“The Heart that Wagsthe Tongue: Gossip Among God’s People” is the best article that I have read about gossip and the only helpful thing I had read before embarking on this project. [1] In just four pages, Brenda Payne explores the connection between the human heart and gossip, provides hope-giving gospel remedies, and suggests practical means of combating gossip in every day life. “When it comes to gossip, we must be fire extinguishers–not high winds that fan the flames! God’s mercy is a river where waters douse the fire of gossip.” [2]
[1]Brenda Payne, “The Heart that Wags the Tongue: Gossip Among God’s People,” The Journal of Biblical Counseling 23, no. 2 (Spring 2005): 40-43.
[2]Brenda Payne, “The Heart that Wags the Tongue: Gossip Among God’s People,” The Journal of Biblical Counseling 23, no. 2 (Spring 2005): 41.
Note: We are in the middle of a long blog series working through my doctoral research into the problem of gossip. We have listened to many voices along the way--proponents of gossip, those who have exacerbated or exploited the problem, those who are ambiguous or ambivalent, and now opponents of gossip both secular and religious.
Three weeks ago, we surveyed the contributions of business leaders, social workers, educators, and Jewish moral teaching against gossip.
This week, we are continuing to interact with Christian teachers throughout church history.
Next week, we will begin to review full-length Christian books on the subject of gossip that are in print today.
0 comments:
Post a Comment