The woman was horrified… “You wouldn’t dare do that”. She was a member in the church and had just been told by the pastor that she was likely to be disciplined for her continual sinful behaviour, unless she repented. What had she done? Adultery? Theft? Abuse? No – she was a persistent gossip, continually slandering people within and beyond the congregation.
It’s not often you hear of that – and yet the Bible speaks strongly about the sin of gossip. “Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.” (Prov.26 v20 NIV) “You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbour: I am the Lord” (Lev.19v16 ESV). “Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it” (James 4v11NIV).
It is also interesting just how many times the Psalmist David expresses concern about those who tell lies about him. He knew that whilst spears and arrows could harm, words were just as dangerous: “Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue” (Ps 120v2).
Can you be evangelical and vote Green?
en does not support any one particular party. However, we are interested in evangelicals within each of our political …