Gossip. Noun. Idle talk or rumor, especially about the personal or private affairs of others. We all do it. It’s difficult not to. There are TV shows and news articles and magazines that speculate with no factual evidence. It’s all around us. How can we not gossip? Perhaps it’s impossible to stop. We just can’t help ourselves. What’s holding us back from planting that seed that grows into a full blown lie? Perhaps our conscience (assuming we have one). Or what about that book you enjoy quoting so much? Let’s focus on that for a minute. (If you can’t understand the King James version, feel free to click the provided links. The Basic English version is rather simplified.)
“He that goeth about [as] a talebearer revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.” –Proverbs 20:19
“He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbor; but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.” –Proverbs 11:12
“A talebearer revealeth secrets; but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.” –Proverbs 11:13
“A forward man soweth strife; and a whisperer separateth chief friends.” –Proverbs 16:28
Need more Proverbs? Wonderful: 18:7, 18: 8, 21:23, 26:20. Sick of Proverbs? Alright, let’s move on.
“Thou shalt not go up and down [as] a talebearer among thy people; neither shall thou stand against the blood of thy neighbor.” –Leviticus 19:16
“Judge not, that ye be not judged.” –Matthew 7:1
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [them].” –Ephesians 5:11
“Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins; keep thyself pure.” –1 Timothy 5:22
“I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue; I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.” –Psalms 39:1
I’m not a saint, nor do I pretend to be. I talk with my girlfriends, just like any other 22 year old female. But please, if you’re going to start and/or spread stories about people you don’t know, make sure you get your facts straight first. It does no good to slander someone when you have absolutely no validity to your statements. The least you could do is live by the words you quote on a daily basis.
I can understand that we are human. I can understand that we make mistakes. I cannot, however, understand how it feels to knowingly not live what you preach.
The Urban Liberal 