Some sins are VERY deceptive..and will rob your peace..just as fast as porn or watching an ungodly TV show..One of those isthe sin of gossip."Hell itself is set on fire by the tongue. "James 3 Some more names for gossip letting off some steam, sharing a concern about so and so.. I hate to talk about so and so BUT...this has been bothering me.. now this is off the record.. I'm concerned about .... Not to mention any names BUT.. I've got a few pet peeves and heres who they are..[8D] What is gossip? Gossip is when we compare ourselves with others ..and tell someone about it..this my friends come from pride..Jesus instructed us in Matthew 5 how to deal with those who persecute you , hate you and use you..and get on your nerves..Gossip was not one of the options.. Jesus spole these words to his disciples when they were comparing themselves with other believers. "you don't know what spirit you are of."
Good post. I attended a Sunday service at a building I had never been to before and do not know what "denomination" it was, recently. (I am a Christian and so were they)
The "sermon" was on this subject and it was one of those moments where I thought "I knew that before but I have not been really aware of it in my life"
When we "gossip" we first pass judgement on someone and then offer our sin to others . (a chain of sin as gossip is most often passed on and on and on) If we listen to "gossip" and repeat it, we are accepting the sin someone has offered to us. If we speak out against the "gossip" others offer us, we may help them to stop the gossip and end a chain of sin from continuing.
However we are put into the position that we now "judge" what is "gossip".
Good post.Thanks Robin..I attended a Sunday service at a building I had never been to before and do not know what "denomination" it was, recently. (I am a Christian and so were they)
The "sermon" was on this subject and it was one of those moments where I thought "I knew that before but I have not been really aware of it in my life" I hear ya..I find it sneaks up on me after I've had a victorious time in Christ..Pride can manifest itself in many ways..Basically when we cut down someone we are saying we are better than that individual..and if we look real hard..no one is better than anyone..
When we "gossip" we first pass judgement on someone and then offer our sin to others .Yes sir...(a chain of sin as gossip is most often passed on and on and on) as James 3says..like a forest fire..If we listen to "gossip" and repeat it, we are accepting the sin someone has offered to us. True..but as sensitive mature Christians I've noticed if you don't kindle the flame the gossiper will usually stop and you can see clearly to minister to that person's hurt..
If we speak out against the "gossip" others offer us, we may help them to stop the gossip and end a chain of sin from continuing.99% of the timethis can be done in gentleness..The lashing out is generallydone from fear and hurt.. However we are put into the position that we now "judge" what is "gossip". On this ..let your conscience be your guide.. God's Peace
I've been in situations where the "gossip" is as thick as smoke in the room. Usually, I'll interject with "I'm glad you lot won't be judging ME when I reach the pearly gates!"
But I also do my best to not "fuel the fire" of gossip if I'm in a one on one situation. Imay eventry to play advocate for the one who isn't present to defend him/herself. I must confess, I don't always succeed in this endeavor. I sometimes even slip into instigating the gossip myself[]
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My pastor spoke about gossip among other things today. The pastor told it much better but here is the jist of it.
There was a man who finally went to a pastor and told him he had been spreading untrue gossip about him. The man asked for forgiveness and if there was anything he could do to make up for it.
The pastor told this man he would forgive him but wanted him to bring a feather pillow to church on Saturday. The man was puzzled but did so. Once at the church, the pastor took the man to the church rooftop and had him slash the pillow, causing all of the feathers to float across the countryside.
The pastor then told the man that he could make up for the gossip by picking up all of the feathers. The man said that was impossible, the feathers were everywhere. The pastor told the man that was true and the feathers were just like his gossip.
The moral of the story was that it's literally impossible to undo the damage you cause with gossip. By gossiping, you aren't solving any problems, just making them worse. It was pretty amazing to listen to and as Chuck7 said, this is a very deceptive sin and, I think, a fairly common one.
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Thanks for the input folks..the pillow illustration is powerful Cal..thanks for sharing..
God has put a real hatred toward sin in my life..and has been going deep into my heart . He does this so we can be a vessel of honor that he can use. 2 Tim.2
"Go and sin no more less a worse thing come upon you,"Jn 5;14
God has put a real hatred toward sin in my life..and has been going deep into my heart[/blockquote]
No doubt God hates sin.
At a human level for me a lie told,written, spread by any method is the the thing I detest the most.
Venator, You are so right. Is there ever a time or circumstance when the truth would not have been much better?
The wilful, premeditated misleading of a person just cannot be justified. IMO
Some say "it isn't gossip, it is truth". Isn't truth, when told with malice and intent to harm and destroy, a twin to a lie?
Gossip
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