This week we want to work through the issue of gossip. We will be using Resisting Gossip: Winning the War of the Wagging Tongue by Matthew Mitchell as a guide.
▪ Resisting Gossip – Part 2: Resisting Gossip (chapters 4-6)
Sinful gossip includes the sin of judging others
▪ See James 4:11-12 [slander means to speak against someone, to talk them down, to speak ill of them, to disdain someone or to run somebody down verbally; intent is to belittle another, to pour out contempt, to mock, to hurt, to harm, to destroy]
▪ What are the issues in passing judgment?
~ Rush to judgment- which involves: listening to only one side; not considering the source; assuming and assigning motives; and we assume the worst about someone
~ Prideful judgment – it is not our place, calling, or responsibility; we don’t judge how we would want to be judged; we aren’t willing to humble ourselves
~ Unloving judgment – critical judgment (lacks charity)
Practicing Ephesians 4:29 – Applying the put off/put on principle to our use of our mouths
1. Say nothing at all (Proverbs 10:19; 17:27-28)
2. Commend the Commendable – say something good (“helpful for building others up”)
3. Talk to people, not about them (Matthew 5:24) – this can mean loving confrontation
4. Offer words of mercy – words should “minister grace to our hearers” (e.g., Proverbs 10:21)
5. Talk to and about the Lord (Ephesians 5:19-20)
Listening
▪ Evil listening
~ Proverbs 17:4
~ Live as children of the light
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