The Gossiper

 Someone I know quite well lamented to me about a situation within his community in which half-truths were propagated against him. Naturally, it hurts anyone to know that people find weakness for exploitation, this person is no exception. This is clearly an American sin that knows no boundaries. America is a Godless country that has lost the sense of decency and what is right. It prides itself on false pretenses. 

I ask myself why people resort to such behavior. Why they take a rumor and use it as a weapon to destroy a person. I myself have been victimized by this a number of times from unscrupulous neighbors, co-workers and people in the Church. 

There is a difference between talking about someone about mundane subjects and another about malicious gossip that is designed with one thing and that is to destroy someone's reputation. In particular, there is a difference between reporting facts versus distorted facts, again this is to destroy people. 

Gossip is evil. 

 “The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” -Book of James 3:6

I do not know anyone who is without fault (sin), it is impossible. Even the most "perfect" among us has faults. The person who readily admits their faults and helps others who are less fortunate are the most admired in my opinion.

No one is without fault. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23).

Of course, many people lack self -realization which blinds them to their own shortcomings. Jesus spoke clearly about judging others.  

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged."

“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite!  First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye."

Some facts about gossipers:

1/ Gossipers fall into the temptation to destroy a person because they are undisciplined and gullible. They lack critical thinking skills. They certainly lack proper judgement skills to correctly interpret information, so they jump to irrational conclusions. 

2/ Suspect that they are mentally ill or at the very least they are emotionally ill. 

2/ Gossipers are weak people, they are morally weak, emotionally weak and spiritually weak. They tempt others to join their weakness. 

3/ Gossipers will lunge at anyone so they can elevate their weaknesses. They use gossip to divert focus away from their own shortcomings.

4/ Gossip is as (if not more) evil than other egregious sins. 

5/ Gossipers have low IQs and low moral standards. 

6/ They are nosy and intrusive, they seek information not to help you but to exploit your weakness to others. 

7/ Gossipers should never be trusted (if they are gossiping about someone else to you, they are certainly gossiping about you to others).

What to do when faced with gossipers. First realize that they are weak in mind and spirit. Secondly realize they are not to be trusted, so seek out smart and mature people to help you. Remember that gossipers are like parasites, they need to feed on other people, at some point, they will find new victims and you will be forgotten.

Get the law on your side. US law allows for monetary damages for defamation of character. I took the opportunity to seek legal counsel and you should too. 

"Keep away from small-minded people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you too can become great."  -Mark Twain

"Strong minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, weak minds discuss people" -Socrates