Shut the HELL Up

A couple days ago I wrote about the rumormongering going on right now in the larger Body of Christ. It's out of hand.

Even in our little church there is a great deal of talk talk talk without understanding of the impact it is having. I'm very concerned.

I think it's safe to say that God hates gossiping. Scripture is clear about the extent to which the Lord is grieved by it.

Some may subconsciously shrug off the admonition not to engage in the seemingly innocuous pastime, thinking that it's simply a "natural" human tendency. But, according to new research that backs up God's case against gossip, it is anything but harmless. Arguably, it is the source of many a conspiracy theory circulating the globe. It can also, indeed, have deadly consequences.

God hates rumormongering, tale bearing and gossip. He punishes it pretty severely when he does punish. The problem with gossip is it's affect on people. Pastor Dan Rothwell once had to take the church in Fargo on when it begin to spin out of control from gossip. He preached on tale bearing and asked people to confess the sin. The altar was packed.

Now science has shown that gossip is more powerful than the truth. We knew it destroys. It's actually worse than that. It supplants truth that exists.

Gossip and talebearing come from the pit of Hell. James, the brother of Jesus and head of the church in Jerusalem must have been dealing with loose tounged people in the Holy City. In his book written to the church he says this James 3:

1 My brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.2 We all make many mistakes. If people never said anything wrong, they would be perfect and able to control their entire selves, too.3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can control their whole bodies.4 Also a ship is very big, and it is pushed by strong winds. But a very small rudder controls that big ship, making it go wherever the pilot wants.5 It is the same with the tongue. It is a small part of the body, but it brags about great things.

A big forest fire can be started with only a little flame.6 And the tongue is like a fire. It is a whole world of evil among the parts of our bodies. The tongue spreads its evil through the whole body. The tongue is set on fire by hell, and it starts a fire that influences all of life. People can tame every kind of wild animal, bird, reptile, and fish, and they have tamed them,8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is wild and evil and full of deadly poison.9 We use our tongues to praise our Lord and Father, but then we curse people, whom God made like himself.10 Praises and curses come from the same mouth! My brothers and sisters, this should not happen.11 Do good and bad water flow from the same spring?12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree make olives, or can a grapevine make figs? No! And a well full of salty water cannot give good water.

I am aware that from time to time I have been sharp tonged on my blog. When I read other blogs sometimes the anger and meanness bothers me. One can disagree with vigor and not be angry. Be ye angry and sin NOT.

I wish I could take some gossips aside and set them down to help them understand the eternal consequence of the actions they are taking. The hell in out mouth need to be shut up. The word says that the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against us. Let's hope. Gossip is very damaging.