Gossip

It is imperative that God’s children recognize gossip for what it is.  It is a dangerous and a sinful behavior.  It is dangerous because there are always serious consequences for the carrier, the receiver, and the subject.  The bible has nothing good to say about it.  The scripture teaches that the wages of sin is death, but God’s gift is eternal life.  To continue in sin will drain the spiritual life out of a believer; consequently, when we allow ourselves to practice gossip, there is a feeling of strange awe that perhaps we have done something wrong.  When you feel that you have done wrong, more than likely, you have.   The Holy Ghost pricks our hearts and condemns us when we participate in unwholesome activities.   Even worse, if you can practice gossiping with no remorse, perhaps the Holy Spirit is not working in your life, or perhaps you have not been taught that it is a sinful behavior….  

…When it comes to informal talk, we never know when we are talking about a sensitive issue whereby people are concern.  For example, some women are very sensitive when their weight, age or other negative physical features, such as graying or thinning hair, is casually discussed either directly or indirectly.  Normally, women want to know that they are physically attractive. Many of them love the idea that they look younger than their chronological age. Where men are concerned, some are very self-conscience when it comes to their manhood.  They are very sensitive where their physical competency is concerned.  They want to know that they are great lovers, strong contenders in sport competitions and so forth.  They are sensitive when it comes to the issues of achieving respect in the home, on the job and in the community.  Also, in this day and time, we are living in a very visual age, and many men are just as sensitive about their physical appearance as women.

With this in mind, I will share with you how I became a victim of heartache and hurt as a result of casual comments.  As the wife of the pastor, I was often placed in uncomfortable settings.  What I am about to share may cause some to wonder why I have chosen to write about this very personal, painful experience.  I have chosen to do so because I have since become aware that many women suffer with this problem, even if not to the extent that I did.   At this point in my life I realize that all of my hurts and pains have not been in vain; instead, they have all worked out for my good.  Since I am more than a conqueror, in spite of the things I have been through, I know that there are others who are hurting can be victorious as well.

I held a position that many young women perhaps may have coveted.  Consequently, I should have been one of the happiest women in the world.  For the most part I was happy, but there was one area of my life that often affected my self-esteem, and therefore coupled with other stressful obligations it caused me to become chronically depressed.  Yes!  I was a pastor’s wife, but also, I was a hurting person…