Four Catholic priests met together one day for lunch.
As they were talking, one of them said,
"You know, we're all very good friends.
And we all struggle with our own problems.
Who can we talk to about these things, man to man?
I think, this might be a good time to share these things
with each other.?They all agreed.
"Well," said one, "No one in my parish knows it, but,
I drink too much alcohol.
I get drunk often and do things I shouldn't."
There was a gasp from the other three.
Another priest spoke up and said.
"Wow, since you're so honest, I'd like to say that
my big problem is gambling. It's terrible, I know,
but I can't quit. I've even been tempted to take money
from the offerings."
The third clergyman spoke. "I'm really struggling, brothers,
because I'm falling in love with a woman in my congregation
- married woman. I think about her all of the time."
During this whole time of confession the fourth minister
remained silent. After a few minutes the others said
to him, "Come now, we confessed ours. What is your secret
struggle?" He hesitated and then said, "Well, I really
don't know how to tell you about my problem." "Oh, it's all
right, brother. Your secret is safe with us." "Well,"
he said, "To be honest with you my big problem is gossiping.
And I can't believe what I've just heard."
Our subject today is "gossip." Did you know the Bible talks
a lot about gossip? And it's not just a "little sin."
In Leviticus 19:16 God says, "You shall not go about as
a talebearer among your people."
In Psalm 101:5 God says, "Whoever secretly slanders his
neighbor, Him I will destroy." In Proverbs 6:16-19
God tells us seven things that "are an abomination" to Him,
things that He extremely hates. The last two are,
"A false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord
among brethren." Romans 1:28-32 talk about those who are
filled with every kind of wickedness. They are "full of
envy, murder, strife, deceit," and evil mindedness;
They are whisperers, back-biters ..." Another translation
says they are "gossips and slanderers." Then it says
"that those who practice such things are deserving of death.
.." In 1 Timothy 5:13 God talks about those who wander
"about from house to house, and not only idle but also
gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not."
To gossip is to say things you shouldn't say, things that
hurt others. A good definition of gossip is "sharing
harmful information with someone who is not a part of
the problem or a part of the solution."
It's obvious and clear from Scripture that gossiping is
wrong. God hates it. So what should we do about it?
I would like to suggest three things that we should do
when we hear that someone has done something wrong.
We are first to cover, second to uncover and third to
recover. Let's look at these three things.
1. WE'RE TO COVER THE SINS OF OTHERS
In Scripture God tells us that when others do wrong
we are NOT to uncover, expose and spread this bad news
to others. In fact, we are actually supposed to
cover the sins of others. Listen to what the Scripture says.
In Proverbs 10:12
In Proverbs 17:9
Proverbs 17:9 |
"He that covers a transgression
seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates friends." |
1 Peter 4:8 says
In Genesis 9 Noah was drunk and naked in his tent.
And Shem and Japheth covered their father's nakedness.
Verse 23 says that they walked in backwards,
carrying a garment in, and covered him up.
The sins of others are not to be spread but covered.
In James 4:11 it says
James 4:11 |
"speak not evil one of another, brethren.t evil one of another, brethren. |
Titus 3:2 says
"speak evil of no man," Psalm 140:11 says "Let not an evil
speaker be established in the earth." We're not to be evil
speakers ... speaking evil OF others. We're to cover the
sins of others.
2. WE'RE TO UNCOVER OUR OWN SINS
Now while we're to cover up the sins of others
we're NOT to cover our own sins.
Proverbs 28:13
Proverbs 28:13 |
"He who covers his sins will not prosper
but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy."
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When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden
the first thing they did was cover up with fig leaves
and hide from God. Then God came, revealed to them even
more fully their nakedness. They confessed their sin,
and then it says that "the Lord God made them coats of
skin." They were not to cover their own sins.
But in the end God covered their sins. God covers our sins
too.
3. WE'RE TO RECOVER AND RESTORE OTHERS FROM THEIR SINS
So we know we're to cover the sins of others and
we're to uncover and confess our own sins.
But if someone else sins and we only cover up his sin,
won't he just keep sinning. What do we do? Well, first
we know that we don't speak evil OF him (or about him)
to others. The second thing we are to do is found in
Matthew.
A. We're to go directly to those we have a problem
with. In Matthew 18:15 it says
Matthew 18:15 |
"And if your brother sins, go and reprove him in private."
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We must talk directly with those
who have sinned against us. And don't forget that Galatians 6:1 says
this is to be done, not to punish, but to restore him, in the spirit
of gentleness. Ephesians 4:15 says we're to "Speak the truth
in love." This causes both of us to grow.
,B. We're to go directly to
those who have a problem
with us. Matthew 5:23-24
Matthew 5:23-24 |
"If you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the
altar and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother,
and then come and offer your gift."
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God says it doesn't
matter whether you have the problem with them
(Matthew 18:15) or they have the problem with you
(Matthew 5:23-24). YOU must go.
C. We're to listen more
than talk and to be wise.
James 1:19 says,
James 1:19 |
"Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger."
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Ephesians 4:29 says,
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,
but only what is helpful for building up others."
Colossians 4:6 says, "Let your speech always be with grace,
seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought
to answer every one."
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by Steve Nicholes
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LINKS TO . . .
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