Gossip

Today I was reading through my Bright Lights book and the subject today was on Gossip. I thought it would be like every other lesson I've read where there are certain things that really stick out and I can apply to my life and other things that I kind of just "pass by" but this subject has kind of hit me hard. I think gossip is something that almost EVERY lady or girl struggles with and it's something we are NOT aware of. We excuse the behavior very easily and make up excuses.

Here are a few verses on gossip:

Romans 1:29-32 "Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgement of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."

Leviticus 19:6 "Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people"

Psalm 101:5 "Whoso privily slandereth his neighbor, him will I cut off; him that hath a high look and a proud heart will not I suffer."

Proverbers 26:20 "Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no taleberarer, the strife ceaseth."

Ephesians 4:29 "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."

God knew that us women would be this way also, because in 1 Timothy chapter 5, Paul says, "And withal they learn to be idle, wandering bout from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. I will therefore that the younger woman marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion tot he adversary to speak reproachfully."

Gossip is so hard to control I think because it is so subtle. Negative things come out of our mouth all the time and we don't even think about what we are saying or what effects it may have on the person. In 2 Corinthians 10:5 Paul says, "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." THIS needs to be our goal.

I think we all REALLY need to step back and look at our lives, look at our conversation through email, texting, talking..whatever it may be and be open to what God is saying here through his Word. Are we being uplifting in our conversations? Are we edifying that person in any way by sharing something negative about them with someone else?

My Bright Lights book gave some examples also on very subtle ways of gossip. I thought I'd share some to give you an idea....

"Keep Jill in your prayers. I haven't seen her at church or Bright Lights in several weeks and last time I saw her she was with a friend who had a nose ring"

"Why do you think Debbie treats people so rudely?"

"I don't mean to say anything against Elizabeth, but have you noticed how she has been dressing recently?"

"I'm really concerned about Lucy. I heard that she spends over an hour in the morning doing her hair and make-up. She is really being influenced by those new girls down the street."

The last thing I just wanted to mention is the difference between slander and gossip. Something that I didn't realize. Slander is when we are purposely trying to damage the reptuation of someone else, often by telling lies about them. (This is what I thought gossip entailed too) But really Gossip is sharing information that is true, or at least that we believe to be true. Gossip could be told without wrong motives but simply because we like sharing stories..but this is NOT right. :(

Proverbs 22:1 "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches"

Eccleciastes 7:1 "A good name is better than precious ointment"

Nobody wants to be talked badly about and God has really shown me today the areas that I need to work on and I've experienced the pain of being gossiped about and it is no fun. We all know that, so I'm challenging all of you girls to examine your lives...can others look at us and call us Gossips? Talebearers? Whisperers? Slanderers? Tattlers?

Let's try to stop Gossip all together. Think about each word before we say it and if it doesn't bring glory to God or uplift anyone, let's just not say it. And if someone comes to you to share gossip, quickly but nicely put it to them that you don't want to be involved in the conversation. And pray...pray that we all can live our lives without gossip and slander. That we can grow to be more like Christ each day!

Dear Mom...

A video I put together for today. It explains it all...