John 12 .."And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people".
But how do we know what is gossip or information? Well Socrates faced the same things and has given us a way to discern. Its called the three sieves and this is how it goes :
When some one is trying to tell us something we need to put the 3 sieve test and ask these questions :
Second Sieve: The second one is the sieve of Goodness. The question to ask is - Are you going to tell me something good or positive?
Third Sieve : Is it necessary to tell me ?
If what is being told is neither true or is hearsay, good or necessary, just forget it and stay away.
The story about the three sieves is something we can apply to our lives. Before you tell a story or pass on a rumor, ask yourself whether it is true, kind or necessary.
There is a poison each one of us are prone to: Gossip.
Gossip is a sad and destructive fact of life. It damages reputations, ruins relationships, divides families and creates too much bad blood. Gossip is as old as history itself. In John’s gospel, Jesus’ absence from Jerusalem during Tabernacles evokes gossip among “the crowds” that is interestingly ambivalent about Jesus’ character: “And there was considerable complaining about him among the crowds. While some were saying, ‘He is a good man,’ others were saying, ‘No, he is deceiving the crowd’” (John 7:12). Jesus’ assessment by some as “good” and by others as “deceiving” underscores the social process through which gossip can create tension—in this case, over Jesus’ very identity.
Throughout the Bible we have been warned not to gossip, not listen to gossip. Ephesians - 29 "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".
But how do we know what is gossip or information? Well Socrates faced the same things and has given us a way to discern. Its called the three sieves and this is how it goes :
When some one is trying to tell us something we need to put the 3 sieve test and ask these questions :
First Sieve : The first is the sieve of Truth. We need to ask, are you sure that what you are going to tell me is true or is it hearsay?
Second Sieve: The second one is the sieve of Goodness. The question to ask is - Are you going to tell me something good or positive?
Third Sieve : Is it necessary to tell me ?
If what is being told is neither true or is hearsay, good or necessary, just forget it and stay away.
The story about the three sieves is something we can apply to our lives. Before you tell a story or pass on a rumor, ask yourself whether it is true, kind or necessary.
Often we pass on gossip we’ve heard to keep the conversation going or talk negatively about somebody we know. Why not focus on “uptalking” others, concentrating on their strengths?
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