Good Morning,
Last night Pastor Johnson taught us all about Gossip, and how it can affect the church. There are always those who love to share the latest gossip. So what are we to do when someone approaches us with it? We are to let them know kindly that we want no part in spreading or sharing gossip. Then we are to encourage them to go directly to the person they are talking about and talk to them.
When we share gossip, it spreads around like wildfire. Many times the stories that are being told are not even true. What happens in this case? When someone finally talks to the person that is the subject of the gossip, it is already too late. Even if they try to express that they are sorry and let everyone know the truth, there will still be those who choose to believe the lie anyway. Once those seeds have been planted, they have already begun to sprout.
Pastor told the story of how one man spread gossip. Later, he found out what he had spread was not true. It was then that he went to the person involved and said he was sorry. He then asked the man what he could do to make up for what he had done. The man asked him to bring him two pillows. He did, and then the man asked him to take the pillows to the center of the street in town. "Slit open the pillows and empty out all the feathers" he said. The man did as he asked. "Now what can I do?" said the man. " Now go and gather up all the feathers and put them back in the pillows as before."
So we see how gossip can spread and be impossible to repair once it has spread. It is important to be the one to end the line of gossip, before it begins. Many times if we would just go to the person right away and ask, we will have been mistaken about the appearance, or wrong about what was said.
Thank you Pastor Johnson :)
love in Christ, trisha
Last night Pastor Johnson taught us all about Gossip, and how it can affect the church. There are always those who love to share the latest gossip. So what are we to do when someone approaches us with it? We are to let them know kindly that we want no part in spreading or sharing gossip. Then we are to encourage them to go directly to the person they are talking about and talk to them.
When we share gossip, it spreads around like wildfire. Many times the stories that are being told are not even true. What happens in this case? When someone finally talks to the person that is the subject of the gossip, it is already too late. Even if they try to express that they are sorry and let everyone know the truth, there will still be those who choose to believe the lie anyway. Once those seeds have been planted, they have already begun to sprout.
Pastor told the story of how one man spread gossip. Later, he found out what he had spread was not true. It was then that he went to the person involved and said he was sorry. He then asked the man what he could do to make up for what he had done. The man asked him to bring him two pillows. He did, and then the man asked him to take the pillows to the center of the street in town. "Slit open the pillows and empty out all the feathers" he said. The man did as he asked. "Now what can I do?" said the man. " Now go and gather up all the feathers and put them back in the pillows as before."
So we see how gossip can spread and be impossible to repair once it has spread. It is important to be the one to end the line of gossip, before it begins. Many times if we would just go to the person right away and ask, we will have been mistaken about the appearance, or wrong about what was said.
Thank you Pastor Johnson :)
love in Christ, trisha