04 17 2007, 8:08 pm / Mellow
The Lord has been speaking to me about Gossip lately. I am part of an online study of a book by Elizabeth George called "A Womans High Calling" It has a few chatpers on Gossip and Slander and those of us in the group are simply stuck here because we have all been so convicted. My biggest realization through the whole thing is that it isn't only a sin to make things up about someone but also to tell unneccesary information and simply listening or allowing others to gossip can be as sinful as spreading it yourself! I have seen gossip tear people apart when they didn't even realize they were doing. So often we (especially women) will just be "saying what is honetly on our minds" or "wanting to help someone who is in a terrible situation" but in reality we are gossiping about that terrible situation. If we really wanted to help we could do it w/o chatting on the phone about it w/ someone else!! I am also convited that sometimes, especially as Christians we will walk on eggshells around a topic or "not mention any name" but still know what is implied and it isn't any less gossip because we didn't say the person's name!! I have been so foolish in my walk and pulled into so many shades of gray in terms of gossip. It is my desire to repent and my goal to reflect a more godly image that doesn't include tearing people down. Wouldn't you know that the Lord has allowed me to be informed of a secret that I would have been quick to discuss in the past because it ties in w/ something I used to gossip about often w/o realizing I was gossiping. I am praying that I can use this opportunity to show true repentance and that I will be very aware of the intricacies of this sin and it's stronghold on me.
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