Being a gossip is not what Christians should be doing. When we commit ourselves to Jesus and become His followers, our lives should be marked by love and compassion not criticism and gossiping. Gossiping is wrong because many times it’s based on lies Lying is wrong even when what someone says about another person is partially true.
Gossiping and criticism tear people down and hurt their reputation, which causes conflict and suspicion. When we criticize someone, we’re claiming to be better than they are. However, we’re only tearing ourselves down.
When one is tempted to gossip,
slander, or tell that sensational story that everyone will gasp over, examine your
true motives. What do they reveal about your intentions? Do you want to be
blessed by God with whatever He has for your life? Gossip can reveal the
following things about each one of us:
1.
You’re arrogant: Arrogance
is the belief that you are better than someone else. When we resurrect others’
sins through gossip and slander, we are admitting that their sin is worse that
our sin. So much worse that it can’t be forgiven or forgotten.
2.
It reveals you’re trying to get ahead of someone at their
expense: When we gossip and slander, we use
someone else’s sin, misfortune, or their different choice, to remind ourselves
of their seeming flaws to make us look better.
3.
It reveals our
insecurity: When we gossip and slander we
are insecure in our choices and our identity in Christ. God has each of us on a
distinct journey to accomplish His will. When we have a growing relationship
with God (reading His word and talking
to Him daily) we can be secure in
our
choices even when they are different from someone else’s. Walking closely with
God also reminds us how much we, too, are in need of a Savior. It’s impossible
to be good or do good deeds apart from our Heavenly Father. This truth brings
us rest. No longer do we have to try to achieve holiness in our own power, but
we can rest in knowing that Jesus in us makes us holy. Our identity is in
Jesus, not in ourselves or in how we look to other people.
4.
It reveals our pride: Each
of these (arrogance, trying to get ahead, and insecurity) falls under the
larger umbrella of pride. We are prideful in thinking we have to be better than
others and that we can achieve any type of goodness apart from God. Any
excellence within us comes from the amazing grace of Jesus.
Recipe for Drama
1 cup of gossip
1/4 cup of rumors…
9 [pounds] of jealousy
Mix well…
Cover in lies
[i] Sources used:
·
“4 Ugly
Truths Gossip Reveals about Us” by Brenda
Rodgers
·
“Answers” by Billy Graham
This post
was inspired by a personal situation.
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