Just How Careful Have You Been With Your Tongue?

I feel obliged to write about this sensitive affair...

How many can honestly say they have never said something about someone else and then later realized they should not have said it?

Let's say you've just heard a REALLY juicy rumor about someone you know. It may not be true, but it's too "good" to keep to yourself. What's your first instinct?

James 3:2 - If we can control our speech, we can control all areas of our lives.

I'm not innocent, just like every other person there are times I have done or found myself caught up in the following:-

"Gossip" - "Rumor or talk of a personal, sensational, or intimate nature." 

"Rumor" - "Unverified information of uncertain origin usually spread by word of mouth; hearsay."

"Slander" - "The utterance of defamatory statements injurious to the reputation or well-being of a person. ... A malicious statement or report."

"Backbite" - "To speak spitefully or slanderously about (a person)."

"Talebearer" - "A person who spreads malicious stories or gossip."

Is all talking about people who are not present is "gossip," How about saying bad things about people not present? How about talking about things you don't know to be true about others? 

While there are many ways to be guilty of speaking improperly about other people, not everything that some would call "gossip" is wrong. 

How do you respond?

Now, what about if someone comes to you and tells you, "so and so were gossiping you.., they said this and that about you.." How do you react to this kind of information?

Before you pick information to report on someone... 

First, Establish your intentions/motives- why are you goin to report? 

Secondly, What did you do to STOP the "Gossipers", "Slanderers", "Rumourmongers" "Talebearers" and the "Backbiters" from continue with the vice?

Thirdly, Make sure you also tell the other person what YOU said behind their back.

On the side of the recepient, 

It is wisdom..

1. To sieve the information you have received

2. Read in between the lines and establish the motives 

3. Pick what is helpful and discard what is not profitable.

4. Do not be bothered about what is being spread, if its not true, ignore and trust God will do somethin about it. If it is True, then just try and make some changes as possible. Take baby steps and trust God for His grace.

Finally, before you sit down in a group of two or more to say something negative about a person, ask yourself, "If Jesus Was Here What Would He Do?" Instead of talking behind the person's back, what can I do to help him/her? 

Mmmm, God forgive me. i know I have sinned in any of the above.

With Love,

Kachel