I've never been so hurt as when I found out that all of my friends knew a secret about another friend of ours and didn't inlcude me. Even my husband knew. And no one told me. Of course they all said, "I was told not to tell anyone!" What they might as well have said was, "You can't keep your mouth shut, that's why we couldn't tell you!" Ouch!
I struggle with gossip. The Bible tells us that gossip is of the devil. In Titus gossipers are called accusers, the same name given Satan 34 times in the Bible. Who wants to be compared to Satan? Gossip is compared to an uncontrollable fire. Adding to something someone has told you or simply repeating it yourself is like stoking the fire. And OH how it hurts when you get burnt by that fire! I've been on the receiving end of gossip and you would think it would have taught me a lesson. But apparently it hasn't.
So why do we do it? Personally, I really think it's to fit in. I've always longed to fit in with everyone. I want people to like me. I want to be included in whatever's going on. And gossip gets you in. If you know something others don't know, you're in. Because whether they really want to or not, some part of them wants to know. Whether they care or not, it's intriguing. But it's wrong. Sin is sin. I believe that no sin is any different. Not one carries more weight than the other. So gossip is just as bad as murder...wow. It is similar in many ways that's for sure. Like I said, I've been at the other end and it's painful. Like what I imagined being stabbed to feel like. Breathtaking and aching. Making you scared and timid around people.
So how can I stop? The Bible tells us that we should build each other up (edify). I can't do that if I'm gossiping about them. Because gossip only tears people down. And how can I be a witness to others, live like Jesus, if I'm tearing people down?
My goal, to stop gossiping. When I hear something, juicy or mundane, I'm going to reach for God's word and silently chant Ephesians 4:29 in my head. "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." I know I'll still mess up, but I pray that they Lord would make me aware of these mistakes and help me learn and grow from them.
Here's to a wonderful, edifying-others Monday!
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Thank you for this post. Gossip is something I have trouble with too. I often feel the need to share what I have been told, but I am learning to think about it first. It is hard sometimes when the gossip is repeating itself in your head trying to get out. I think we all have this problem, some just don't realize it yet.
ReplyDeleteHeidi, I just wanted to tell you Thank You. You have helped me on my journey to become closer to God. I did a piece on it at my blog. You and your great blog are mentioned.
ReplyDeletehttp://asavingmomssanity.blogspot.com/2009/12/my-journey.html
Thanks for entering my giveaway! This is the first giveaway I have, so I don't know exactly how you go about getting to host a lot of them. With this one I won a kit from Creativity for Kids and after doing it with my son I took pictures and posted a review of it. Then I emailed the company to let them know how much we enjoyed it and that I had a review of it on my blog. The next thing I knew they emailed me back and asked if I would like to do another review and host my own giveaway for one of their great products.
ReplyDeleteI hope this helps. I also got to review t-shirts from Crazy dog this way. They didn't offer to let me do a giveaway, but I still got a shirt to review.
If you find out how everyone else gets to do so many great giveaways please let me know. I love having others tell me about their favorite Christmas memories. I would love to give more things away! It's so much fun! I have met more people and found a lot of great blogs this way too.
Good Luck! I hope you win!