New Year's ReSOULutions: Bridle That Tongue

English: New Year's Day postcard. Reads: "A New Year's Resolution / Jan. 1st / To Gossip, Slang and Cuss words / I'll bid a last "Adieu" / And place a bridle on my tongue / And thoughtless actions, too!" (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. 7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. 8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. James 3: 6-8

Have you ever heard a juicy, fun bit of news you couldn't wait to spread? You got the info from good sources (say, you best friend Barb Dewitt, or Uncle Kurt Teller, or the National Enquirer). You told everyone and then discovered the reliable source Uncle Kurt or Barb used probably got his info from Buzzfeed.

One day, while teaching, a student raised her hand. "Are you pregnant, Mrs. McClain?"

My mouth dropped. I was definitely nearing retirement, not maternity leave. Furthermore, by teen standards, I had to be post-post-post menopausal. 

Where'd the info come from? 

Not too long prior, I had had a ob-gyn appointment that happened to follow the appointment of one of my pregnant teens. IF she was there about a baby, then I was, too.

Sheesh. Time for a diet.

gossip is a barb--not love

That bit of blowback is funny. However, not all is harmless. 

Our church is currently having a power struggle over the over-use of an overly loud organ and dirge-styled hymns combating the heretical contemporary ballads.

Bitter gossip reigns, and people, believing lies about a dedicated pastor, good people trusting friends who are miffed or hurt by changes, have left the body. 

One day my husband, a retired minister, came home and said the pastor gave the organist a letter asking for her resignation. Everything had been done   to correct the problems according to biblical dictates, and, to me, this sounded like the next, correct step.

Turned out, the man Neil trusted had erroneous information. The church called a meeting to address all the rumors, and the truth came to light. No one had been asked to resign. Yet, as I listened to our open and honest pastor explain the situation, I questions his honesty because I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the ethics of my husband.

Wasp sting, with a droplet of venom (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
similar to the poisonous sting of gossip

Gossip is a hellish master as James 3:6 implies.

I'm sure you can think of times when the evil sting of the tongue has lashed your life or that of someone you love.

If so, what about your own gossip? Maybe it's time for a New Year's reSoulution.
Bridle the tongue.

How? Not so easy, but doable. Tune in next week for some ideas.

In the meantime, how has gossip caused problems in your own life?