A pastor counsels a female parishioner alone in his office.
A man is seen entering a bar to get some food.
An unmarried couple go somewhere together.
What do these sins have in common The silent sin never talked about is gossip. Of course we don't want our brothers to stumble, so any of those actions can trigger "concern", and others are told about it in the process. We don't have all of the facts, or now all of the details, but it doesn't stop many people from repeating what they know, or don't know. Yes, I am curious as the next fellow, and can't claim I'm without sin here myself.
For instance, I enjoy the company of my female friends and coworkers, and can't imagine using a chaperone like a 14 year old whenever I want to have a business lunch, or have a chat in her office with her.
People observe this, and the transgressors' actions seemingly destroy their testimony for Christ. We talk about other sins without fear of disagreement: drunkenness or lust, for example. But gossip is one rarely mentioned in the pulpit, or anywhere else in the church, I'd venture to guess. If only we could address all sin, and not handpick certain ones.
A man is seen entering a bar to get some food.
An unmarried couple go somewhere together.
What do these sins have in common The silent sin never talked about is gossip. Of course we don't want our brothers to stumble, so any of those actions can trigger "concern", and others are told about it in the process. We don't have all of the facts, or now all of the details, but it doesn't stop many people from repeating what they know, or don't know. Yes, I am curious as the next fellow, and can't claim I'm without sin here myself.
For instance, I enjoy the company of my female friends and coworkers, and can't imagine using a chaperone like a 14 year old whenever I want to have a business lunch, or have a chat in her office with her.
People observe this, and the transgressors' actions seemingly destroy their testimony for Christ. We talk about other sins without fear of disagreement: drunkenness or lust, for example. But gossip is one rarely mentioned in the pulpit, or anywhere else in the church, I'd venture to guess. If only we could address all sin, and not handpick certain ones.
