A GOSSIP GOES ABOUT REVEALING SECRETS,
BUT A TRUSTWORTHY PERSON CONCEALS A MATTER
Proverbs 11:23
What is gossip? It can be falsehood—indeed, it often is (at the very least it may be the distortion of truth). But it doesn’t have to be. Gossip is spreading information about someone to other persons who don’t need to hear.
Is it really essential that you tell others details about the problem marriage that Joe and Nancy are having? Does that spat that your next door neighbors had need to become public knowledge?
“But it happened. I didn’t make it up.”
Yes, you heard it through the screen window that was open because it was loud. But you didn’t hear the forgiveness and reconciliation that took place!
“Well, I guess I didn’t.”
Then your story that you were so eager to tell was incomplete—and, therefore, gave a distorted picture of all that occurred.
There are many other ways in which gossip that is forbidden in Scriptures can do harm. Think and pray about this if it is a problem you need to repent about and overcome.
Books related to Reconciliation:
- From Forgiven to Forgiving by Jay Adams
- Handbook of Church Discipline by Jay Adams
- How to Handle Trouble by Jay Adams
Check out our online course, Church Discipline/Forgiveness taught by Jay Adams!
The Christian Counselor’s New Testament and Proverbs, translated by Jay Adams
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