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Two recent articles from the newspaper (names and details have been altered):

Sally (an actress whose name you would recognize if I were to tell you) and her artist boyfriend Fred are getting more serious about their relationship. At least that's what people are saying after Sally, 22, was spotted in Fred’s hometown of Burbank, California.  She was there to meet the 29 year old's parents. "Fred's dad runs an art school there," an insider told this reporter.  The insider thought the two had a smashing meeting with his parents.

At least 10 people were arrested and charged with felony conspiracy to commit gaming in connection with the ring that operated between 4th and 6th streets. The shell game is one of the oldest cons in the book. It involves quickly moving a small, round object beneath one of three shells or bottle caps mounted on a table or cardboard box. Operators flash a wad of cash to entice passersby and employ shills to make the game look winnable. By the time the victim chooses a shell, the object has already vanished, thanks to sleight of hand. Those arrested included Jay, 77, the one who manipulated the shells, and Steve, 32, believed to be the group's enforcer, Lt. Vernon said. Police said they seized a butcher knife with a 4-inch blade from Steve.

Q/A: What is news and what is gossip and what is slander?

Definitions (from Dictionary.com)

• News: a report of a recent event; intelligence; information.
• Gossip: idle talk or rumor, esp. about the personal or private affairs of others.
• Slander: a malicious, false, and defamatory statement or report.

What are the differences?

• News is information people need to know – to understand their world and to make wise decisions.
• Gossip is information we don’t need to know, that serves only to tear someone down.
• Slander is false information we don’t need to hear – designed specifically to tear someone down.

Romans 1:18 &  28 – 32. Listed among the fruits of a debased mind are gossip and slander (did you see “disobedient to parents” in there, too, by the way?).

Gossip and slander are part of our culture; newspapers, TV shows, and magazines are devoted to it as we saw earlier. Notice verse 32: “They not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.” Gossip can be a means of popularity. To be “the one that knows” can be very enticing and get favor with those who want to hear the dirt on another. Slander can be a way to “get even” with someone who laughed at us, made fun of us, did something mean to us – or even slandered us. There is a self gratification reward with either.

2 Corinthians 12:14-20 would Paul be unhappy with us? Would he find us as he feared to find the Corinthians when he visited us? How about Jesus Christ?

Even in our gossip, is it just gossip or is it slander. If you repeat a tale you think is gossip, how do you know it’s even gossip and not slander that you are repeating?  Consider also your own heart motive – are you sharing this to build up the body? To build up the person? Or to build up yourself and/or tear down the person?

Matthew 15:17-20. Eating with unwashed hands might make you physically sick, depending on what is on your hands, but it does not affect your spiritual walk. What comes out of your heart affects your walk – Jer. 17:9.

That’s not to say, you never share something for the good of others. But, watch your heart motive and pray about it.

1Cor 1:11: Paul received a report about a problem in the church at Corinth. He does not also say, “And tell the person who is sending me these reports to stop gossiping!” No, the report was to the appropriate person for the right motives – to strengthen and edify the body. Paul could then address the issue, because he had received a report – what we would call “news.” This is information that Paul needed to know.

If you know of someone who is in danger or endangering others – physically or spiritually, you should report it to the appropriate person. In the context of the home, it would be your parents. In the context of the church – since you are still under your parent’s authority, it still might be your parents, but also might be your small group leader, me or Alvin or a Pastor or an elder. In the context of school it might be a teacher, your principle, and again your parents. You need to pass on to the appropriate person the news they need to know so they can make wise, informed decisions.

Application:

Let’s go back to our lessons from Ephesians of over a year ago. Let’s go again to Eph 4:25-32.

• Look at v29. What is all our speech to be about? Building up – giving grace. Expand upon this.
• Look at v32. Be kind. Tender hearted. Forgiving one another – even as God in Christ has forgiven you. Expand upon each point.

This is not really just a lesson about gossip. No lesson about gossip can be just a lesson about gossip. This is a lesson about how do we as professing Christians treat one another? What is our responsibility to our brothers and sisters in Christ – even when they are not around?