
"My name is Gossip. I have no respect for justice. I maim without killing. I break hearts and ruin lives. I am cunning and malicious and gather strength with age. The more I am quoted the more I am believed. My victims are helpless. They cannot protect themselves against me because I have no name or face. To track me down is impossible. The harder I try, the more elusive I become. I am nobody's friend. Once I tarnish a reputation, it is never the same. I topple governments and wreck marriages. I ruin careers and cause sleepless nights, heartaches and indigestion. I make innocent people cry in their pillows. Even my name hisses. I am called Gossip. I make headlines and headaches." Readers, before you repeat a story, ask yourself: Is it true? Is it harmless? Is it necessary? If it isn't, don't repeat it.
A young man once wrote: "All lies eventually die, but they may kill you on the way to their grave."
Jesus said in Luke 6:27: "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." The word love used in this portion of scripture comes from the Greek word, agape, which means "in a social or moral sense". May the words you speak be loving and kind words that make God smile! It is easy to say you are a Christian and be a hypocrite but it can be hard to live as a believer in Jesus Christ by walking the walk. Doing the right thing is usually the hard thing and you may stand alone or in the minority.
May your speech be responsible, honest, loving and fair. If you have failed in this area seek forgiveness from God and the people you have harmed. You can live at a higher level. Do it, ask the people to forgive you that you have harmed, go forward with changed conduct, and enjoy your new freedom in Christ!
Me Gossip? As a child I learned that I was responsible for the good and bad things that I said. Sometimes, we would be having a discussion as a family and one of us kids would say something that was not right and Mom or Dad would ask the question, "What in the world are you saying?" It was accountability time. Did we know what we were speaking to be fact? Was it true? Was it exaggerated? Should it be discussed at all?
Not long ago I read an article entitled "Harmless Gossip Falls Heavily On Ears" from the Dear Abby column reported by Abigail Van Buren. A lady who wrote her was seriously concerned about the harm to a child who heard adults be polite to a person's face at church events but when one of them wasn't present, the adults would say mean things about her as she walked away. The lady said that her mother always defended this behavior as a harmless pass-time. She wrote:
"I don't know whether or not it hurt the people who were the brunt of gossip, but I know it harmed me and the children who were listening. Their behavior taught me not to trust anyone, especially people who were nice to my face. I had trouble making friends with other girls because I was afraid to open up and reveal my feelings for fear that whatever I said would become grist for the gossip mill. After a year of therapy, I have finally found the self-confidence I lacked. My sisters haven't been so lucky. Neither has friends. Both are married to abusive men. Abby please inform your readers that there is nothing 'harmless' about gossip, especially to children who may overhear it."
In the Book of Numbers the nation of Israel was brought to the edge of the Promised Land called Canaan. Before they entered the land they sent out a scouting party to see what was ahead of them. They stayed forty days and when they returned they all had a bad report except for Joshua and Caleb. Today, too many Christians give evil reports and speak negative words and listen to them as well. Scripture classifies these people as busybodies (1 Peter 4:15), whisperers (Psalms 41:7), gossipers who magnify and sensationalize rumors and partial information or slanderers (Numbers 14:36) who seek to destroy someone's reputation with damaging facts, distortion of facts or evil suspicions.
The evil report that the majority brought back from the Promised Land spread quickly to a million and a half people within a few hours. The evil report cost them their lives as the slanderers wandered for 40 years and died in the wilderness. Gossip and slander has no place in the lifestyle of Christian people. Never!
This is the response from Dear Abby. It is called Nobody's Friend and is written by an unknown author:
"My name is Gossip. I have no respect for justice. I maim without killing. I break hearts and ruin lives. I am cunning and malicious and gather strength with age. The more I am quoted the more I am believed. My victims are helpless. They cannot protect themselves against me because I have no name or face. To track me down is impossible. The harder I try, the more elusive I become. I am nobody's friend. Once I tarnish a reputation, it is never the same. I topple governments and wreck marriages. I ruin careers and cause sleepless nights, heartaches and indigestion. I make innocent people cry in their pillows. Even my name hisses. I am called Gossip. I make headlines and headaches." Readers, before you repeat a story, ask yourself: Is it true? Is it harmless? Is it necessary? If it isn't, don't repeat it.
A young man once wrote: "All lies eventually die, but they may kill you on the way to their grave."
Jesus said in Luke 6:27: "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." The word love used in this portion of scripture comes from the Greek word, agape, which means "in a social or moral sense". May the words you speak be loving and kind words that make God smile! It is easy to say you are a Christian and be a hypocrite but it can be hard to live as a believer in Jesus Christ by walking the walk. Doing the right thing is usually the hard thing and you may stand alone or in the minority.
May your speech be responsible, honest, loving and fair. If you have failed in this area seek forgiveness from God and the people you have harmed. You can live at a higher level. Do it, ask the people to forgive you that you have harmed, go forward with changed conduct, and enjoy your new freedom in Christ!