One thing that is true in many workplaces, in families and unfortunately in many local churches, is that if there are at least three people, two will likely be gossiping about the other.
While this is damaging in the world, gossip and slander are completely contrary to the Gospel and should not be a part of our lives as Christians.
We know this, but how do we fight it.
If we are prone to be the ones to speak these kinds of death words (Proverbs 18:21) without any care for the person's restoration, then our first action is to shut our mouths, repent and move on.
Sometimes though, there is a genuine concern for a person or a group. At that point we should go to the person one on one. If we don't know how to do so in the right way, then it may be necessary to go to another person in the church to help us address the issue, all the while remaining ready to be a part of the solution.
If you are on the receiving end of this kind of situation and someone in your local church comes to you for guidance or to ask for your help mediating then be careful to quickly bring the "offender" into the conversation as well and make it clear that no one who casts accusations or concerns in the church should require anonymity.
Of course there may be a VERY FEW cases where some discretion will be wise, be careful if someone wants to be a "silent party". A lot of arrows are slung from the shadows.
I believe a concern that needed a mediator may have been at the root of the letter of 1 Corinthians.
It is true that part of the letter was concerned with answering questions sent to Paul from the church in Corinth, but Paul doesn't get to answer those questions until chapter 7. The first six chapters deal with a report from "Chloe's people" (1 Corinthians 1:11).
We can't know for sure, but this doesn't seem to be a case of Chloe's people gossiping under the cloak of a "prayer request". It seems that there was ginuine concern for the believers in Corinth and a report of a need for intervention.
So Paul is confident in naming who the report came from.
If Paul were to write to someone in your local church family about how they should deal with something you have been talking about to other people, would you be comfortable with him writing, "I heard from (your name here) that you've been sinning in this way..."
If not, stop talking about that other person until your heart is for genuine restoration and until you are willing to work openly and honestly with the person.
And, if you seem to be the person who everyone wants to talk gossip with, you have the responsibility to stop allowing that and stop giving them an outlet for their sin of gossip.
We can usually put a stop to the gossip by saying something like this:
"I can tell that you are concerned about (person's name). Let's go talk with them over some coffee and include them in this conversation so that they will know that we are here to help them."
If they are simply interested in character assassination then they will quickly shut up. Praise the Lord for that.
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