From Pastor John Collins on Heaven’s Country (8.2.20):
.....I heard
"I went through the archive for Pastor John Collins Marty Smith, and do you know how many times in the last six years we talked about gossip? 24. You know why? Kinda like last week when we talked about the old pastor doing John 3:16 over and over its because people aren’t catching it.
"I think that one of the worst things any human being can do to another is to either be a gossip, a slanderer, or a busybody. I’ve said this, and I don’t know how more plain I can be by saying this, if the audience again they’re not going to like my language “if you don’t have anything nice to say about somebody that can build them up, shut up, because you’re only doing Satan’s work by putting them down and keeping them down.”
Proverbs 21:23 (ESV): “whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble”
....But not so much that it keeps himself out of trouble in the eyes of God, but you may not be tearing down somebody’s soul. I just think that somebody that doesn’t have anything good to say about somebody, keep your mouth quiet. If you get your jollies by talking about other people to try to discredit them, or disprove them, you’re not much of a Christian and in my eyes you’re not much of a human being in the first place. You know, we have such a problem with everybody wants to be better than everybody else and they will say and do whatever it is that will get them status, and the heck with what the other person feels. Marty, you and I are big advocates of suicide prevention. Suicide is caused a lot by bullying because of peoples actions and their tongue. A lot of sleepless nights are caused by people’s actions and their tongues.
Gossip has been a repeated topic in blogs and posts and sermons by Pastor John over the years…..and we still need to hear the truth.
The following are composed from previous blogs, posts, and sermons by Pastor John Collins. When are we going to get it?
From Evangelist, Pastor John Collins during a revival:
Are our own lives so boring that we must entertain ourselves with the pain and humiliation of others? Do we really need to know who is doing what and why? Is it any of our business? Isn’t there something we could be doing that is productive and good? Isn’t there a wholesome way we could converse with each other? Is it really any of our business to discuss the sex lives of others? Is it proper to discuss our own sex lives with others? Is there nothing that is sacred anymore? Is there nothing we will not expose about someone just because we can?
“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” Ephesians 4:29 (NKJV).
Gossip is the same as murder in the eyes of the Lord. It harms people, it destroys reputations and it is just an awful way to spend your time. It is a part of society today and it is shameful and wrong. Think of your conversations, consider your words and know that idle speech is of the devil. We should all cast away our joy in gossip and learn to bridle our tongues. Be careful of what you say and what you readily listen to. You don’t have to be polite and listen to gossip. You can easily say, “I prefer not to hear that.” Life can be easily simplified by not engaging in idle talk.
“But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” James 3:8 (NKJV).
Your tone of voice is an indication of the true intent behind your words. Someone may say something that is true and yet the way in which it is said and the words that are chosen are either combative and malicious, calm and soothing, frank and impartial, or ingratiating and patronizing. Each of us should always be careful of intentions and try to avoid causing others to stumble in this life.
Our emotions determine our actions. When we are angry at someone and have no forgiveness in our hearts for a situation or person then our speech about anything concerning that situation or person will be hateful and bitter. When we are jealous of someone then our speech about them will be spiteful and cutting. When we are hurt we can lash out and try to hurt in return and say awful things that cannot be taken back but just becomes the next set of words and the next situation that must be repented of and forgiven. Life is exhausting if you do not manage to gain the perspective that permits you to desire to seek righteousness and obtain that goal.
“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.” Proverbs 6: 16-19. (NKJV).
Jesus was righteous and His life taught that you can become righteous and you can do the right thing. You do this by choosing to learn how God sees things and by trusting that God will take care of the justice of this world. Humans are prideful and stubborn and always want to think that they are the wronged party, the misunderstood and the victimized. Humans just have that wrong.
Jesus came and showed us that life isn’t fair, life is tough, and people are judgmental and can be hateful. Jesus came and showed us that forgiveness is right, kindness is good and that God does value His children. Jesus showed us that our words have the power to hurt, heal, encourage, deflate, inspire and so many other wonderful and terrible things. You need to be willing to give your soul a chance at salvation and to that you need to be willing to obey the Lord, hear the Lord and submit to the Lord. You cannot do that if you are always right, always defensive or offensive, prideful, stubborn, unforgiving, hateful, bitter or unwilling to bend.
“Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.” James 3:5-6 (NKJV).
LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, EVANGELIST
Reach Pastor John Collins through John Collins Ministries at www.johncollinsministries.com or through email at jcollinsministries@gmail.com. Listen to Pastor John Collins on Heaven's Country Radio on Sundays at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Mountain Time.
