That was me.
Oh, I'm sure over the years I have talked about people when I shouldn't have. I felt convicted about that early on, and cut way down. Like that makes it better.
But, several years ago, I realized that I was still participating in gossip, even when I wasn't saying a word.
I was listening.
People can't gossip without an audience. The audience is just as guilty.
But I was more than happy to listen to the flapping gums.
I've come to learn that the truth is thus: There's rarely a good reason to discuss with others anything about another person that would be embarrassing to that person for others to know, nor anything that person has told me in confidence. It's not okay . . . whether the person is struggling with something, or had a bad day, or is sinning, or has hurt me, or has said or done something I disagree with. And it certainly isn't okay just because I want it to be okay!
To tell others how someone has hurt me instead of going to that someone? Cowardly.
To tell others about someone's mistakes or embarrassing circumstances? Cruel.
To talk about someone because there's nothing else to talk about? Lame.
To criticize someone behind his/her back? Poison.
And listening to it perpetuates the problem.
Then there's the fine line between gossip and "a prayer request."
I'm not talking about biblical discipline here, which sometimes requires more than one person knowing about a situation, but even that is after a one-on-one conversation.
Gossip can sneak up on me, and when it's over, I realize what hit me and that I didn't have my guard up.
I'm still trying.
And that's the truth. :(
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