"Gossip-Free" Pastor Kevin Hester's Message
(Readers, yesterday I received a comment on one of my blogs and I'd like to reprint it here.He is referring to this article I wrote.)
"Hey, have you heard? Oh, you’ve just got to hear this!" What do you do when you hear those words? It’s almost like a beautiful three course meal when you’re absolutely famished. Your interest is definitely peaked. Your mouth begins to water. You’re anticipating that first bite, a juicy morsel and your hunger must be satisfied.
Gossip is absolutely delicious, addicting in its way, but it can have devastating consequences for its victim. That’s why I (Pastor Kevin Hester) have challenged people around the world to go “Gossip Free”. What? You say. Gossip Free? I can’t do that. Well, you may not be in good company necessarily, but you definitely have a lot of it.
The Book of James says,” If any man could bridle (or control) his tongue he’d be a perfect man”. Not one of us has ever been able to tame our tongue and we’ve all participated in gossip about another person, business, church, political leader etc. If we are going to commit to being gossip-free it is important to clear up any questions or blurred lines concerning gossip.
I have defined gossip as sharing negative information about another person or entity, whether the information is true or false, when neither the speaker nor the listener are directly involved in a resolution to an issue.
I do understand that there are times when it’s necessary and right to share information about another person. Sometimes information needs to be shared in order to protect someone (or a business or church) from harm. When it becomes necessary to share negative information, it ought to be done with a heart of love toward that person, preserving as much of that person’s dignity as possible and it ought not be shared outside of the scope of necessity. I have shared the Gossip Free Challenge around the country and I would be lying if I said I haven’t found those who are not at all interested in addressing the issue of gossip; but I have found many more who have seen the devastating effects of gossip and they are excited to see that somebody is taking a stand against it.
Is there a “High cost to Low talk”? The following stories will give you enough evidence for you to decide for yourself. I received a phone call from an elderly lady in Texas, who had gotten out of Church and become an atheist because of gossip she had encountered in the church.
I spoke with a lady in Indiana who shared that her nephew had been an excellent student and was active in high school, but the gossip became so bad at school and on-line, that he left the public school system and is now being home schooled.
A young man from the Midwest shared how gossip about him became so vicious and had such lasting effects that he had been contemplating suicide.
I have been told of businesses that have been ruined, churches that have split (some even closed) because of gossip. Employees have been fired for gossiping and others have lost their jobs because of gossip that was spoken about them.
Families have been split, friendships have been destroyed, and communities have been forever changed by gossip. The devastation is simply too rampant to list. It’s very clear that gossip truly is a tool in the hands of the thief who comes forth to steal, kill, and destroy.
The eight day challenge goes on (We didn’t want this challenge to end on Aug. 15). If you would like more information about the Gossip Free Challenge, you can visit us at gossipfree .You can also find out more about the church I pastor by visiting Go To The Sanctuary.
I am also making myself available, along with my wife, to present this challenge to churches, businesses, school classrooms, teams etc.
Thank you, Pastor Kevin Hester, Coloma, Michigan
APRIL LORIER - So. California. An award-winning poet, inspirational author and speaker. A survivor of both child abuse and adult domestic abuse, April inspires women to be all that God designed them to be! She first gained recognition as a children's rights crusader while successfully fighting for the passage of the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), which was signed into law by Ronald Reagan. Her book God's Battered Child: Journey From Abuse to Leader
is available on her blogs and in online stores.
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