Gossip is Murder

I keep being reminded of conversations shared with my both of my sons and their comments which matured over time. Being boys and coming from their mother, these “talks” were usually fairly brief, to the point and for personal reasons they are coming to the forefront of my mind now.  The comments about murder in the first two were from a sermon that a dear friend of mine shared that she had heard at her church. I was a teenager at the time so as one would imagine, it made quite an impression on me.  I wish that I could recall the specific Bible scriptures but alas I was not the note taker that I am now when in the 8^th and 9^th grade.

1.       Those who gossip have murderous intentions. While they are trying to promote their cause, make them look better than they are, and are trying to influence the thoughts of another, what they are really doing is killing what is known about the person being maligned.

2.       When people lie or stretch the truth they are guilty of murder or at the least attempted murder.  They are doing their best to destroy the reputation of someone in an effort to build up themselves to others. Their actions can actually draw attention to their jealousy or insecurity or need for power or control.  You don’t build yourself up by tearing someone else down.  By putting a target on someone’s back, are you really trying to redirect attention from your own self-interests, disappointments or failures?

3.       If people are ignorant enough not to look for the facts behind the blah-blah-blah, don’t waste your time trying to convince people of the truth because all they may want is the blah-blah-blah anyway. 

4.       Some people don’t care enough about you to know the truth so walk away.  Blah-blah-blah is just that, blah-blah-blah to the people who know you best and to those who really love you.

My goodness, these were a long time ago but I guess that the truth really is timeless and sadly, the items above continue to have no boundaries for some people.

On the bright side, I did find some scriptures to support some of these meandering reflections. The one that speaks to me is James 3:8 which is true that no man can tame the tongue but ........ my God can.  

Pr 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.  

Pr 26:28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin. 

James 3:8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 

Pr 17:4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.