Our ears love to hear juicy gossip about others. Our mouths love to spread juicy gossip about others as well. But if love covers offenses, then hate lifts the covers and lets others see what is under the sheets. Love brings people together by keeping offenses under the covers, and hate pulls off the blanket, separating close friends.
I would hope that Christians would be delivered from the sin of gossip, but are we? Do you couch the spread of gossip by prayer? You would never think about sharing juicy information about Julie's affair she is having, but would you put it on your prayer chain? Would you get in the corner of the Church and tell your friends the intricate details of Julie's affair, and then say that you are just telling them because you want them to "pray for dear Julie?" Does Matthew 18 teach that the first step in restoring a brother is to pray for them? Or are you to reach out to the dear brother or sister who is in sin? "go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone." (Matt 18:15b)
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