Every year, many people give up gossiping for Lent--or at least they try. Gossiping and backbiting (detraction, or the revealing of another person's secret faults, as opposed to calumny, which is lying) is one of the most common of sins. It is also one of the most deadly, because it destroys the natural bonds that we should have to our fellow man.
There's an excellent pamphlet called The Backbiting Tongue, written in the late 19th century by a Father Bélet of the Diocese of Basle, Switzerland. In it, he makes a point that few of us ever think about. Did you know that it is possible to do wrong by saying something that is true?
Now you might object, "Do you mean to say I can't tell the truth?" No, my friend. It is not permitted, unless you can do so without harming your neighbor. What you say is true, I admit, but it is hidden. The sinner has wounded his conscience in God's sight, but he has not lost his reputation before men; therefore, you may not weaken or destroy it with your tongue. And even if the sin you reveal is not altogether secret but known only to a few, as long as it is not public knowledge, you are backbiting if you reveal it to someone who is unaware of it. And thus you are harming your neighbor.
In these last two weeks before Easter 2012, we would do well to keep these words in mind. The devil is never more active than when Christians are making progress in their spiritual lives. If this Lent has gone well for you so far, it is important to guard against backsliding--and there are few easier ways to fall than to engage in gossiping and backbiting.
More Lenten Thoughts of the Day:
- Thought of the Day: Fasting and Perseverance
- Thought of the Day: The Prodigal Son
- Thought of the Day: Detachment
- Thought of the Day: The Solitary Life
Connect With Scott: Facebook | Twitter | Newsletters
Oh this so true! People can easily hear a truth from you and change it into something completely untrue!
So when it involves the least little thing about any one of your personal friends or family–best left unsaid!!!
The book of Saint James is perfect reading about the tongue being as the rudder of a ship!
I was always taught that sin can be in thought as well as in deed. So in this case listening to gossip and keeping silent may also be sinful.
My daughter and I were victims of malicious slander which nearly cost our lives as it was a case of “ganging for gain”! It cost our health and financial resources. Gossip leads to dangerous sins of the tongue…and evil. I pray to the Lord for restoring two fold our losses. May Our Lord with His Spirit always guide our tongues for His works and praise only.
If we follow the Golden Rule, we should be stopping to think about this. Even if something in our lives is true, do we want people talking about it in a public setting?
Hi Scott
Thanks for yet another succinct and telling insight.
May I share the following:
Words
And the Word is God.
And my word is me.
And all the words we speak,
Well-intentioned or not,
From head or heart,
Well-thought, well-formed, or not,
From tip of tongue or depth of soul,
Are us
As they all come from us,
With all the effect and force
We wield within the universe,
As God-like as we are.
Thus as we bless or curse
Will blessing or cursing spread
From out our mouths
Across the land and sea and sky,
Across the past and present and future,
Throughout the universe around;
Into the land and sea and sky,
The past and present and future,
Of the universe within,
The universes of our souls.
Words . . .
Words that carry
Our thoughts and feelings,
Our minds and hearts,
Our selves and spirits.
If you should now still doubt
That this be really true,
Imagine all the people in the world
Saying the same word
Like ‘peace,’
And totally intend it,
With heart and mind and soul;
Or ‘let’s be kind’
All in one heart and mind and soul.
What do you think would spread
Across the land and sea and sky,
The land and sea and sky,
Past present future,
Past present future.
God set a guard against our lips,
Before the words come out our mouths,
For us to think what they can do to those around,
To think what they can do to us inside.
Or better yet, God willing,
The words that come from out of us
Be only those that bless,
Be only those that bless.
His blessings on us
john
Hi Scott,
i feel the best rule to follow that will keep us away from gossip and sinning against our neighbor is `CONCERN YOURSELF WITH WHAT COCERNS YOU.This will keep a lot of people from trouble