Do You Gossip? Part 2

{MORE ABOUT THIS LATER…}

Yesterday, I began talking a bit about gossip.  Before the guys start “Amen-ing” and high-fiving…women are certainly not the only ones who have been found guilty of gossip. Anyone can engage in gossip simply by repeating something heard in confidence. The book of Proverbs has a long list of verses that cover the dangers of gossip and the potential hurt that results from it. “A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue. A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret” (Proverbs 11:12-13).

The Bible tells us that “a perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends” (Proverbs 16:28). Many a friendship has been ruined over a misunderstanding that started with gossip. Those who engage in this behavior do nothing but stir up trouble and cause anger, bitterness, and pain among friends. Sadly, some people thrive on this and look for opportunities to destroy others. And when such people are confronted, they deny the allegations and answer with excuses and rationalizations. Rather than admit wrongdoing, they blame someone else or attempt to minimize the seriousness of the sin. “A fool’s mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts” (Proverbs 18:7-8).

Did you know that simply entertaining gossip is just as bad as telling the tale yourself?  Very simply put, here are 2 reasons why (A) our eyes and ears are filters to our heart.  While it may seem like meaningless chatter, we have to be careful because that meaningless chatter can find a home in your heart and when you least expect it, thoughts or feelings of dislike and judgement will start to creep in and all of a sudden you’ll have an alt against someone and won’t even know why.  And reason (B) how you ever played the telephone game?  Well you know how the message is totally twisted and convoluted by the end of the game?  Well, by you simply standing around listening, that puts you on the phone.  And how many times have you fallen victim to the ol “just ask so and so {you}, she was there” line.

I feel like the mommy in me is coming out . LOL  It’s important to talk about these kinds of things though, don’t you agree?

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