Thanks to colleagues in blog-land I was inspired to start a new movement, the INGA Club. I’m encouraging people to commit to this.

It stands for “I’ll Not Gossip Anymore”, and I hope you will stand up for it, publicly or personally.

gossip2Gossip is “nasty, back-stabbing talk about someone”, poison. These false (or half-true) tales are usually believed, though never proven.

What would happen if we set up a Committee in each church and social club to control this destructive evil?

“Why do you see the piece of sawdust in another believer’s eye and not notice the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to another believer, ‘Friend, let me take the piece of sawdust out of your eye,’ when you don’t see the beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye. Then you will see clearly to remove the piece of sawdust from another believer’s eye” (Luke 6:41-42 God’s Word).

Spiritually speaking, talking about someone can never take the place of love talking with someone.

To base our social conversation on who knows more dirt to tell on someone else cannot be considered helpful.

So where does this vicious practice come from? Alas, “because all people have sinned, they have fallen short of God’s glory” (Romans 3:23 God’s Word). Gossip is an excuse to look important at the expense of someone else. And that someone else, as a child of God, deserves respect and love rather than hateful tale-telling.

Not surprisingly, some experts want to say that gossip has value. So does potent poison, but it is not a purpose which builds community and shows God’s love.

“Everyone will know that you are my disciples because of your love for each other” (John 13:35 God’s Word).

Do you prefer digging dirt or living love?

Related Articles:
http://jsparkblog.com/2013/08/15/done-with-the-petty-church-gossip
Watch Your Mouth – and Ears and Watch Your Mouth from viewoutsidethepew.com