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 8th 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 8th 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!
