The Deadly Church Disease: Gossip!!! Part 3

Happy New Month guys! Enjoy fresh Grace.

I’m sorry I couldn’t post anything yesterday, had a filled time at church. I’m sure you did too…

Okay, so we’re back to gossip. In a recap, we’ve identified what gossip is and it’s causes. For more click here and here .Today, we’ll be talking about its effects and how to overcome it.

So, let’s start with its effects.

1.       It sows STRIFE into the hearts of the listeners

(who are not even supposed to listen anyway) see proverbs 16: 28.

2.       It births HYPOCRISY. We become Pharisees when we gossip. And we birth another dimension of RELIGION.

3.       It brings about CONFUSION and other EVILS attached to it (see James 3: 14-16).

I’m sure we get the picture from the above effects. These are the mother effects which have embedded in them other sub-effects.

Wanna do away with gossip for good? Let’s try these simple an VERY PRACTICAL STEPS.

1.       When you have the urge to say something ill about someone, KEEP QUIET! Why? Search yourself. Do you have the moral justification do so? It’s really not worth it. In fact, when we talk too much as Christians, we lose virtues. (We’ll come around to talking about that sometime soon).

2.       If you must talk (I mean talk at any cost) leave out the name. Phew! Only a man of understanding does this! (See Proverbs 28: 10). You might want to sight an example while talking to someone, but please, leave out anyone and everyone’s name.

3.       Walk away! This is the most difficult of things to do when it comes to overcoming gossip. I mean we all face it at one point or another. But it’s best when we walk away. Christianity is about taking up your cross to follow Christ, right (even if it means being alone physically). I sure have been on that road.

4.       But one might ask, what if it’s an adult that is saying ill things about someone I know? Well, to avoid disrespect, don't walk away from the adult, and don’t add fuel to the already flaming fire of strife. Try not to respond in agreement with such an adult, make excuses for both persons (I mean the person being talked about and the adult in question).

Why? Because the adult doesn’t know better. And for the person being talked about, make excuses so that your mind doesn’t get contaminated with strife too.

In a case where the adult is incorrigible, (I’ve met some of them) here’s what I do. I say ‘IT IS WELL'. For as many times as they seek my opinion on a matter, I just keep repeating those three words with a big, very respectful smile on my face. When they’re done, I try to get the ill news out of my mind so as not to let it contaminate me. Then I pray to God for help not see the ill in the person being gossiped about.

These steps might seem difficult but they’re not impossible.

 They’ve worked for me over time and it has helped me to overcome gossip. (the temptation never goes away. I still have urges to talk about people too)

Guess what!

 When you hand over your desire to overcome gossip to God, the Holy Spirit gives you a nudge in your spirit when you’re about to go wrong. The only time we get to fall into temptation is when we refuse the nudging and promptings of the Holy Spirit.

 From me to you: A pastor friend of mine ( Pastor Tobi Adesanya) once said that building Godly character takes consistency. Ask God for help. He’ll sure help, but you have to take the first step. #DelonixCares