Gossip And Hateful Words, Part 1

Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ. God says I hate that the we say I love that we savor those words. You wonder why one would love to hear that kind of thing is really only a couple reasons.

One of the don't you just love it.

Not not a pig is either kind of knock down you get an idea where I can almost as good as Dragon and any other hand, by the way, related back to the reason we like gossip serve notice on a look.

I may not be perfect, but I never did that and I would do that. So I feel better about myself. Thank you for joining us today on this additional Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt Fellowship in the Words the radio ministry of Fellowship Bible church located in Metairie, Louisiana Pastor Bill Gebhardt now is once again he shows us how God's word. Our world, Robinson could know great Yankee second base. They may know, Megan. 2005 All-Star player just a tremendous tremendous player for the Yankees and up surprised. Almost everybody in 2013 Robinson Cano decided he wouldn't sign a contract with the New York Yankees and signed a 10 year, $240 million deal with the Seattle mariners so following that that was in December 2013. Following that Jimmy Fallon on his show, the Tonight Show decided what he would do for New Yorkers. As he got a gigantic picture of Robinson Cano and then he asked people and interview them to be able to say that it can no what they think of him and so they did and they yeah they called him names they voice their displeasure in all kinds of different ways. Many made very rude comments about him not what they did know is Robinson can know were standing right behind the picture okay and then he came out to each one and met them in every case. As soon as the person Saul Robinson Cano. They changed completely.

In fact they were all embarrassed about what they had said they apologized profusely to him. They told him what honor it was to meet him and it proved a point. People often don't have the courage to say something to someone's face, but they'll say all kinds of things.

If they don't believe that person is there. That's one of the unique challenges of being a believer Christian right now and that is because of the Internet. We have an ability with 140 characters or less to say all kinds of things about all kinds of people in a completely anonymous not in-your-face kind of way. In fact were very capable giving hurtful words as well as gossip. Who would've thought several years ago that you would've ever heard the term cyber bullying.

Now I knew what a bully was usually on the play yard and that's a bully, but cyber bullying. The consequences of it have been enormous. There was a story that ran on YouTube and it was called the Amanda Todd story and this was a junior high girl that other people apparently mostly girls decided to say things anonymously about and began to tear her to pieces and so she eventually ran a story on YouTube about her struggles about her thoughts of suicide about self harm. She started to do to herself. She had 19 million viewers. As a junior high and the last thing she ever said on YouTube was.

I have nobody I need someone in my name is Amanda Todd and within 30 days. She committed suicide. It's a problem of our times, we can gossip and use hurtful words without anyone even knowing who we are. If you think about it in our country.

No other blooper believers have ever faced this gossip is big business in America. I mean there are magazines that are magazines only for gossip. There are television shows that are only shows about gossip.

That's all there are there are top shows some called the talk and all it is is the talk about gossip.

We see this over and over again in our culture. The problem with it is we become pretty much immune to it.

In that sense and what often happens as we begin to be part of that narrative, we begin to talk in the same way we don't see anything wrong with gossiping about people we don't see anything really wrong about using hurtful words were describing somebody, but I can tell you this from our point of view is very different than God's see I think it's one of the most pervasive since we have as a congregation. I'm not afraid to say it but I imagine a world whole congregation of gossipers and we would do that is that doesn't really matter much because it's a very small thing, but that's not the case.

That's not true at all. Rick Warren says that gossip is when we are talking about someone and we are not part of the problem or part of the solution were likely gossiping. I Webster says it's a room or report of an intimate nature. The Bible often calls gossipers and I love this whispers the kind of person that brings her voice dying and wants to tell you something about somebody else. The definition I like is it sharing information, which damages another person's reputation with those who do not need to know and see what God says about this with me to Proverbs chapter 6 Proverbs chapter 6 and verse 16 is extremely insightful.

These four verses in verse 16. The writer starts out and says there are six things which the Lord hates, now that's an unusual sad situation to see in Scripture you don't find a lot of passengers were God says I hate that.

But this is one of their six things of the Lord hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to him. So God says that there are seven things I just hate the irony of this is you.

If you never read this passage before with think why know what those are, because he's going to hate the kind of sins that I hate and you know the kind of sins you hate you really believe that the worst kind of sins of the kind you wouldn't commit. You see that seal that works. You would never do that. Notice what he starts out with. He says the first thing I hate her haughty eyes. I just love that you know what haughty eyes are you look at me and don't you wish you were me from God's point of view, it's amazing that man could be proud when you think of the despicable nature, but all the snow people with haughty eyes, and we understand that he says haughty eyes. Then he says a lying tongue, he said, hands that shed innocent blood. We agree with that heart that devises evil plans. I get it feet the run rapidly. The evil that makes sense and then he says a false witness who utters lies and then he says, and one who spreads strife among brothers. Some of the modern paraphrases take that latter part of verse 19 and simply say one of gossipers there seven things listed in three of them are about your tongue. Three of the seven or about the way you talk the things that you do you lie you bear false witness, and use so strife among concerning other people.

He says gotchas I hate gotchas I hate gossip. If there's one thing I hate. I hate it. Oddly enough, there's something sickeningly attractive about it is she got hates it, but this be honest we love it. You love to hear that information to you if you're not a lover to want to dispense it. Your lover, to want to hear it. I love to hear that.

I don't like to hear about how bad something is going for somebody else that's an amazing thing from God's point of view show you what God things about. Look at Proverbs 18 in verse eight, Proverbs 18 in verse eight I love this passage. Here the writer says this the words of a whisper. Unlike Dany morsels and they go down into the innermost parts of the body.

The words of a whisper like Dany morsels. You know what that's like, like up caviar for some of you people like crawfish tails or oysters you know some Dany Hall that taste so good. That's exactly what happens when you hear somebody giving you guys. I love that you see God says I hate that.

But we say I love that we save are those words do you wonder why why do we love to hear that kind of thing. There's really only a couple reasons.

One of them would be don't you just love it when other people are not down a peg or two you see the kind of knockdown and you get an idea well I kind of always thought they were quite as good as everybody said it was.

You see I get in on the other hand, by the way, related that another reason we like gossip disorder builds us up. Hey look I may not be perfect, but I never did that and I would do that. So I feel better about myself.

He says we savor it. That's the way we like it but these words can do incredible harm. Look at Proverbs 16 with me just another few pages you left. Proverbs 16 in verse 27 he says a worthless man digs up evil. While his words are like a scorching fire, a perverse man spreads strife and a slanderer separates intimate friends. That's the power of the words that's what they can accomplish. Notice what God says about people who like to gossip or use hateful words, he said the worthless.

He said there perverse. Would you ever use those terms. Worthless and perverse know you know who the worthless, and a perverse people are there. There's people out there doing those despicable things. But God says no gossipers despicable to me is extremely hurtful.

He said that's what's going on here. He said a slanderer separates intimate friends. You can get them back to want you like them or when you're saving now I know what you might be saying is that well. But you know – I don't really do that at that kind of stuff I I'd I don't say those terrible now.

Udo probably Christians are very good at couching. In other words, now they don't fool God, but they fool themselves and that makes them feel better. So Christian say things like this you know she's always someone I admired, but after what she did last week I told you I admired no Christians really thought it through, we turn gossip into often and this is sad to say prayer request. That's how we operate. We do things like this we say please be in prayer for Megan as she's doing things with her boyfriend that she should be doing is just gossip. Pray that Bob stays away from the woman in accounting that is been flirting with its support request, prayer is great but you do realize God already knows the situation. You see, I could just say pray for Bob. God knows exactly what's going on now I need to know I want to know what he struggling with, so that I can pray in a different way.

Not the way you see, God sees in a very different way. What is God standard go with me. The New Testament, Ephesians chapter 4 Ephesians chapter 4 and verse 29 and God says look. Let me tell you what I think your speech should be like. That way if you talk that way you'll be fine with me. I want to tell you right up front. He says I hate gossip I hate it so. Ephesians 429.

The apostle Paul is writing the church of Ephesus, and I love the beginning of this piece is let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth is one of the first verses by the way, after I was saved. I remember highlighting in my Bible. It was in King James version and what it was like no I'm kind word come from your mouth. Remember what a standard that's an incredibly high standard and 11 say what ended up studying Greek and understood. It's an imperative mood. I understood it was a commandment look. Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth while see.

I think what we often say is okay that I'll try to do that you know often what I'm telling people is true. Now that's not good enough you could be telling the truth and still gossiping to understand.

Notice the standard God puts on it.

Let no unwholesome word proceed from her mouth.only such a word that is good for edification. According to the need of the moment so that it will give grace to those who as a whole different standard. You see are these words edifying to these words allow grace to the other people you see whatever my situation is this is what God says, but only in other words, God says that one of the most important things you have to learn when you're trying to control your tongue as you have to learn the principle of consent restraint.

There are some things you just shouldn't say there are some things you just shouldn't talk about his daughter saying or sometimes when you need to use restraint with me back now to Proverbs chapter 11 them illustrate this. Proverbs chapter 11 verse 12. The first part of verse 12 says this.

Hugh despises his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding keeps silent, then the next verse he goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets but he who is trustworthy conceals a matter what is he saying use restraint you need to use restraint just because something is true doesn't mean you needed one broadcasted everybody if those people are part of the problem part of the solution. What are you doing well. It's true, I just want people to know what the truth is, no that's not what you want to tear somebody down and notice what he says he's quite clear on it. Here goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, but he was trustworthy, conceals a matter matter really the question is whether they need to know or not. By the way, you can certainly have an effect on you with others where you realize it or not, go with me to Proverbs 25 in verse nine, Proverbs 25 in verse nine. In these two verses notice with the writer will say here the writer says, argue your case with your neighbor. He says and do not reveal the secret of another cog people straight up but don't reveal the secret of another he says or he who hears it will reproach you, and the evil report about you will not pass away. He says you will destroy your own reputation with other people and you reveals secrets see that's whittling up happening in but we think about theological point of view. If someone gossips to you.

I am certain they will gossip about you to see if there telling other stories do you tell your stories to others that Salima what just works so you have to be extremely careful here not just in the giving and but here on the receiving end so I could just go through a list of questions that five questions before you listen to someone else telling you information about people.

The first question is this what is your reason for telling me while he telling you she never ask that why you're telling this, you see I can't fix it is not part of my problem is not on the part of solution. Why are you telling me this. The second question is this word you get the information from see where did you get it now. I know some easy lies on the Internet everything in units. True, you know that can put it on… True Lysol newscast and those people always tell you the truth and where did you get the information I love the apostle Paul when it comes to this is writing his letter to the Corinthians, and he said I have been informed my brother and by Chloe's people that you quarters quarrels among you. Paul is not inclined to sit. I understand there's quarrels among you, and I was told that by Chloe's people who are in the church so I got my information from people in the church he names who they are. Often when people gossip they don't name at all know somebody told me I'm always amazed that somebody just told me I could reveal the information I could tell you they were, but you could tell me the information, but you can tell me who the people were told would he get the information. Number three. Have you gone directly to those involved get wrestle in that weight. If you talk to the if you talk to her about this of you talk to him about this going directly now. Inevitably, the answer of course is what no Matthew 18 says, though, that if there's somebody involved in something like sin, you go there you talk to them if they won't listen, you get another person until you go in talking up they don't listen, you end up bringing it to the whole church, and if they don't listen you treated was an infant, but the point of it is you got it going to go to the source so that you bring to them. If you talk to her about this. Did you talk to him about this inevitably enters always the same. No, I just want to spread the information and then number four. Have you personally checked out the facts. Did you check out all these facts for you just simply relaying what you heard. Proverbs 1817 says that the first to present his case that seems right into another person comes boarding questions received this way. My wife gave me this information is a quote from Dr. Phil and I love to save use that a lot. Dr. Phil says no matter how thin the pancake is it still has two sides. You see, have you heard the other side.

She did you hear the other side will know I would heard the other side he said, look, that's what that's what were talking about here. In that case, he said, look, you have to understandably check these facts out for myself.

It always seems right when you hear the first time from one person for that something of learned over all the years of marriage counseling. That's why try to counsel couples only together because if you counsel.

One of them in the beginning you and a prejudice and is inevitable and I very only on the ministry. I can remember. I would counsel with one of the people involved for say a couple sessions and I boy, I actually had my mind the image that this person when they come in is going to have horns and they can have big teeth that hang out and you going to be horrible people just as vulgar as up just for men to come in my office. The delightful all by the way, we start talking about all the problems.

I realize wait a minute, this what I was told before isn't true.

You see there's something else. Only you know what happens in the context of like that type of counseling your prejudice. That's the beauty we in America think of this, every conflict of ever had marriage your prejudice you like your side.

That's why you're in conflict. You see your side so that's a very important part. You have to check out the facts and then the last question, I think you can always answer is this one.

Can you say to the person. Can I quote you after I take check this out. Can I ever be worried. Don't quote me you want to told me you should be quoted. See, those of the questions what is the reason for you telling me this where you get your information. Have you gone directly to those involved have you personally checked out the facts and can I call you when this is over. Pastor broke apart on the radio ministry or fellowship floor if you ever miss one of our broadcast or maybe you dislike.

Listen to the message one more time. Remember the good a great website called one place.com that's one place.com and you can listen to Fellowship in the Word online at that website you will find on with today's broadcast but also many of our previous audio programs as Fellowship in the Word. We are thankful for those who financially support our ministry and make this broadcast possible. We ask all of our listeners to prayerfully consider how you might help his radio ministry continuous broadcast on this radio station by supporting a monthly with just a one-time gift support for ministry can be sent to Fellowship in the Word. 4600 Clearview Pkwy., Metairie, LA 7006 if you would be interested in hearing today's message in its original format that is is a sermon, the pastor will deliver during a Sunday morning service of fellowship monitored visit our website FVC Nola.org that FVC 10 oh LA.O RG at our website you will find hundreds. Pastor Bill sermon. You can browse through our sermon archives to find the sermon series you're looking for. You can search by title. Once you find the message you're looking for. You can listen online or if you prefer, you can download the sermon and listen at your own.

And remember, you can do all this absolutely free of charge. Once again our website FVC Nola.org forecaster of heart disease and heart.

Thank you for listening to fellowship in order