Evangéliumi Hírnök, 1981 (73. évfolyam, 1-16. szám)
1981-02-01 / 3. szám
8. oldal 1981. február 1. damage, of the ruin we can cause. I suddenly recalled the many times I has passed on rumors. I had joined in the ministerial gossip circles and passed on things I’d heard without a single thread of evidence. Unwittingly, I’d become a tool in Satan’s hand to destroy another man’s ministry. God not only forgave me —He put within me a fighting spirit. A desire to stand up and combat a lying devil! A desire to defend God’s servants—no matter how vicious the gossip against them. God made me somehow sense what it would be like to be the victim of gossip — rather than the purveyor of it. I wanted to go out and shut up the lying, gossiping lips of every parishioner and minister who attempted to ply me full of filth — rumors — stories — innuendoes — or hearsay. I did a little investigation, too. The evangelist who was rumored to be a latent homosexual confided in a friend of mine, “Being single, I’ve tried so hard to stay away from all women so as not to bring reproach on my ministry. Now they accuse me of homosexuality. It’s simply not true.”I believe him! And now, every time I hear anybody spread that rumor I call them on it. I ask them to prove it—or shut up! A called the minister who had resigned his church. I asked him bluntly, “Did you know about the vicious rumor your church is spreading about you? You are supposed to be a ladies’ man!” He answered clearly and quickly, “David —it’s simply not true. The people who. started that rumor have tried to destroy every pastor before me. God as my judge—it’s all a lie.” His wife verified the statement. I gave him the names of the people who started the story and offered to help him put them at the mercy of the law. While he prefers to take it quietly—I grieve that a man’s ministry is nearly destroyed by Satanic gossip. I met with the leader of that youth organization supposedly preaching “false doctrine.” We met in Lausanne, Switzerland. He was gracious and kind as I placed before him all the stories, the rumors and gossip about his organization. I did so only to find out for myself if any of it was true. I found not a single trace of false doctrine. Rather—I found a dedicated young man who was doing more for God than all of the jealous men who had spread the rumors. We prayed together—hugged one another—and I left him with a pledge to stop every word of gossip about him I came across. Since that meeting I’ve straightened out a number of ministers who had been trapped into believing the gossip. How many great men and women of God lay prostrate each night — lost in a stream of tears — as they try to understand how and why they are victims of lies and gossip. They give their very life blood to the work of Christ and they have learned to expect satanic attacks when they storm the gates of hell. But there is no hurt like the deep cutting of cruel gossip that is passed on by the very ones who should be encouraging and praying for them. You can fight and resist the devil —but how can you respond and defend against weapons formed against you in the hands of God’s own servants who indulge in gossip? You expect gossip from liars, cheats, and low street people. You expect it in politics and public life. But no gossip is as vicious, as damaging and as hurtful as that which comes from God’s own people —out of God’s own house. How Satan must laugh with glee when he witnesses “Spirit-filled people passing on lies and filthy stories that originated in hell itself. Satan won’t need an army of demons to accomplish his work of deceiving. All he needs is an unwitting army of Christians who give him an ear and a tongue who go about “tattling his tales. ” Passing on a single bit of gossip can wreck a marriage —shipwreck a ministry — turn loving children against parents — and break the hearts, destroy the dreams, smash the hopes of completely innocent people. Saints of God—hear me! We can no longer afford the indulgence of gossip. We can no longer allow ourselves to give our lips and voices to the service of Satan to malign —to destroy—to assassinate—with gossip. It matters not whether the gossip in true or not —Let God take care of that! It is our part to defend our brothers and sisters in Christ. And even if the most vicious gossip were true —we should be spending all our time and talk in restoring, healing and lifting up the fallen. I am absolutely convinced Satan has taken physical control of all rumor mills and gossip mongering. He is out to destroy and discredit all that is of the Holy Ghost. He is out to destroy — with Gossip — every Christian who seeks the fullness of God. Let us not allow it. May God raise up an army of saints whose hearts and lips are baptized and dripping with the honey of God’s true love. In honor preferring one another. In Christian charity let us grieve over those who have failed—let us never gloat! We can send the devil into the pits to lick his wounds if we will join together to “stop the gossip. ” If you can’t prove it—don’t tell it! If you can prove it —keep it to yourself and pray about it. It will —it must —it can—stop with you! News from the European Baptist Press Service HOTEL CHAIN PROMISES NON-SMOKING GUEST ROOMS Brussels — For travellers who find it difficult to sleep in an atmosphere of stale smoke left by previous room occupants, Ramada Hotels International have announced the introduction of “non-smoking” guest accommodations. Smoke-free areas are also being reserved in the hotel restaurants, according to Mr. E. Rieck, President of Ramada, S.A. * * * NEW CONVENTION HOUSE FOR NIGERIA Lagos— The Nigerian Baptist Convention will soon have a new headquarters building after waiting 15 years. About 250 persons atttended the recent service of turning the sod and laying foundation stones for the new Baptist House, which will stand at 24, Broad Street in Lagos. A special committee recommended such a building as early as 1964.
