Day Seven

Titus 3:1-2 ESV
Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

Paul wrote this letter to Titus in order to help him lead the believers in Crete. He wanted Titus and the believers to know how to live a healthy life both inside and outside of the church. Part of this involves harmony with one another. 

Refusing to gossip about each other in the world is one thing, but it can look like something else inside of the church. Have you ever been offered a piece of gossip thinly disguised as a prayer request? "You just HAVE to pray for so-and-so." And then comes the dirt.

Or maybe the gossip is spilled, only to be followed by, "....so, they could use some prayer." It can be hard when something like this comes up. Of course we will pray for a worthy request, but how to address the circumstance under which the request was made?

We all can use prayer. If you are using a prayer request as anything but to truly lift someone up before the Lord and to build them up in harmony with each other, check your motives. I know I need to, often.

This is it. Day Seven. I want you thank you for taking this pledge. I hope it has been as much of a blessing to you as it has been to me. Share this site with anyone you think might need some encouragement today. Let's all hold each other accountable to stop gossip.

Day Six

Proverbs 18:8 CEV
"There is nothing so delicious
     as the taste of gossip.
It melts in your mouth!"

What is it about the human animal that we find such delight in not only tearing down another human, but hearing about their destruction? Before we are saved, we lack a spiritual awareness and are quite literally half-dead, only living by the desires of our human bodies.

Have you ever heard someone describe gossip as "juicy?" Perhaps in the same way that Solomon wrote in these poetic proverbs, we can get a taste of gossip and crave more of it. It's a seductive drug that leaves us wanting more. It melts into our minds until it's our turn to pass it on.

If you think about it, there are not any other social creatures that carry on this way. There is something about we, as humans, that takes such enormous pleasure in hurting each other.

Make a commitment to change your taste buds today. Do not long anymore for the flavor of gossip. Will you join me?

Day Five

3 John 1:10 ESV
So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.

John is specifically talking about a false teacher named Diotrephes in this passage. He rejected a previous letter from John and did not welcome the brethern into the church. John speaks of coming to deal with this head on - face to face.
 
At first glance, this scripture seems so far removed from our current reality, but really think about it and we live this way all the time. There are people we don't want to have anything to do with.  It might be someone a little too righteous for us, a little too un-righteous, too rich, too poor, too mean, too nice, too clean, too dirty, too whatever..

We talk "wicked nonsense" to our children and our friends behind closed doors about who we will and won't accept into our lives, into our homes or even who we will sit with at church. We put these people out of our lives and out of our minds, or try to, in an attempt to not have to acknowledge them as our neighbors, and therefore, do not have to apply Jesus's command of loving them.

We are called to love, but the power to tear each other down is strong. 
Who will you involve in your activities today? Who will you welcome? Will you take a stand against the Diotrephes in your life?

Day Four

Ephesians 4:29 NIV
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

What is Gossip and who defines it?

This is a question I've been asked as I started blogging on this topic. The only answer I am allowed to give is that gossip is defined by God. I cannot give my opinion about gossip and say that it is the definitive answer because there is only One who has the answers. He gave us all of the answers in his Word. We just need to look it up.

What is unwholesome talk? God calls it slander, false testimony, conflict, false reports, malicious and lewd.

I'm not God, but what is the condition of your heart when you open your mouth? What are your motives when you start a conversation that is about someone else? Are you building them up? If not, check your words against Ephesians 4:29. Is it beneficial? If the person is sinning, then your words need to be spoken to the sinner alone.

Matthew 18:15 NIV
If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.

Our goal is unity with one another. Confrontation is never fun, but it is necessary for our lives to be peaceful and as God designed it.

Day Three

1 Timothy 5:13 ISV
At the same time, they also learn how to be lazy while going from house to house. Not only this, but they even become gossips and keep busy by interfering in other people's lives, saying things they should not say.

Paul was writing to Timothy about younger widows in this passage, telling him not to put them on the list for aid from the church, as they should be remarried and not allow themselves to give the enemy an opportunity to use them as slanderers.

When we are idle, without our minds and hearts fixed on God and our responsibilities to family and loving our neighbors, we do give the enemy an opportunity to allow gossip and malicious thoughts to enter our minds and come out of our mouths. Without purpose in our lives, we go from "house to house" interfering in affairs that our not our own and saying things that are none of our business.

When we know God's purpose for our lives and live in unity with one another, God can use us to build each other up.

Find the purpose God has for you today. I am asking him specifically to reveal it to you.

Day Two

Proverbs 26:20 NLT
Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.

A pastor friend of mine posted this on Facebook a few days ago. The day after the pledge officially took hold. It was the first post on the top of my wall. I know that Facebook has their own algorithm for deciding what is first on our pages, but I think God's algorithm can put make what we need to hear or see a priority.

How true is it that when there is nothing to fight about, the fighting stops? A very wise woman once shared the secret that she found to solving nearly every disagreement:

You were right.
I was wrong.
No excuses.

Our words can be wood or water to the fire. How we use them determines the intensity of the fire, or if there is even one in the first place.

How about you? Are you ready to stomp it out or fan the flames?

Day One

Leviticus 19:16 NLT

Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people. Do not stand idly by when your neighbor’s life is threatened. I am the LORD.

Thanks for joining The Gossip Pledge with me today. I hope that this can be a short encouragement in your day to remind us to love our neighbors as Jesus commanded; even though at times they are not so lovable.

Each day I will share a verse from the Holy Bible and some thoughts, if I have any! 

Today, just meditate on this verse and what it must have meant to a body of people who had broken free from captivity, wandered the desert with Moses and were receiving this command. What would have gossip and rumors have done to their solidarity and willingness to follow God and his appointed leader, Moses?