I Peter 2:1-3 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
MALICE...GUILE...HYPOCRISIES...ENVIES...EVIL SPEAKINGS
Malice-the intent, the thought/s, the inner thinkings
Guile-deception
Hypocrisies-appearance is contrary to reality
Envy-displeasure at the sight of another's excellence or joy
Evil Speakings-slander, backbiting, even includes the idea of defamation
NONE of these things leads to the growth of a Christian. They are not beneficial. Instead, they are destructive. These words are contrary to the teachings of Christ and they are contrary to the leading of the Holy Spirit in the Christian's life. Where gossip exists and abounds, you can be sure that in some form or distribution, you will find the others, malice, guile, hypocrisies and envies. And, where these things abound you will NOT find a Christian abounding in Christ. In fact, you most likely will not even find a Christian who reads the Word of God.
If you contend that you do not have any of those motives or intentions when you gossip, then pray tell, WHY DO YOU GOSSIP? If you contend that you can gossip and not possess any of these other qualities than you are self deceived. You are self justified. Gossip is NEVER with the intent of doing good. It may come under the disguise of doing good but the root of gossip is ALWAYS sin. If you truly have the other persons best interest at heart, go TO them do not talk ABOUT them. Also, to spread such even though you may not be the instigator, aligns yourself with the sin and not the right.
As I have asked in an earlier post, do you really desire to grow in the Lord? If the answer is yes, you have not but one option. Put Gossip AWAY from you.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
okay, Luke, I'm not going to talk about you anymore. :)
this is one of the most difficult things when trying to decide how to deal with an erring brother/sister. If you share what you think is an error on another's part while trying to correct a wrong, you may just be pouring the coals upon your own head, huh?
It's almost like that story Peter told Socrates on his blog. If you hold another's sin against him, you are, in fact, only holding yourself. Just like your previous post suggests we are doing when we speak ill of another. selahV
V,
You were talking about ME?!! Wow, you must have been REALLY hard pressed for a conversation topic.
:)
Yes, you are correct that this is precarious water through which to navigate. I think the whole point of all of this to those who see what you have seen is this...we are not more righteous than the other person with whom we are dealing. Self-righteousness and self-justification enter into our hearts and minds too slyly when we are not on spiritual guard. And yet, your point is to distinguished from the gossip in that the gossip does not seek to deal directly with the individual and instead seeks to involve lots of others who should not be, where if you truly are trying to bring correction from error, you deal with the individual. The gossip already thinks they are better or are trying to pull the other person "down" to their own level. The gossip does not really want to see reconciliation and redemption. The gossip has ulterior motives for self whereas the person who truly cares about the other has only the best of the other in mind, heart and action.
This series so far has sure made me a lot more conscientious of what I am saying and to whom.
Thanks for adding to the conversation.
many thanks Luke, Always good helpful reading here ,
Steve
Grosey,
Like SelahV, you are an inspiration and encouragement in the Lord. May all that we aspire be that which is a help to the brethren and sistern(that's for V).
Hey Luke...maybe we oughta start our own collaborative blog? eh? selahV
V,
An Oakie, Aussie and a Coonie. Sounds like some kind of a misfit moving company.
Post a Comment