Do you all know the definition of "Gossip"?
www.onelook.com
noun: a report (often malicious) about the behavior of other people
MSN Encarta:
gossip
gos·sip [ góssip ]
noun (plural gos·sips)
Definition:
1. conversation about personal matters: conversation about the personal details of other people's lives, whether rumor or fact, especially when malicious
2. casual conversation: informal conversation or writing about recent and often personal events
3. habitual talker: somebody who habitually discusses the personal details of others' lives
Did you all know that the Apostle Paul identified gossip as Satanic? I just read this the other day:
In chapter 5 of 1 Timothy Paul urges younger widows to get married and not to become idle gossips and busybodies. This sounds very “human,” but Paul links it to satanic activity: “Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach; for some have already turned aside to follow Satan” (1 Timothy 5:14-15). Imagine this. Paul refers to gossiping as turning aside to follow Satan. Now who would have ever considered gossip to be satanic? Paul does.
You all know that some don't see your point of view nor hear or accept what you say. Question is are they blind and deaf, or do they maybe know more than yourselves? Either way, the word of God explains what to do...
So, before you all start knee jerking and getting your underwear in a bunch or reacting defensively or in an offensive manner because of my questions here. Think! Because God's word does say you are to rebuke sin, but it also says how to do that and how how not to do that:
Lev 19:14 Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I [am] the LORD.
Lev 19:15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: [but] in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.
Lev 19:16 Thou shalt not go up and down [as] a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I [am] the LORD.
Lev 19:17Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.
Lev 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I [am] the LORD.
Mat 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
Mat 18:16 But if he will not hear [thee, then] take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Mat 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell [it] unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
["Heathens and Publicans" AKA- the lost who God loves and who Jesus did not come to condemn but to seek and save. Those who we are also to love and who the gospel commission and good news is meant for. ]
Pro 11:13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
Pro 26:20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
All I ask is that you members here think, and pray, long and hard, before speaking further.
Mat 12:33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by [his] fruit.
Mat 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
Mat 12:35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
Mat 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
Mat 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Serious business...