November 28, 2009

• Tale-bearing

  “Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer
  among thy people . . . Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not
  suffer sin upon him.”— Leviticus
  19:16,Leviticus
  19: 17

  Tale-bearing emits a threefold poison; for it injures the
  teller, the hearer, and the person concerning whom the tale is told. Whether the
  report be true or false, we are by this precept of God’s Word forbidden to
  spread it. The reputations of the Lord’s people should be very precious in our
  sight, and we should count it shame to help the devil to dishonour the Church
  and the name of the Lord. Some tongues need a bridle rather than a spur. Many
  glory in pulling down their brethren, as if thereby they raised themselves.
  Noah’s wise sons cast a mantle over their father, and he who exposed him earned
  a fearful curse. We may ourselves one of these dark days need forbearance and
  silence from our brethren, let us render it cheerfully to those who require it
  now. Be this our family rule, and our personal bond—SPEAK EVIL OF NO MAN.

  The Holy Spirit, however, permits us to censure sin, and
  prescribes the way in which we are to do it. It must be done by rebuking our
  brother to his face, not by railing behind his back. This course is manly,
  brotherly, Christlike, and under God’s blessing will be useful. Does the flesh
  shrink from it? Then we must lay the greater stress upon our conscience, and
  keep ourselves to the work, lest by suffering sin upon our friend we become
  ourselves partakers of it. Hundreds have been saved from gross sins by the
  timely, wise, affectionate warnings of faithful ministers and brethren. Our Lord
  Jesus has set us a gracious example of how to deal with erring friends in His
  warning given to Peter, the prayer with which He preceded it, and the gentle way
  in which He bore with Peter’s boastful denial that he needed such a caution.

  Charles Spurgeon

  • 10:51 am
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