Question for Christians & Believers About Gossip & Bible?

H

hivesguy

New member
Joined
Jan 21, 2009
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Hello Everyone!

I have a question about gossip and I would like to hear your perspective on it (anyone can answer of course). I know in most religions and the Bible, it does have a few verses indicating gossip is wrong. At the same time, I know it is human nature to sometimes want to share your opinions or views on people or topics. So here are my questions:

1. Do you think merely giving your opinion on people or topics is wrong? I am not saying putting them down or spreading lies, but discussing factual things they did publicly? Is that a sin in your opinion? Example: Someone releases a song that is really bad, and you give your opinion to others. Is discussing it this way a sin? Or is that different?

2. What do you think is appropriate way to communicate things? Should you never talk about people (factual or non factual things)? Should you keep opinions to yourself?

In other words, what do you think is appropriate in regards to this?

Thanks for all who answer and have a great day!
 
Please, please relax. If you get too hung up on worrying about everything that comes out of your mouth, you might find yourself not
able to be any use to God at all!

Scriptures state that you should never chatter or gossip in Church;
it causes problems. Use common sense. If someone comes up to
you and says "Did you hear Mary is cheating on her husband?"
Put a stop to it right there and then: DO NOT REPEAT IT OR RESPOND EXCEPT TO SAY: " I don't feel comfortable talking about
Mary like this behind her back; it's none of our business".
That will get the message across. But if some people are standing
with you and somebody says "Did you hear Mary finally got two weeks
off from work and her and Bob and the kids went down to the shore?
She said she had the best time ever and the motel was really nice".

Why would that be inappropriate? It is only conversation. You can
guage it this way: If you are speaking with someone and you both
are discussing a third person, would it be okay if that third person
walked up unexpectantly and heard you? If the answer is "yes", then
you are okay. If the answer is "no" then you have to ask yourself
"why?". Obviously, you are discussing something that would make
the person being discussed uneasy or upset. Bingo. Gossip.

Opinions work pretty much the same way. If I ask your opinion about
what songs you like best that Mary plays on the Organ at Church,
whats the harm in that? If I ask you if you think everyone should
secretly get together and hire a new Organ player because Mary isn't
really that good, thats another story. We are all entitled to our
opinions, but you just naturally need to understand where the invisable line is drawn - certainly you don't want to tell someone that in your
opinion their hairdo is horrible, because that would hurt someone unnecessarily. And, if you give a less than nice opinion to people,
you should always make sure that its still okay with you when that
gets back to the person your giving your opinion about - so it works
like I said before: if your "opinion" would be fine if and when it got
back to the person, then you're okay; however, if your opinion would
cause an upset, hurt or some conflict when it got back to the person,
then keep quiet.

This is really common sense; surely you must understand when
to keep your mouth shut, don't you? You would accomplish nothing
by hurting people; the only exception, of course, would be if you
realize someone is doing something illegal, etc....then it would be
your obligation to report it. Common sense. and Relax; Christ does
not want you in bondage to guilt and other unnecessary anxiety.
 
Here's my thoughts..... If you aren't able to say your "opinion" to that person's face then you shouldn't talk about it.

If you are talking about someone in a negative way that would shed bad light on them or their character then you would be better off keeping it to yourself. If they are doing something wrong it will come to light on its own.
 
Facts are okay. Innuendo is not. That being said, your mother was right when she advised you to not speak if you had nothing nice to say.
 
Back
Top