Secrets are such an integral part of who we are as people. To have one violate that trust can be so destructive.
"He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; therefore associate not with him who talks too freely." Proverbs 20:19, Amplified
Talebearing, or gossipping, is strictly prohibited by the Lord. If we were to reveal all the secrets of everyone that we knew, divisions would arises where there were no schisms to begin with. There is that line of honesty that a Christian must follow, and to harbor ill will for someone can be detrimental to a relationship. But it is not anybody else's job to reveal that ill will. As Christians we are called to speak the truth in love, not to have someone else do it for us.
We all know those in our own lives who are the gossipers. They are those who talk way too freely about everyone else. And if they speak of everyone else so freely to you, you can guarantee that they speak just as freely about you when you are not around. The best thing about a gossiper, is that they are not easily concealed, everyone knows who they are.
Paul wrote to the Roman Christians about this very thing. "Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord, Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple." (Romans 16:17-18, NKJV) Their intent is very clear, they want to cause schism. It has been said that a miserable being must find a more miserable being, then he is happy.
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