Gossip Question

[Archaeology cat]

I don't think I saw this exact scenario when I did a search, or pregnancy brain and being tired are getting the better of me. Anyway, I frequent various fora, and later at home I sometimes talk about what was on there. Sometimes these are complaints that other posters had, and so I rant about it, not really thinking about the fact that I don't have the whole story. Or even ranting about what someone else said if I disagree. I know it's gossip (trying to curtail this), the question is if such gossip is sinful. Thanks and God bless.

[CatherineM]

You are allowed to have opinions and debate about issues of the day. It's a bit like a doctor or lawyer discussing cases and issues without violating confidence because they don't use specifics. If you are talking about an issue that Susie raised on phatmass, okay. If you are saying that Susie disclosed that she disagrees with the church on an issue, and Susie works for the church, and the person you are talking to knows Susie, a different animal. It can be a fine line at times, but here is how I differentiate for myself. If I am talking about it as a way of working the issue out in your mind, as interesting conversation with a friend, then it is okay. If I am talking about it in order to hurt someone's reputation or feelings, or to make myself feel superior, then it's not okay.

[cappie]

I would not call what you have describes as gossip but judgementalism: Judgmentalism is a sinfully “critical spirit, a condemning attitude” The point is about our disposition. It’s not about who’s right and who’s wrong; it’s about applying the gospel to our y critical spirits and condemning attitudes. We might think of judgmental people as those with “stricter” standards, but people with “looser” standards can be judgmental, too. Whatever our views may be on disputed issues we can be guilty of judgmentalism.

The sin of judgmentalism is one of the most subtle of our “respectable” sins because it is often practiced under the guise of being zealous for what is right.

Not only are there multiple opinions but we usually assume our opinion is correct. That’s where our trouble with judgmentalism begins. We equate our opinions with truth.

My point here is that it doesn’t matter which side of an issue we are on. It is easy to become judgmental toward anyone whose opinions are different from ours. And then we hide our judgmentalism under the cloak of Christian convictions.

Paul’s response to the situation in Rome was, “Stop judging one another regardless of which position you take.” . . .
I’d like to be like Paul, who took a similar position regarding the divisive issues in Rome. He did not try to change anyone’s convictions regarding what they ate or the special days they observed. Instead, he said, “Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind” (Romans 14:5). Such a statement makes many of us uncomfortable. We don’t like ambiguity in issues of Christian practice. It’s difficult for us to accept that one person’s opinion can be different from ours and both of us be accepted by God. This seems especially true of the United States in this election year, but of course it's true of other countries and the Church in general in these troubled times. But that is what Paul says in Romans 14. And if we will take Paul seriously and hold our convictions with humility, it will help us avoid the sins of judgmentalism.