Welcome to "Fan the Flame" Friday.
This is a weekly post that will be "short and sweet" (kinda like me...)
Just a word and a phrase, a sentence or a question...just a little something to "fan the flame" of your creativity!
Today's word: gossip
What do you think gossip is?
Why do you think gossip is so harmful/dangerous?
Let me know what you think!!
"This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you…For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:6-7)
BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"
I think that gossip is repeating anything, true or untrue, that is best left unsaid.
ReplyDeleteI guess you would call it "telling the bad news", which coincidentally would be the direct opposite of the definition of the word for "gospel".
Blessings and prayers,
ReplyDeleteandrea
Gossip is so damaging because words once spoken can't be unsaid. We need to be careful with our words. They have great power to hurt or to heal.
ReplyDeleteGossip is something that you will pass on that you might not necessarily tell the person you are talking about that you are passing out that information about them (does this make sense?) So if someone wants to tell me something about someone, I ask them "is this something you would tell them to their face" and if they say "yes" then I will listen to it. Gossip goes beyond just getting the facts about something, but people embellishing the facts. For instance, at one of the churches we used to go to there was a bit of a church split. I wanted to know what was going on, but I just wanted the facts, so I emailed a friend I knew and asked them if they knew anything they could share that was general public knowledge and not gossip. She emailed me back with the facts she knew without going into embellishments. I think gossip uncontrolled can wreck ships and destroy lives. Like Patti said in her comment, we have to be really careful with our words. I think we can share news about others but it has to be in a loving, encouraging, truthful environment and definitely never betray someone's confidences.
ReplyDelete(its so funny, I just got your comment on my blog as I'm commenting on your blog; enjoy the weekend!)
betty
I'm learning that language (prayer, thoughts, writing, speaking) is such a powerful tool both spiritually and physically.
ReplyDeleteGossip is the evil use of language, and it's so easy to get trapped into it! I'm determined to not gossip, and I want to speak beauty and redemption over me and others!
Interesting, I have something about flames on my blog also...:)
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question, I think gossip is so harmful because it is the opposite of love. Love covers a multitude of sins...gossip uncovers it and spreads it around.
The motive behind gossip is the opposite of -
Love suffers long and is kind;
love does not envy;
love does not parade itself,
is not puffed up;
does not behave rudely,
does not seek its own,
is not provoked,
thinks no evil;
does not rejoice in iniquity,
BUT rejoices in the truth;
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
I have appreciated seeing the answers to your question. I'm the first to admit that I may have fallen into this pit without realizing it. I needed council and so many have different takes on 'gossip'.
ReplyDeleteThese were very wise responses! I so appreciated reading them, and learning from them.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit that I've been the victim of gossip - on the spreading side and the receiving side. Sometimes it's been inadvertent, but nonetheless, it was gossip all the same.
I'd have to agree that the meaning of gossip goes beyond just the act of spreading rumors. I think there was a consensus among you that it was the unnecessary talking about someone behind their back - whether it was true or untrue.
I think gossip is a matter of intent. Is the goal of gossip ever to build up the other person? I think not. Usually we do it to bring another person down - to puff ourselves up.
Gossip is dangerous and harmful because it hurts both the person who does the gossiping, and the person who is gossiped about.
Another thought - I should have asked if gossip seems to be more a *female* problem. In my opinion, men just aren't as inclined to gossip as we "yakkity" women!
Thanks for stopping by - GOD BLESS!