Gossip

A Bible study leader at last week’s Churchwide Assembly mused that the book of Proverbs is the Twitter of the Bible. How true!

Consider this: “A gossip goes about telling secrets, but one who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a confidence.” (Proverbs 11:13) That sentence is well under the 140 character limit.

Or this: “A gossip reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a babbler.” (Proverbs 20:19)

I have been thinking a bit about gossip since last Sunday. My son and I were on the train headed back downtown from the Mall of America. At one of the stops, a man and a woman sat down in the seat directly in front of us. They were together but were not a couple. They conversed with each other loudly and clearly enough so that we did not have to strain to hear them. In fact, they were loud enough to interrupt our own conversation.

As they talked, it became obvious that they were members of a Lutheran congregation. For the several minutes that we were treated to their company, they talked disparagingly about everyone they had seen in church that morning. The pastor was not spared.

I wondered what they had actually gotten out of going to church. What had the sermon said? Had they engaged in confession? What in their minds could justify this kind of gossip anywhere, let alone in a public place?

I have confronted gossipers, but never strangers nor publicly. I really should have this time. My hope is that if I had confronted these two that they would have been mortified by their behavior. They were so loud and mean-spirited, however, that I doubt that I would have made an impression. We got off at our stop and left them to babble on.

Interestingly enough, they did not mention the actions of the Churchwide Assembly even once!

Comments are always welcome. Go to http://niselca.blogspot.com/. --JC