Gossip: Part Two

As 1 Corinthians 15:33 states, "bad company corrupts good character".

In Sheri Rose Shepherd's book, Fit for Excellence, she discusses three different forms of gossip: "general gossip", "silent gossip" and "godly gossip". In this post, I'd like to address the second form, "silent gossip".

This is probably the form of gossip that I have most often and most recently participated in. "Silent gossip" is the type of gossip that we participate in simply by being in the presence of a gossiper. We don't have to say a word; but our refusal to defend the gossipee or walk away from the conversation confirms that our heart is turned toward the gossip and not toward the Lord.

I will admit, I usually feel terribly uncomfortable in this sort of situation but don't want to "hurt anyone's feelings" by walking away in the middle of the conversation. Instead, I find myself giving the gossiper some sort of pat response like, "well, that's too bad" or "hmm...I don't know...". I need to work on being bold and either speak up in defense of the one being talked about or walk away when the conversation begins to turn to gossip.

Like Shepherd points out, if someone will gossip around you, surely they will gossip about you. Be careful little ears what you hear---and, just as importantly, be very careful regarding with whom you choose to spend your time!

Gossip: Part One

In Proverbs 18:21 we learn that the power of life and death is in the tongue. With our words we can either build someone up or tear them down.

I thought about this verse last week as I was reading Sheri Rose Shepherd's book of random thoughts, Fit for Excellence. Shepherd describes three types of gossip: "general gossip", "silent gossip" and "godly gossip". Surely, we've all been guilty of at least one of these. I know I've participated in all three forms at one time or another.

In this post, I'll address the first form of gossip: "general gossip". "General gossip", says Shepherd, is the kind of gossip that takes place when we gossip about people, groups or churches that we don't personally know. A perfect example of this kind of gossip is the publicity surrounding "Octo-Mom". Even before this poor woman's entire life history was made international news, many people were forming opinions and stances regarding her situation. My question during this entire spectacle has been, "why is it any of our business?"

No matter how anyone feels about the issues of public assistance, reproductive assistance or single motherhood, the truth is that no one really knows all the details and truths surrounding this woman except for her. Furthermore, why has no one focused on the positive and miraculous in this story? According to all known records, this group of babies has survived the longest of all octuplets ever born! That is something to celebrate!

This kind of "general gossip" has no place in the hearts or the speech of Christians. Forming opinions about people with whom we have neither a personal relationship nor a full knowledge of their situation is judgemental and immature.

As Shepherd states, "Unless we are part of the problem or the solution, our concern should always be to build up the body of Christ, whether we know them personally or not!" (Shepherd, 137).

Yeshua: The One Who Completes Us

 Col: 2:8-10 "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him who is the head of all principality and power" (underlining mine). 

How many times do we go looking for someone or something to "complete" us? If we are single we say we need a spouse to complete us. If we are married we say we need children to complete us. After that, we start saying things like, "if only I...was not so overweight, would gain a little weight, didn't have this debt, had a cleaner home, owned my own place," etc. We have this sense that we, in and of ourselves, are not enough. We know that we are lacking so we go on a quest to lose the weight or adopt the newest organizational system or find the perfect spouse. So why, when we do finally accomplish these things, do we still feel the empty spot? Why do we immediately recognize the next big thing that needs to happen for us to feel complete? 

The problem is that while we know that we are lacking---that we, ourselves, are not enough--we are going in the wrong direction to find that fulfillment. Verse 9 says in Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead---the Three In One, the Trinity...and we are complete in Him. We have been cheated and lied to by the enemy...and we've bought right in. The Bible gives us a caution: that we wouldn't be cheated or deceived by the traditions of men or principalities of the world. Have we made the world's deceptions our truths? Have media and magazine covers become our gospel? 

The funny thing about God is that he knows our hearts. He knows and understands that empty place where we feel the need for completeness. What's more, he knows exactly what we need to fill it. We can find all we need in him. Even in Christ, however, completion won't come by forgiving our brother or cleaning up our act. Yes, those things are important, and the time for them will come, but it can't come until Christ has our hearts. Completeness and fullness of God must first take place in our hearts as we surrender everything to Him and ask Him to teach us and to work on us in His timing. 

Once this surrender to Christ is complete and we are being filled by Him, then we will begin to emulate Him. People will begin to see Christ in us as we forgive our brother and get our act together one step at a time through Christ. I challenge you today: don't accept the lies and traditions of the world---instead, invite Christ to fill you with His truth and power and find completion in Him.