the horns of ames

Digression

I want to digress from the topic of Bible Translation for a second. I've been thinking about and talking to people close to me about gossip and backbiting, specifically in the church. It's amazing to me how easy it is for some people, even people I revere as extremely Godly people, to slip into a judgmental state and "innocently" discuss the actions of others with fellow believers. How destructive is it to the body of Christ? At what point do we realize that discussing our negative thoughts of someone with others is not helping anyone? Sadly, I really believe that some people don't even realize they have this problem. It's become such a way of life for them, that it doesn't even occur to them that their slander isn't just innocent conversation, it has a true impact on the body and it's Satan tool to make us less strong and less effective for Christ. As Paul would say, "LET IT NOT BE SO!" I thought I'd list a bunch of verses on the topic of gossip. To bring this full circle to my topic of Bible translations, I'll be quoting from the English Standard Version. :-) Read these verses and prayerfully consider in your heart whether God brought you to read this post because you might struggle on some level with this topic. Yes, I'm talking to you...

Lev. 19:16 - 16You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life[ a] of your neighbor: I am the LORD.
Psa. 34:13 - 13Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
Psa. 101:5 - Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure.
Prov. 6:19 - a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.
Prov 10:18 - The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool.
Prov. 11:9 - 9With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
Prov. 11:13 - 13Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
Prov. 16:28 - 28A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.
Prov. 17:9 - 9Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.
Prov. 18:8 - 8The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
Prov. 20:19 - 19Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.
Prov. 26:20 - 20For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.
Matt. 12:36 - 36I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,
Eph. 4:29 - 29Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Eph. 4:31 - 31Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
2 Thess. 3:11 - 11For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.
1 Tim 3:11 - 11Their wives[a] likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things.
1 Tim 5:13 - 13Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.
Titus 2:3 - 3Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good,
Titus 3:1-2 - 1Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.
Jam. 4:11 - 11Do not speak evil against one another, brothers.[ a] The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.
1 Peter 2:1 - 1So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.
1 Peter 3:10 - 10For "Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;..."

I don't have all of the answers and I couldn't be further from perfect, but sometimes I feel like we need to be slapped in the face with these exhortations and not just nod our heads in agreement, but actually digest them and realize that these messages might be intended for ME. God has used the face slapping technique on me quite a few times in life, and as painful as it is, I have grown leaps and bounds thanks to it.

In Him,
Aaron

posted by Aaron @ www.HornIT.net @ 12:52 AM