The Gossip Thread

[marthaolivia]

The church gossip and self-appointed arbiter of the church's morals, kept sticking her nose into other people's business. Several church members were unappreciative of her activities, but feared her enough to maintain their silence.

She made a mistake, however, when she accused George, a new member, of being drunk after she saw his pickup truck parked in front of the town's only bar one afternoon. She commented to George and others that everyone seeing it there would know what he was doing.

George, a man of few words, stared at her for a moment and simply walked away. He didn't explain, defend, or deny; he said nothing.

Later that evening, George quietly parked his pickup in front of her house...... and left it there all night!

Originally Posted by Praxeas

What is the definition of Gossip? Why is it wrong?

Prax, can I have one of those donuts please???

Oh, sorry, This is about gossip isn't it?

Can I have one of those dounts while I read the latest gossip?? (Is that better?)

NI

[Michael Phelps]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

ah so if it is true it's ok to do....

Webster's defines gossip as "idle talk or rumors".

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

Webster's defines gossip as "idle talk or rumors".

So if I say "I read in the news that George Bush might have known there was no truth to the yellow cake uranium story in Africa" is that gossip?

What if no names are mentioned, like the $400 lobster story but we just discuss the ethics involved?

Or what if the intent is to warn others of a dubious character claiming to be a brother when they are really a wolf?

[Rhoni]

Gossip is anything said that is not your business to say...whether true or not true.

[Michael Phelps]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

So if I say "I read in the news that George Bush might have known there was no truth to the yellow cake uranium story in Africa" is that gossip?

What if no names are mentioned, like the $400 lobster story but we just discuss the ethics involved?

Or what if the intent is to warn others of a dubious character claiming to be a brother when they are really a wolf?

It's one thing to say, "How ethical would it be for a minister/person to spend 400 dollars for a lobster dinner?"..........or "What do you think about gambling in Las Vegas?"

And, then it's an entirely different thing to say, "NEWSFLASH - a member of this forum was caught red-handed spending 400 dollars on lobster, and gambling in Vegas - what do you think?"

The Bible clearly tells us that if a brother be overtaken in a fault to restore him in a spirit of meekness, considering ourselves lest we also be tempted.

The Bible clearly states that we will be judged by every idle word that proceeds from our mouths, and gossip is defined as "idle words".

I could go on and on, but Biblically, unless the person can be helped by public exposure of their transgression, or as you say, Prax, others need to be warned about this person because of their intentions, I see no other reason to spread rumors about people, or to broadcast their transgressions, even if they be true.

I've been on the receiving end of this type of "gossip", and so I'm probably a bit more sensitive to it than others may be.

[HeavenlyOne]

To me, gossip is something I say about someone else in an attempt to injure the person I'm talking about.

For instance, I have a good friend that I can confide in and share things with that go no further, so I'm comfortable in telling her that 'Vanessa is in a situation she's having difficulty with, and really needs prayer in her life' and not worry about details.

However, I wouldn't say 'Vanessa is living with this guy and just found out she's pregnant, blah blah blah' unless that info is pertinent and Vanessa ok's me to tell her that info.

Anyway, that's not Webster's, but HO's dictionary works just as well.