Old Gossips

 I don't know if it happens in the churches where you congregate, but in a church where I congregated, if someone told the pastor about a situation that was happening in the church, the following Sunday he would preach about gossip, and say the phrase "They're old ladies." gossip" in the middle of the preaching (especially if the situation was one of his friends in the church). Then obviously, no one wanted to say anything to the pastor about any situation they saw for fear of being called "old gossip."

And we even have a verse that is God's command against gossips: Leviticus 19:16: 16 You shall not go gossiping among your people.

As time went by, I have continued to see the same thing with various pastors and I began to ask myself the question about what gossip is. Is it wrong for a brother to see a situation in the church and tell it to the pastor?

A guy who makes videos on the internet made me question the meaning I had of the word gossip, so I looked it up in the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy and I was surprised.

Gossip (RAE)

1. m. colloq. True or false news, or comment that is generally intended to upset some people with others or to gossip about someone.

indispose (RAE)

2. tr. Put people off.

Reading this definition from the Dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy totally changed my perception on the subject. In other words, gossip is only gossip if the comment made is intended to upset someone (upset) someone.

What if the comment is for the pastor to be alert to some situation in the church and to be delivered from the wolves? What if the comment is for the pastor to help that person?

What if that person is not a gossiper but a watchman?

Ezekiel 33:2-6

I have heard pastors say that they don't need to be told anything or have anyone tell them anything because they pray enough for God to reveal things to them. Therefore they do not need anyone to tell them anything, and they say the phrase I HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT!!! Isn't that a little arrogant? (I think the word "superb" doesn't exist but I think you understand what I mean)

I heard a pastor (known by all people of sound doctrine as a heretic) say that he did not need anyone to come and give him a word because he himself had the 5 ministries and if God could speak to himself why would he have to? Send someone to give you a word. (That also sounds pretty superb hahaha)

In the churches of the 1900s, deacons had the job (according to what I have read) of ensuring the spiritual life of each member of the church, supporting the pastor in this area. Today deacons are... servants.

Lately I have seen surprising things about people from some churches in Facebook stories and WhatsApp statuses, and I was wondering: And could it be that the Deacons of that church haven't seen it? Or could it be that today deacons are just servants who seat people in their chairs, collect offerings, and give toys to the pastor?

Or are they afraid that the pastor will call them "old gossips"? but please don't forget the verses above, Ezekiel 33:2-6

Verse 6 says that if the watchman does not warn God, he will demand the blood of the one who died for his sin from the watchman.

This doesn't seem like a game to me, this is serious. And I understand the fear that the pastor may ridicule one by calling him a "gossiping old woman" but there is a work that if not done can lead us to having to pay for the blood of another.

And, BEWARE, they don't have to give us a watchtower title to carry out this job. Sometimes by just seeing something bad and not saying it we are being complicit in sin.

And there are people who, in order not to get into trouble, say, "I better pray that God reveals it to the pastor and that way I don't get into trouble and I don't earn from the pulpit being called an old gossip and if God doesn't reveal it to the pastor is because God doesn't want the pastor to know." Cowardeeee... (Later I will make a post about a horrible moment when I read in the bible that cowards will not enter the kingdom of heaven).

And yes, I understand that there are gossiping people, if there were not God he would not have given the command of Leviticus 19:16 but we cannot assume that everyone is a gossip. We must understand that there are people who love the church, there are people who love souls.

I know that it is not easy, as I have said here, I never write about things for which I have no marks, that would be being hypocritical and I hate hypocrisy. I don't want to count this time because I don't want my posts to be long. I'll see when I post about my experiences, (some horrible) as a watchman.

I pray that we can gather courage when God shows us something and do the work of the watchman even if the pastor sees us as old gossips. Let us remember that heaven does not measure as man measures and perhaps here we are being called old gossips and in heaven God is saying "Bravo, that's my boy"

And I pray to God that the pastors do not see the watchmen as old gossips, and that they can understand that they cannot do everything alone and that by the power of God, because he feels like it, no matter how much he speaks to them every day in the ear paw and no matter how much Holy Spirit they have, there are things that will not be revealed to them and they will have to need others, advice, a word, a correction, help with the sheep, that's God! I love when I read Leonard Ravenhill calling A.W. in his books. Tozer is his friend and advisor. Go figure! Leonard Ravenhill in need of a counselor! We all need help, we all need support.

Kisses to everyone

elprofebubba