Gossip

I have a question for everyone out there, and that is when is gossip not gossip?  The only time you can know what you are hearing is true, is when you hear it directly from the person themselves.  If you hear it from anyone else, technically it is gossip.  The only exception I know is if it is within your own family and you are hearing it from someone very close to the person that said it.  Even then I'm not sure it is not gossip. 

Gossip is something that none of us should ever take part in.  The person it is about or the people it is about are the ones that truly get hurt.  If someone starts to tell you something about someone and it is just here say, walk away, or say "Stop.  I don't want to hear it."  It's like walking up to a group and they are telling off color jokes, if you take part, you are sinning.  As Christians we need to take a more aggressive approach to people that spread gossip, dirty jokes or things they are not sure about, yet they are repeating it. 

If it is one of our brothers or sisters in Christ, we need to tell them that they are not acting right.  We should not spread stories or start rumors or repeat rumors.  We do more damage than you can ever imagine.  If you hear something about someone, as the person that has just stated it where they heard it from or walk away or go to the person it is about.  Sometimes it is just a misconstrued story or statement or maybe a remark that was made.  Gossip can do enough damage to a person that they may walk away from the church or something they truly enjoy. 

Another thing is this, if we are told something by someone we trust, and you are uncomfortable, ask them where they heard it or ask them if you can verify it with the person who made the statement.  It maybe that someone has been hurt by something you said or maybe they are trying to get back at you for something you did.  You may not even realize that you have hurt, or offended someone.  It is always better to go directly to the source of the remarks, statement or stories, then taking it at face value. 

We should be able to trust our sisters and brother in Christ and our friends and families, but there maybe those occasions when someone is mad at you or upset with you and may want revenge.  If that is the case, ask them to forgive you and you forgive them.  Your life will be much better in the long run.  Letting something that has been said continue to aggravate you or bother you, just festers and makes the situation even worse. 

God is full of grace, mercy, forgiveness and love and so should we.  We are to walk in the ways of the Lord, and try to be holy and Christ like.  Spreading gossip, unverified truths or stories is not walking in the way of the Lord.  Remember that they next time someone starts to share something with you.  May you be Blessed by the Grace of God.  To build your faith, you must be in the Word daily... constantly, without rest.  Love, L.