Let’s give 'em something to talk about—the 8th Commandment.

The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. (John 8:3-8 ESV)

A few years ago, when I was a teacher, I was talking with a colleague during parking lot duty before dawn one morning about things people—coworkers, particularly—say about others out of earshot and that I was the topic of one snippet (snipe?) overheard between two staff members on my campus. I find such pettiness contemptible and, most of the time, just let it slide (like water off a duck's back, as we used to say in the Navy). My customer service doctrine is very simple: if you have a problem with me, come talk to me and let's resolve it to prevent festering. And if I've wronged you, please say so—I may not even be aware that I have done so.

Ironically, upon hearing that I was the subject of someone else's conversation, I quickly made a colleague the subject of my conversation, and that is the mitosis of gossip (replete with mutation as each new tale unfolds). Such is our human nature. Sin makes us victims and convinces us to live our lives seeking compensation (whereas faith, conversely, compels us to forgive and live in the shadow of the Cross on which Christ's life was taken in recompense for our transgressions). So I was reminded to get a grip and that even in such a charitable and altruistic vocation as church work, the 8th Commandment is more than occasionally seen but not heard. Martin Luther wrote this nugget about it in his Small Catechism (my boldface): "We should fear and love God that we may not deceitfully belie, betray, slander, or defame our neighbor, but defend him, [think and] speak well of him, and put the best construction on everything." (Luther also said that our ears should become like tombs for gossip…)

Gossip is the kissing cousin of false witness. And while some transgressions of the 8^th Commandment are blatant accusations, insults, or epithets hurled in anger, weakness, or fear, many in today’s world come in the form of veiled posts to social media outlets (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.) or seemingly innocuous comments which are actually attempts at now-you-see-it-now-you-don’t passive-aggressiveness (i.e. the backhanded compliment) or reports of truth that are likely opinion-based, merely doubtful, and based on conjecture, rather than facts.

In Luther’s Large Catechism, he writes: “False witness, then, is everything which cannot be properly proved. Therefore, what is not manifest upon sufficient evidence no one shall make public or declare for truth; and, in short, whatever is secret should be allowed to remain secret, or, at any rate, should be secretly reproved…”

Pastors, unfortunately, have a tough row to hoe (so to speak) as they strive to serve faithfully and dutifully, called by the Church to stand for Christ in His stead. 1 Timothy 3 is a constant reminder that the office of pastor (overseer) is "a noble task" meant for those who "must be above reproach" and "well-thought of by outsiders." A former pastor once remarked to me that Satan's attacks upon pastors are more frequent and more severe, so much so that some have buckled. I'm not blind to the potential pitfalls and perils of this office and I'm abjectly aware of my own nature and proclivities, that I'm a sinful human being, susceptible to the same temptations and conflicts as everyone else.

And the sad truth is, people are going to talk...about you, about me, about whomever, for whatever the reason. Christian or not, the need to engage in petty gossiping is fueled by sin and is often a manifestation of a deeper issue such as low self-esteem, insecurity, and envy (or—even worse—bias, driving one’s own agenda at the expense of others…even hate).

God obviously considers false witness serious enough that He made a specific law against it—gossip and slander can poison a congregation, break apart relationships, and ruin reputations. There’s no truth where there’s no trust; without trust there can be no relationships with others. Outside the church doors is a sin-driven world in which the truth is blurred by cynicism, fear, and an atmosphere of exclusion and secrecy; however, those sinners seeking refuge inside perhaps still require a reminder from time to time of Christ’s expectations of His disciples in the “Great Commandment” (recorded by Matthew, Mark, and Luke):

"'And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30-31 ESV)

Love your God and put Him first. Then love others. All of the 10 Commandments are wrapped up in these two! And while we can’t keep all Ten, we surely can try to abide by them through faith. As a pastor, most of the issues I deal with are related directly or indirectly with the 8^th Commandment and the hurt, misunderstanding, and, too often, anger that resulted because of something someone overheard or read in an email or post online.

I know one doesn't need to be ordained to make a difference in this world...

...but it's not this world that concerns me as much as helping others in it find a place in the next.

Until next month, may the Lord bless you and keep you!