(Disclaimer: Some articles and links to articles published in this ezine may contain false doctrine. They are included due to some valuable content. The fact that they are printed here does not mean that we accept or endorse their doctrine. All writings of men, including ours, should be carefully compared to the New Testament writings.)

We are often faced with bewilderment when we see Christians whom we have held in extremely high esteem for years suddenly, for no understandable reason, become totally unconcerned about what the scriptures say and follow a path of hypocrisy and self righteousness. After reading a number of articles concerning such, I find little to resolve the matter. Several possibilities surfaced but few carried the necessary criteria to be acceptable. A mental problem, physical difficulties, a bad person who had feigned goodness over the years, a stroke or other brain damage, etc. One of these might have merit if only one person were being considered but when several do the same thing, it doesn't fit.

I did read one whose analysis made some sense and I share it here. There are those, it seems, that are basically good and decent people but are overly convinced of their own level of goodness or righteousness. Further, this may be caused in part by success in business or their perception that others see them as very devout and sincere Christians. Actually, this sounds somewhat like the Pharisees were.

There are no sins more destructive and harmful to the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, than that of members who feel they are "better" or that they sin less than the other members. And more especially when they openly sin on a daily basis in their gossiping criticism of others. Where there are such members of a congregation, you may well expect it to self destruct unless disciplinary action is taken against those who sow the discord.

Following is a quote from an article by Wayne Jackson with an excellent Bible reference:

"On the other hand, for reasons perhaps known only by oneself and God, a good person can choose to turn from goodness and do evil—recklessly, with unrestrained abandon. "

(Ezekiel 18:24)
"But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die."

There have been instances when one received just a minor scrape or wound but due to infection gangrene developed and the result was amputation of an arm or leg. Gossip too, is a tiny thing that can end in disaster. Its damage can be likened to a lighted match thrown into a dry forest. Gossip shatters friendships, breaks hearts and disrupts churches. Many of us may have been victims of it and perhaps more of us have been a party to it.

Gossip can be cultivated into a fine art. There is the blunt approach. It is stated we don’t like a person and here are the reasons why. We might even add, “I’d say it to his face, too”. The fact is we are hiding behind our gossip rather than facing the one that has irritated us. Then there is the subtle approach. We say, “Yes she is a nice person but it’s too bad about her habit of....” We then spend twenty minutes or more running her down.

Christians ought to frequently review James 3:1-6. Special notice should be taken of some phrases in verses 5 and 6. “So also the tongue is a small part of the body...how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire...” Few scriptures apply more on a daily basis. Did you know the Bible places a gossip on the equality with a drunk? At Titus 2:3 older women are told “not to be malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine”. In the mind of the Holy Spirit one is as bad as the other.

Putting others down hurts us in at least two ways. First, others lose confidence in us. Second, we become abnormally conscious of how others are critical of us and extra sensitive to the opinions, of others. The result is mutual distrust.

There are reasons why people indulge in gossip. Some find a degree of enjoyment in discussing the faults of other people. Proverbs 26:22 suggests, “the words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels”. Newscasters have long known that “scandal makes news”. Why is it pleasurable to them? It brings about an unconsciousness of our faults. Pulling others to pieces make them feel better about themselves.

Some folks just love to create a sensation. “Small minds love to bring large news and failing a load will make one”. One can momentarily be a center of attention with gossip. Likely there are other psychological mechanisms for gossip but he basic reason is a lack of love. When we love people, we do not constantly pick flaws. “Love covers all transgressions”(Prov. 10:12). We don’t advertise sins of people we love any more than we would advertise our own. If we love someone we are slow to believe wrong about them.

Gossiping can be overcome. “For lack of wood fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down” (Prov. 26:20). If one comes bringing a “dainty tidbit”, simply tell them, “Since it is so important to you, let’s go and talk to that person”. If there are no gossipy ears, there will be few gossipy tongues.

(Reprinted from the Hatton church of Christ bulletin Archives.)

"'I can forgive, but I cannot forget' is but another way of saying, 'I will not forgive.' Forgiveness ought to be like a canceled note - torn in two and burned up, so that it never can be shown against one." (Henry Ward Beecher)

There are times when mistakes are made and things need to be pointed out. And, unfortunately, we all know that offering criticism can sometimes make a bad situation even worse. Serious thought needs to go into what we will say. Maybe it would help if we would ask the following questions before offering criticism:

1. Why am I doing this?
Am I really wanting to help this person, or am I just doing this to make myself feel better? Am I trying to improve the situation, or do I just want to say, "I told you so!"? What is my motive?

"Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others" (Phil. 2:3-4). Regardless of what the world believes, we don’t have the right to let off some steam at the expense of another. Criticism that is only going to make us feel better needs to be kept to ourselves.

2. Do I have a right to criticize?
Was I available when this person could have used some help before? Can I sympathize with what they are going through? Can I offer some positive suggestions to go along with the criticism? Some people like to just sit on the sidelines and criticize the labors of others. But such people really have no right to criticize.

3. Have I examined myself?
It is not right for me to give criticism that I am not willing to take. Jesus says that I must make sure that the log is out of my eye first, then I can offer to help my brother get the speck out of his eye (Matt. 7:3-5). Criticism is respected when it comes from a respectable person, but no one appreciates a hypocrite.

4. What will I say, and how will I say it?
This is very important. I must choose my words very carefully. They have the power to build up or destroy (Proverbs 12:18, 16:24). As Paul said, "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt" (Col. 4:6). What we say, and the way we say it, will make all the difference in the world.

5. Will it glorify God?
"Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31). Who’s glory am I seeking? Am I saying something to help the cause of Christ or just to be heard? If it is just to be seen and heard by men, then truly I have my reward (Matt. 6:1-6).

(Altered rerun from ezine 01/07/03)
Well, here it is, 2006 and it seems like only a few weeks back when everyone was frightened of the Y2K bug. Six years passed in only a few short weeks. We did witness some awful things during that time though. Let us all pray that this year will bring many wonderful things as far as progress towards world peace, and progress in our efforts to spread God's word.

I do want to thank every one of you who subscribe to this ezine for your loyalty. I hope you will all resolve this year to try and convert at least one soul to Christ. And while you are resolving, resolve to find me another or two of good Christians who would enjoy receiving this feeble effort of mine. I would like to build up my subscriber base but only with those who want it.

I hope for all of you, good health and much happiness this coming year. I hope you get to feel a baby grasp your finger, I hope you get to smell a puppy's breath, see kittens run and startle one another, have a dog run to meet you each evening, when you come home from work, so overjoyed that he can hardly contain himself and I hope you see many beautiful sunrises. I hope you get to smell honeysuckles this next Spring and, if you live in the areas where they are, hear Whippoorwills calling each evening. I hope that whatever may be worrying you, turns out to be something wonderful. And I hope that you might get to hear a little girl say "I love you, Daddy (or Mama, which ever the case may be)"

And above all I pray that, if any of us fail to make it through this year, that we will have lived our lives so that we may meet in Glory, "...and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

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Diplomacy is the art of saying "good doggie" while looking for a bigger stick.

Don't be irreplaceable; if you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.

For every action there is an equal and opposite criticism.