Wyoming evangelist Pastor John Collins gave a sermon on gossip, being a busybody, and curbing your tongue.
Pastor John Collins is an evangelist that began a revival of
renewal of faith in Wyoming two years ago.
He is biblically correct. He does
not pull punches and he does not preach what people want to hear, he preaches
what we NEED to hear. We have all fallen
far from the glory of the Cross and the salvation
that is from God through His Son Jesus Christ.
Pastor John
Collins puts it bluntly and clearly so that we can understand it and uses
Scripture to show us exactly what he is referring to. God doesn’t want us to continue on in our sin
and our habits that pull us away from Him. He wants us back, as many as
possible, to believe in Him, to trust in Him, and to get to know Him the way
that we should. That is the message of
revival that Pastor John
Collins is spreading. It’s time for us to find God again, to get back to
the Cross.
What we say and how we say it gets us into trouble with each other and in the eyes of God. Gossip,
being a busy
body with
being in others’ business,
carrying tales to
others, talking
about others even in passing turns into sin. And with God,
a sin
is a sin. Gossip
and being a
busybody is the same
as murder in the eyes
of God. We often don’t
realize that we get a thrill
out of being the center
of attention because we “know” something that someone else doesn’t.
Evangelist Pastor
John Collins preaches on gossip
and slander
and being a busybody
in many of his sermons. It’s time for us to recognize
that what we should be talking about and how we should be speaking should
reflect the Christian
in us. Talking about others hurts
others, it causes them to stumble
and have emotional
pain. That is not Christ-like.
Pastor John Collins goes on to say it like this:
“I heard
it through the grapevine,
word on the street is, rumor has it, have you heard,
what’s the latest, give me the scoop,
the skinny,
the 411,
the juicy news, the dirt, good old fashioned gossip…the conversations
we all live for, right? There are magazines, TV shows,
reality shows,
locker
rooms, bedrooms, living rooms,
kitchens, cafeterias,
basements, bathrooms,
internet sites, cell
phones all devoted to spreading
the news of the actions of
others, whether famous or not. We do it ourselves. We are a world that thrives on gossip.
“And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.” 1 Timothy 5:13
There are many people
that make their careers
on photos and stories about
the dirt on
others. We lap it up like pigs. We spew it out like geysers. We love
it, we live it,
we don’t even notice
when we are doing
it. Most people
couldn’t tell you exactly
what gossip
is. They are just asking about
Bob and Sue, right? Wondering if
they are doing
okay and ignoring
that thrill
that comes from finding
out Sue just filed
for divorce
because she caught
Bob cheating
on her with Beth.
“But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.” 2 Timothy 2:16
Wyoming’s Pastor John
Collins asks: Are
our own lives
so boring that we
must entertain
ourselves with the pain
and humiliation
of others? Do we really need to know who
is doing
what and why? Is it any of our business? Isn’t there something we could be doing that is productive
and good? Isn’t there a wholesome way we could converse with each
other? Is it really any of our business to discuss the sex
lives of others? Is it proper to discuss our
own sex lives with others? Is there nothing that is sacred
anymore? Is there nothing
we will not expose about someone just because we can?
“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” Ephesians 4:29
Gossip
is the same as murder in
the eyes of the Lord. It harms people, it destroys reputations
and it is just an awful
way to spend your time. It is a part of society
today and it is shameful
and wrong. Think of your conversations,
consider your words and
know that idle
speech is of the devil.
We should all cast away our joy in gossip and learn
to bridle our tongues. Be careful of what you say and what you
readily listen to. You don’t have to be polite and listen
to gossip. You can easily say, “I prefer not to hear
that.” Life can be easily simplified
by not engaging in idle
talk.
“But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” James 3:8
Your tone of voice
is an indication
of the true intent behind your words. Someone may say
something that is true
and yet the way in which it is said and the words that are chosen are either combative
and malicious, calm and soothing,
frank and impartial,
or ingratiating and patronizing.
Each of us should always be careful
of intentions and try to avoid
causing others to stumble in
this life.
Our emotions
determine our actions.
When we are angry
at someone and have no
forgiveness in our hearts for a situation
or person
then our speech about anything concerning that situation or person will be hateful
and bitter.
When we are jealous of someone then our speech about them will be spiteful and
cutting. When we are hurt we can lash out and try
to hurt in return and say
awful things that cannot be taken
back but just becomes
the next set of words and the next situation that must be repented of and
forgiven.
Life is exhausting if
you do not manage to gain the perspective
that permits you to desire to seek
righteousness and obtain that goal.
“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.” Proverbs 6: 16-19.
Evangelist Pastor John Collins reminds us what righteousness is.
It's doing the right
thing all of the time and not just when it suits you. Jesus was righteous and His life taught
that you can become righteous and you can do the right thing. You do this by
choosing to learn how God
sees things and by trusting that God
will take care of the justice
of this world. Humans are prideful and stubborn and always want to think that
they are the wronged party, the misunderstood and the victimized. Humans just
have that wrong.
Jesus came and showed us that life isn’t fair, life is
tough, and people are judgmental and can be hateful. Jesus came and showed us
that forgiveness is right, kindness is good and that God does value His
children. Jesus showed us that our words have the power to hurt, heal,
encourage, deflate, inspire and so many other wonderful and terrible things.
You need to be willing to give your soul a chance at salvation and to that you need
to be willing to obey the Lord, hear the Lord and submit to the Lord. You
cannot do that if you are always right, always defensive or offensive,
prideful, stubborn, unforgiving, hateful, bitter or unwilling to bend.
“Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.” James 3:5-6
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