Why is there so much gossiping in the Church?  Doesn't the Bible tell us not to be busybodies and gossipers?
465212
A lot of what is in the world is often brought inside the Lord's house. Although God emphasized that His house should be a house of prayer not gossip and slander, this is often the case. Even in the most anointed, closely knit congregations you would still find gossips and busybodies, people eager to get into your business instead of minding there own. The solution, pray against it. My church often prays against gossip and slander against the body and God either corrects them or removes them from His house of worship. God hates division in His house. When someone speaks a negative word or a "he said, she said" word to you, take it to the Lord and end it there. Who wants to come to church to be talked about, slandered and have nosey people in your face while you are seeking God's face. Church is always suppose to be about Jesus, not about us so that those who are lost and truly seeking God will be encouraged and edified and lifted up, not put down. We supposed to be building up each other, not putting one another down. Christ is the "glory and the lifter of our heads."
149378
I would openly talk to him and point out that you do not appreciate his attention when you two are surrounded by fellow church members.\n\nBy letting him know (in the presence of others) that you do NOT want him to continue what he's doing, you will later have other people to back you up that you DID tell him to bug off.\n\nAnother thing you could do (before telling him in front of that group of people) is to tell some of the church members what he's been doing and that you feel very, very uncomfortable about his actions.  .....I would also ask that they talk to him if possible.\n\nBest of everything!
257036
:}\nSome people just don't care about others.\nwe cant let that interfere with the calling we have in life\nexcept perhaps we might feel called to witness to that person or  to pray for them./
571330
if you are not willing to listen to Christ then are you not also close minded? it is quite intersting that the most close minded people are the ones that are "open" minded.
387170
OK, this is just a thought. But I got into the same thing when I studied John Wesley's concept of "second blessing holiness." [By the way, I used to live near a congregation that was a part of your denomination. You ain'y scary. ;-)] For what its worth, this is what I came up with, and its just my opinion. Sometimes a person reads a verse or section of scripture that REALLY says something to them. Something maybe no one else has ever noticed. The reason for it is that God is trying to show THEM something they need to know. It may nat apply to anyone else. But they miss that part and in trying to share it (which is OK) it becomes something else. It becomes "THIS is the way it is and its this way for everyone!" rather than what it was meant to be, which was "THIS is for YOU, if I wanted everyone else to see it I'd have shown it to everyone else." And its not that God is showing respect of persons in a case like this because I honestly believe that this type of thing is availabe to everyone. No respect of persons there. Its just that different people need to see things in a way that THEY can understand it and so grow closer to God. That's all it is. God dealing with people where they are. But, human ego being what it is, folks make something else out of it. And then theres the other thing where people just try to make it (the Bible) say all kinds of weird and wonderful stuff it doesn't because they want attention and money. And of course there is always ignorance, but that's another topic. But, hey, you can get that at Wal-Mart too. ;-)
359464
Not a saying, but I have heard that spreading gossip is like taking a bag of dust and ripping it open and throwing it all over your house.  Stopping that gossip is like cleaning up the dust by hand.
799028
I am from a small town and this is not meant to be synical but it is true....tell someone at church and make sure the local gossip overhears it. You can't buy better publicity.
845193
Preachers hiding their own scandals under a cloak of righteousness? This sure seems to be the case! I'm beginning to wonder about the chicken and the egg.  Does preaching hate against a group mean you're covering yourself, or does obsessive hate turn into compulsive behavior of the type you hate? Either way, it's another compelling reason to keep religion out of politics.
144546
No.  If you don't have something nice to say, you should keep it to yourself and mind your own business.\nThe Bible says when we die we will have to give account for every idle word we say. How ashamed will we be at some of our careless words and gossip?
1183754
Anyone who says they aren't a hypocrite is in serious danger of being a hypocrite. I think everyone is probably a hypocrite in some form or another. Whether on religious issues or something else. The way most Christians live their life is very Hippocratic (if that is a word) and are definitely not living how He tells us to. I know I am not living how He tells us to, although I seek to, I don't.
240852
people are going to talk and spread gossip good or bad let your charater speak for itself and if you know your not a sl*t why should you care about what she says anyway? Dont base your value on what other people think of you.
1139303
Good point. I suspect its because we concentrate on the humanistic level of relationships rather than leave things in the hands of God. Also we don't have busybody church brothers and sisters looking into our lives.
582580
Yes people gossip here in Pasadena Texas. I myself have been guilty of this sin. It is something that I am working on.\n\nA lot of times, I guess we have nothing better to talk about.  Instead of facing up to our own lives, our own mistakes, we'd (society that is) would rather hear about how bad someone else is or what they did.\n\nPretty sad huh?
715200
When your fellow christians are condemning you for being gay you should point out that none of them are living by the word of God either. I'm pretty sure God frowns on divorce, adultery, and a lot of other stuff that christians do all the time. According to God's word you're not even supposed to work on the sabbath, but they're not trying to ammend the constitution to enforce that rule, are they? They are using their religion as a moral cloak to hide their homophobia. Doesn't it seem strange that they crusade against homosexuality, but have nothing to say about any of the other sins people commit daily. Why do you want to be a part of all this nonsense anyway? Find your own path.
645553
As a Wiccan I feel this kind of thing is just ridiclous. People have been gossiping about others for many years and it hasnt changed much. People are known by their deeds not by their words in my opinion, if you put out kindness and have the forethought to choose your words before you speak, you got it made. \n\nIt is true that Christians have taken our symbols, our Sabbats and the like and incorporated them into their thealogy, symbolism and the like; but this is not the way of the modern day Christian, most are more tolerant of us these days then when the Christian Church began. \n\nTechnically, one cannot worship someone or something if one doesnt believe in it. Hope this helps. Blessed Be.
247899
You are asking a loaded question. The Church teaches that God interferes every moment of every day.  In fact, Jesus even told his disciples he would send them an "advocate" to aid them after his ascension. (John 14:16 NAB)
1047727
I am a Christian and I totally know what you mean.  I got away from my believes for a while because of all of the "rules".  Yes there are certain rules you should follow, but Christians these days take some things overboard.  I beleive that church today has gotten away from the heart of the ministry and more into the rules.  It is blinding Christians and it is very sad!  How are you supposed to witness to somebody if you are to worried about what they arre wearing, their music, what they do for fun and all of that???  Christians today need to let that go and realize that they are missing the chance to witness and care for others who are hurting just because of their uptightness.