AN OPEN LETTER TO A GOSSIP

[Kindly share this letter as soon as you are done with it. Someone in your  neighbourhood may need it]

27th of June, 2020.

The Information Manager,

Busy-Tongue Media Concept,

Devil’s Workshop,

1^st Gate,

Sixth Hell.

Dear Ma/Sir,

                A LETTER FOR A CHANGE OF HEART

It has come to our notice in our neighbourhood that you no longer create time to face your own business. We were told that you have refused to remove the log in your eye and are now busy plucking the specks in your neighbour’s eye. Your name is always mentioned in the gossip centres in our vicinity, that you always carry informal talks or stories about other people’s private’s lives. Even when you know that those stories may be unkind and may not be true.

We beg you in God’s name, to resign from this job. That office you are occupying is evil. A gossip is devil’s official megaphone. Do you know how many people’s mind you have poisoned with you dirty talks? Must you rope everybody into your own kind of life? You turn your neighbours against themselves. You are projecting into others, those dirty things in your mind which you have no opportunity to do. Instead of changing your sinful ways, you are busy using your mind to put everybody in your class. You want others to be partakers in your dirty foot notes.

Do you know how many people you have killed with your mouth? Do you know how many people you have stripped of their good names with your mouth as nimble as the pen of a scribe?

You even made the church of God a gossip centre. You made everyone to suspect everyone. You cast slur on those who are hardworking. You suspect their ways and cook dirty stories about them so that they will be discouraged. How much do you receive for this job? Have you ever pray for any of the people you gossip about? Have you ever care to listen personally to their stories?

“I was in my house, they brought the story to me”, you would say. “Na so dem dey talk my own matter” you always say. What if you tell the tale bearer to join you in praying for the subject-matter?

Where are your SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY? Has gossip anything to do with:

1. Teaching the ignorant
2. Praying for the living and the dead
3. Correcting the sinners
4. Counselling those in doubt
5. Consoling the sorrowful
6. Bearing wrongs patiently.
7. Forgiving wrong willingly.

You are only free to talk about those you created. You are free to creep into the lives of those you redeemed.

Even God gives us freewill. Despite the fact that he has sent his son into the world to die for us while we were still sinners, he remains a merciful Father. Which one be your own self. You be god?

An idle mind is a devil’s workshop. Kindly look for work if you have nothing doing. In this community, we know all of you who are gossips. Register your group if you are proud of meddling with people’s private life. Don’t forget to tell us the names of your executives. So that our subsequent letters will be delivered to your secretary for safe-keeping.

There are some truths I want you to know:

1. A gossip separates close friends Prov. 16:28.
2. One whose tongue utters slander and cast slurs on others cannot climb God’s mountain. Psalm 15:2-3
3. A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret. Prov 11:13
4. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen, Eph 4:29
5. With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbours, but through knowledge the righteous escape. Prov 11:9
6. Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spread slander is a fool. Prov 10:18
7. Keep your tongues from evil and your lips from telling lies. Psalm 34:13
8. The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but perverse tongue crushes the spirit. Prov 15:4.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour Exodus 20;16
10. Slanderers will not inherit the kingdom of God. 1Cor 6:10

I pray that none of those words of the scriptures will stand against you in judgement in Jesus name.

If you see anything that you think is not good in your neighbour, kindly call his or her attention to it. If you don’t have the courage, call the attention of someone who is close to him or her. Do all in love, to correct and not to malign. If you think you don’t want the message to reach the person in question, kindly keep it in your recycle bin. Meanwhile, don’t forget to pray for him or her.

I love you dear one. If you are charitable, kindly share a copy of this letter with your members.

Dear one, accept my apology if you are not a gossip and this letter wrongly enters your hand. Nevertheless, kindly help to pass it across to those it is meant for. In case you have been an object of gossip one time or the other, please don’t feel bad. People will always find something to talk about. The only way to escape gossip is to go back to your mother’s womb. The womb is very safe. But know for sure, staying there means there is no growth for you.

There are some jealous onlookers and envious individuals who are experts in cooking unfounded stories about others. If you give them power over you, they will sap your vital force. Directly or indirectly, knowingly or unknowingly, some are in mission to destroy. Care not about what people say about you. Be interested in what God is telling you about your life. Give the Holy Spirit the chance to speak to you.

On our part, try not to create atmosphere of suspicion around yourself. Guide your steps. There is no smoke without fire. Don’t give people room to carry dirty stories about you. Examine your conscience. Check your life.

However, don’t always think that you are always innocent. Some of your faults may be hidden to you. It takes others to help you point them out. It is a pity that people do not correct in love. Journey with the Lord. In his light we see light.

You must know that it is not everybody who is entitled to know everything happening in your life. Some of the so called “good friends” are merely information minsters. Remember, you own your happiness. Live your life to the fullest. Don’t allow anyone to shrink your personality by his or her poisonous tongue. Clear conscience fears no accusation.

Above all, don’t be too quick to take offence at those who slander you, lest you accuse yourself. You may not know how many times you have carried malicious news about others. Search yourself thoroughly. What if on the social media you have joined others to forward and share unverified news about others. Don’t think you are free of symbolic lynching. But be aware that he who goes to equity must go with clean hands.

Please, don’t forget to share the letter with the gossips in your street. You can be a blessing to someone today. Remain blessed.

Yours in the Holy Spirit,

A Voice Crying in the Wilderness.