Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Infant Steps: How bad is Gossiping?

Beloved EROLyrics Readers,

Hope your week has been great so far. Covenant grace and peace be to you in the name of Jesus our Lord and Savior, who reigns forevermore. Thank you for your words of wisdom in response to Julia’s question. She is really encouraged, knowing she is not alone and knowing there is a way out.

Today’s question on the Infant Steps Series has to do with gossiping. I don’t know about you, but I have gossiped not knowing whether it is good or bad, and to what extent. Linda’s question caused me to pause and think – How bad is gossiping? To get better insight into what made me reflect, please read Linda’s question below and share with her some encouraging words.

Thank you.

Dear Rita,

Many years ago, when I was not a born-again Christian, I fell out with a roommate. It was not a small falling out. She accused me of gossiping too much and she said she could not stay with me because I was making her fall into sin. In my mind, I wondered how giving someone gist is making them fall into sin. I packed my load and left and have not spoken to her since then.

After I gave my life to Christ recently, something in my spirit tells me that gossiping is not good. But I don’t know if this is true and if gossiping is harmful.

Was my friend right all along? What is gossiping really and how bad is it? My friend claimed that talking about other people (in a manner that does not speak good about them) is gossiping, but what else should friends and siblings be talking about? And is gossiping peculiar to only women i.e. do men gossip?

Linda.




If you have any questions you would like to discuss on the Infant Steps Series, please drop me an email at esurunma@gmail.com or leave the question as a comment in any of my blog posts.

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9 comments:

.. said...

Dear Linda,
Though definitions of gossip may vary with individual, I think it's when harmful stories are being spread, which have not been verified.
Chit chat between friends and family isn't gossip to me, but when a friend tells a friend something she heard, true or false, she expects it to stay with that friend, not for that friend to tell another friend who will tell another until it becomes a case, and as it goes from person to person, details are being added, and it turns out worse than when it was first said. This is indeed gossip, and almost amounts to telling lies, which isn't right. Gossip is harmful, very.

Also, speaking well about someone without meaning it is not very good, I think. It's best to remain silent.
Dear Linda, we have all been guilty of this at one point or another. No one likes to be quoted also. Hope I’ve made sense in some way.

Dee! said...

Linda,
The dictionary defines "gossip" as scandalous rumours; idle talk; malicious tales.

As a child of God, we should be found "doing good" and "spreading the good news of the kingdom of God"

From the foregoing, I would suggest that as a child of God, one should try as much as possible to refrain from idle chit chat and be more constructive in our criticism.

And yes, men also gossip. Infact men gossip more than women.

James said...

1.When someone confides in you and you share it with another without their consent.

2. When you say stuff about someone that you can't say to their face.

These two consist gossip.
Yep, men gossip as well even though we like to term it 'discuss'

Giagerry said...

I agree with Rose!

Zayzee said...

men gossip yes.
saying things about a person u wouldn't say to their face, which defames them is gossip. like Dee said, idle chit chat isn't so good, as one can get so carried away.

Kafo said...

oh my word
this is sooo wierd
visit my blog ASAP cuz i got a message from the Lord on gossiping twice yesterday

gossiping is huge
speaking negatively about a person even when it is the truth does not glorify God
we do it to glorify ourselves
to make ourselves feel better about our mediocre lives.

Enkay said...

First off, everyone is prone to gossip, male or female.

Gossip is bad because it tends to spread malicious tales about others.

Sometimes we think it's mere gist but if we find that we would be mortified if the person ever gets to hear what we're saying about them then we should stop.

David C Brown said...

Christianity gives us wonderful things to talk about; so let's spend our time on that! And the usual test is - to do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Ekene said...

This is a tough one. I find myself convicted form time to time, because most of the time it's not malicious but then I think about if the person would be hurt by my saying it...Well life is about growth and every day is a new opportunity to start over...c'est la vie.
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