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Foreign. Hey, everybody. We're back.

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Yes, we are.

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Season three. This is the
first episode. We're so happy that

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you're here. How you feeling,
Zer, about being back?

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Oh, I'm ready.

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I'm also.

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I'm ready.

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We have some really good
topics to discuss this season, and

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one of the ones that came up
and we want to be careful about how

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we talk about it is when the
tea is hot. Gossip culture, it's

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kind of one of those things
that everyone knows is bad, but it's

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kind of socially acceptable.
And even. Especially in church culture,

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it's pretty acceptable. Not by
everyone, but it's, like, pretty

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subtle. Yeah. So I just want
to ask a question. Like, what is

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gossip? What is it? Like,
well, how does it look like?

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Yeah, let's just go for it.

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Let's just go for it. Okay.

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Okay. So I did my Google
search. You know, like, what is.

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What is gossip? Give me a
definition here. Here's the definition

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I got.

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Let's see if it's the same one.

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I have the unnecessary sharing
of information about someone else,

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whether that be unkind,
unverified, unhelpful, and it involves

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talking about someone instead
of just talking to someone. And I

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was, like, kind of digging
deeper. It was talking about church

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circles. Okay. It said, often
disguised as concern, curiosity,

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or even prayer requests.

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That last one is pretty hard.
I want to. I want to add something

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before we get too deep into
it. We are by no means number one,

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the voice of Fielder Church.
Like, again, I feel like we talk

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about this pretty often. Like
we are just two broken sinners saved

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by grace that we love. We love
Jesus and we love his kingdom work.

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And so we're here to share
kind of what we've learned and our

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experiences in that. And
number two, I don't want to go about

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this as if we're not guilty of
it too. Like, we're not just entering

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into this conversation as,
quote, unquote, victims of gossip,

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but also perpetrators of it
and even passive bystanders of it.

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My definition that I. That
Google gave me is a little different.

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It says, like, gossip is
conversation that's light, informal,

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and usually about other
people's business. It can be fun

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to gossip about others, but no
one likes it when they're the subject

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of gossip. Apparently, that's
Vocabulary.com's definition.

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There you go.

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But I, like, I kind of want to
dig into what you said about, like,

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it can show up as. Because I
think that was my second question.

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It's like, yes, in our circle,
in church circles, like, how does

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it show up? Can you read the
list again?

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Yeah, yeah. So for. Look at
me. Hold on real quickly. I got to

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show that. Look at this. Hey,
man, I'm trying to be a little bit

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more analog. You know, I
realize I love social media, but

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it is a trap sometimes, which
is maybe that's got to be another

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episode that we got to talk
about. But here is my rebellion against

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digital technology by slowing
down just a little bit, you know,

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writing. So here's kind of
the. What it's often disguised as

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specifically in church
circles. So concern, curiosity, or

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even prayer requests.

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Okay. I kind of want to. The,
the one that I had that came to mind

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was prayer requests, because I
feel like I've been in settings and

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here, I don't know. I, I.

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The.

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Another question that I had
about it is, like, I think certain

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cultures also are more, like,
not prone to it, but it's more interwind

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in culture of like, certain
cultures. Cultures like Mexican culture,

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for example. It is super
ingrained in the culture. Like, it

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is kind of like, not that, you
know, every Mexican is like, super

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prone to it, but we're just
like, it's just part of the culture,

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like, part of the dynamics
and. Yeah. So even just thinking

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about it, I remember being in
certain, like, growing up, being

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at certain, like, prayer
nights, and one of the senoras at

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the group would share and be
like, will someone just pray for

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my friend's daughter? Or over
there, she's doing xyz, just pray

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for her. And I remember just
being like, couldn't you just have

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asked for prayer for that
person's daughter? She's going through

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a hard time. Like, I, and, and
I don't necess.

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Of spilling the tea.

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Yeah. Like, I don't
necessarily think the intention of

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her was like, to paint this
person in a malicious light or a

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slanderous light, but you
just. Not every detail is necessary

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or edifying for the person and
to everybody else involved.

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Yeah. So could you say that
then? Gossip's a little bit more

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of. Kind of just not
respecting the privacy of somebody.

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I agree. I, I'm glad you said
that. I, I've been thinking because

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we've been talking about this
episode for a while, back and forth

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and just kind of exchanging
ideas. Marty had some ideas and verses

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that he wanted to share too.
But one of the things that I've been

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chewing on is just this, like,
on, like, whenever people have gossiped

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about me, what have I felt?
And whenever I've gossiped or participated

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in gossip about someone else,
like, what Was my relationship to

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that person. For example, if I
were to experience or see someone

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gossiping about my husband,
Carlos, you can best believe I would

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insert myself in that
situation and put a stop to it. If

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someone were gossiping about
my best friend Bethany, or even these

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two homies, Marty and sir, I
would best believe I would have stepped

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into it because I love these
people, I want to honor these people,

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and I respect these people.
And gossip is disrespectful and dishonoring

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to me. And so best believe I
would insert myself in that. But

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in with, like, if there were
some, like, I don't know, I wouldn't

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find myself gossiping about my
husband or about my best friend or

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about my friends. Like, people
that I love and respect and want

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to honor. Like, my heart's
desire is to honor them. I'm typically

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not going to find myself in a
situation where I'm going to be gossiping

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or engaging or passively
participating in gossip about them

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because my desire is to honor
them. And so I guess my question

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to you would be, like, if
there's a person that you, like,

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find yourself gossiping about
or you enjoy receiving gossip about

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that person, like, how do you
view them? Do you view them as like,

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someone made in the image of
God, Someone with a calling on their

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life? Someone. Someone who has
a ministry that has been bestowed

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on them by the. By the Lord,
like, that he's entrusting them with?

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Like, do you see them and
desire to honor them, or do you just

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not care about them enough to
honor them, which is why you're okay

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with it? Or worse, do you not
like them or have contempt towards

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them? To where any gossip
about them is, like, exciting because

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you're like, man, like, this
person sucks. Like, and I'm. And

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I'm, like, validating my own feelings.

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Yeah, sure. No, just to answer
your question, right, we're talking

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about, hey, we just set the
disclaimer like, we are not perfect.

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No.

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And so, yeah, for me, when I
have engaged in gossip, it's typically

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on those, like, latter two
where it's like, either one, I just

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don't really know the person
enough, I don't care about them enough.

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Or really, it's like, I just
don't like that person. Or maybe

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they don't do a certain thing,
a type of way that, like, something

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about them makes me want to
engage in the gossip because I want

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to hear negative news about
them or I want to hear how they're

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messing up. And, like, I was
doing, like, as I was studying it

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Myself, like, and we've been
doing it as we've been going through

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the Beatitudes as a church, as
we've been going through the Sermon

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on the Mount. Like, the whole
point is, like, it's not just the

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action, it's the heart behind
it. And oftentimes when I'm gossiping,

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what it's doing is. It's
revealing my own heart that I have

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insecurities, that. That I get
jealous, that I am angry, that I

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am bitter, that I am hurt.
Like, it's a mirror, really, just

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against me.

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Yeah.

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And. Yeah. I mean, it's
exposing. Honestly.

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I agree. I agree. I think the
times where I've caught myself. And

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I think as we've been praying
about this and researching it and

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digging into it, I've caught
myself being like, oh, I didn't realize

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that I was about to say that,
like. Like this. The Holy Spirit

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has convicted me and reminded
me, like. Like, you're not. You're

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not. You know, this is hurtful
for you, but it's hurtful, like,

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on the people that you're
doing it about, too. And so I think

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one thing I want to kind of
also, because we kind of alluded

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to it, but sometimes there's a
fine line between slander, gossip,

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slander, gossip on this side.
And then processing your feelings

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or emotions or your hurt.

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Yeah.

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Or something like that. I
think there's a fine line between

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that. Like a hair. A hair's
breadth of a line.

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Yeah.

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And I think personally, now
I'm just going to be really honest

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and vulnerable here. I tend to
idolize my privacy. Like, it is,

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like, a really big deal to me.
I had surgery a couple of weeks ago,

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and I completely forgot to
share it with my coworkers. And I

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had every intention to, but,
like, my mind is just, like, very.

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Like, I keep things super
close to the chest. I've always been

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like that. I have, like,
specific childhood memories that

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I'm sure can pinpoint that's
where that was built up. But I'm

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just a super private person.
So for me, whenever I need a process,

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like, this person did this,
and it really bothered me. Let me

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try and figure out why it
bothered me. And if you are like,

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I'm feeling this way about
this person, like, help me unpack

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that. Like, if you're having
those types of situations, we're

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not saying those are
inherently wrong. Like, I think those

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are. Those can be healthy and
sanctifying for you, but I think

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there's something to keeping
your circle small, because I think

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there's Certain people that,
that like, they, they want to process.

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They have these feelings and
they have these concerns and their

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minds aren't set maliciously.
They're just trying to understand

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maybe, or like trying to
figure out why they feel that way

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or something or like, what
they should do. Give me wisdom.

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Yeah.

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And they just keep their
circle massive. And so like, what

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they end up doing is like
accidentally slandering people on

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what might be a unique
situation. And basically, like, we

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had a prayer gathering a
couple of months ago and one of the

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things was like, do you speak
with a slanderous tongue? Like, where,

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where you go, is there
division that spread? And if you're

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like, if you're talking to
someone about someone else and you're

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trying to, or inadvertently,
you end up painting that person's

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perspective of that other
person, that's slander. You know

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what I'm saying? And so just
like, I've been thinking about that

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in times where I've like
fallen into that of like, I'm trying

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to process and maybe I don't
get the reaction I want from this

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person. Or maybe I walk away
still confused or maybe I'm, you

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know, still like, still
dissatisfied with the answers I've

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gotten or the advice I've
gotten. I'm going to keep on going

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to people or maybe even it's
in my own sin wanting to be validated.

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Yeah.

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And I think that's a big
thing. And so I guess, like, I've

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seen that happen and I
participated in that in other settings

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too, of like, just keep your
circle small. Like, you know, like,

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I think that's where, you
know, best friends are like, such

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a good place. That's where
counseling is such a good place.

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Or even pastoral care is like
such a great place. But like, I think

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if you have a personal opinion
about someone's actions or someone

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in general, I would just
refrain from sharing it as if it's

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fact about that person. What
it might just be your own personal

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experience.

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I think that's a good.

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Does that make sense?

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No, I think that makes a lot
of sense. Like, I think for me, when,

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especially when you're talking
about keeping your circles small,

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I think there's a difference
between, like, I'm sharing this with

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you because I want you to kind
of what you're saying. Like, I want

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you to agree with me. So, so
that way I can talk bad about this

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person so I can gossip, so I
can spread this rumor. But I think

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there's a difference when
you're in tight circles. So for example

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like my spouse, I confide in
her, I process with her. But if in

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that, like, if I'm truly not
trying to gossip, but just trying

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to seek understanding, I know
that my wife is very. She's pointed.

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Like, she's. She's not going
to just let me continue and keep

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me in my sin. You're so hot.

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Shout out to Farah, bro. She's playing.

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There you go. But it's like,
she's not going to let me just continue

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on in my sin. She's going to
challenge me, right? Like, she's

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going to be like, I don't know
if that's right, what you're doing,

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you know, or she will just
give me a different perspective.

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Hey, maybe you're not thinking
about it this way. Have you thought

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about. Maybe they're thinking
about it this way, you know? And

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it prevents me then from
really, like, I trust my wife, I

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trust her judgment, and it
just prevents me from then kind of

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what you're saying. Like, no,
I'm going to just go to other people,

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go to other places and just
try to validate myself or get the

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answer that I'm seeking, where
it's like, no, I trust my wife.

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Yes.

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I trust her wisdom. I trust
the Holy Spirit in her. And she isn't

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just going to yes, men me.
She's just going to like, no, like,

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give me a hard buck.

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So, yeah, no, I agree. And I
think I, I, yeah, I, I think going

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to people because I. Bethany,
we love you.

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You're the best.

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She is, like, she's my best
friend and she such a supporter and

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such an encourager.

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Yeah.

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She's also very loyal. And so
I think you have, I think not just,

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like, when it comes to
processing your emotions, but, but

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you also not only keep your
circle small is my recommendation.

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That's just like, that's just
my suggestion. I'm not saying that

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that's biblical necessarily,
but that's my suggestion. And I think

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when it comes to share, if
you're trying to process something

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about something, if someone
has, like, let's say hypothetically,

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Bethany has beef with Zur. She
doesn't, by the way. She's okay with

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00:13:52,620 --> 00:13:56,260
him. Let's say,
hypothetically, Bethany has beef

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00:13:56,260 --> 00:14:00,180
with Zer, and Zur accidentally
hurts my feelings on something. Like,

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he says something and I get
really upset. And I'm trying to process,

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like, I'm like, why did what
he said upset me so bad? Which, number

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one, is what I always do
whenever I feel hurt, I'm like, why?

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Why do I feel like this? And I
say always because I'm a five. I

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love information, I love
knowledge. And so I, like, I kind

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of want to know that. But so
I'm usually like, why? I'm probably

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00:14:20,140 --> 00:14:23,110
not gonna process with
Bethany, and not because I don't

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love and trust her more than
anything, but because if she already

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has a negative opinion of him,
I'm not gonna add gas on the fire

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and, like, make things harder
for her heart and be a stumbling

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block in her faith in, like,
you know, making her bitterness or

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unforgiveness harder towards
this person.

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00:14:41,510 --> 00:14:42,350
So it's both ways.

260
00:14:42,350 --> 00:14:45,910
Exactly. And so, like, not
only do I feel like we have to guard

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00:14:45,910 --> 00:14:49,310
what we say to the people that
we speak it to for the sake of, like,

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00:14:49,310 --> 00:14:51,950
their faith and, like, not
being a stumbling block in their

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00:14:51,950 --> 00:14:55,330
faith and with their
relationship with God, but so vice

264
00:14:55,330 --> 00:14:59,410
versa. If Bethany has, like,
if I have bitterness towards Zur,

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and Bethany has, like, a issue
with Zur, and she starts, you know,

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processing with me because
we're best friends, I'm gonna probably,

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like, it's my responsibility
to be like, hey, I don't think I

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should be the one that you
process this with, because I'm having

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to deal with this in my own
heart, and it's actually gonna make

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00:15:17,570 --> 00:15:20,410
it harder for me. So, like,
can you find someone else to process

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00:15:20,410 --> 00:15:23,530
it with? Like, go to your, you
know, know someone else. Like, and

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I think that's your
responsibility, like, as a believer,

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like, guarding your own heart
and, like, making sure that you're

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not building up a case of,
like, continuing to validate your

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view, your negative view on
someone by gossiping. Does that make

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00:15:36,010 --> 00:15:36,290
sense?

277
00:15:36,290 --> 00:15:39,730
No. That makes so much sense.
I, I, I know it was one of the questions,

278
00:15:39,730 --> 00:15:41,810
so I kind of want to just
touch on it. Because you touched

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00:15:41,810 --> 00:15:47,130
on it, right? Is like, okay,
when gossip happens, what are some

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00:15:47,130 --> 00:15:50,940
ways that you can engage with
that? We can engage with it in a

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00:15:50,940 --> 00:15:53,700
healthy way, in a biblical
way, in a, in a right way.

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00:15:53,700 --> 00:15:56,500
It's such a hard question. And
I feel like I've been like, we've

283
00:15:56,500 --> 00:15:59,980
been thinking about this so
stinking long, and I don't know if

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00:15:59,980 --> 00:16:04,180
I have, like, a set answer for
it. I think, again, I'm gonna go

285
00:16:04,180 --> 00:16:11,220
back to, like, like, passive
participation kind of. If it's someone

286
00:16:11,220 --> 00:16:15,180
that I love and honor, I'm
probably going to put a stop to it.

287
00:16:15,820 --> 00:16:18,580
That's incredibly
uncomfortable. If someone's gossiping

288
00:16:18,580 --> 00:16:20,660
about someone that, number
one, you don't care about because,

289
00:16:20,660 --> 00:16:23,340
or you don't know them, or
number two, you don't, like, Them.

290
00:16:23,500 --> 00:16:27,260
So, like, it would be harder
to put a stop to that if one of those

291
00:16:27,260 --> 00:16:30,980
two were true. But I would say
don't engage with it. Like, you know,

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00:16:30,980 --> 00:16:39,350
like, again, like, in my role
at work, I feel like I know more

293
00:16:39,350 --> 00:16:42,550
information than I'd like
sometimes. And there was a period

294
00:16:42,550 --> 00:16:46,110
of time when I first came on,
like, came on the role that people

295
00:16:46,110 --> 00:16:48,870
were asking me questions and
just, like, consistently wanting

296
00:16:48,870 --> 00:16:51,990
information from me, and I
just wouldn't engage with it. Like,

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00:16:51,990 --> 00:16:55,750
I'd be like, okay, like, let's
move on. Like, let's change the subject.

298
00:16:55,750 --> 00:16:56,350
That's good.

299
00:16:56,590 --> 00:16:59,590
And I think you can operate
like that. Like, if you. You can

300
00:16:59,590 --> 00:17:02,630
be like. Like, I have a friend
specifically that I know. She does

301
00:17:02,630 --> 00:17:05,030
this all the time. Like, if
you're talking about something or

302
00:17:05,030 --> 00:17:08,070
you're gossiping, she will be
like, all right, and then just leave.

303
00:17:08,070 --> 00:17:10,790
Like, she will literally just
like, straight up leave. And I think

304
00:17:10,790 --> 00:17:13,070
that's one way you can do it.
You can also be like, I don't have

305
00:17:13,070 --> 00:17:15,030
anything to contribute here,
and then leave. Or you can change

306
00:17:15,030 --> 00:17:17,550
the subject. You know, like,
there's. There's ways that you can,

307
00:17:17,710 --> 00:17:22,190
like, change the direction if
you don't feel, like, a super strong

308
00:17:22,190 --> 00:17:25,110
conviction to put a stop to
it. Like, yeah, that's enough, you

309
00:17:25,110 --> 00:17:27,670
freaking sinners. Like, if you
don't feel that conviction to do

310
00:17:27,670 --> 00:17:30,630
that, then don't. But, like,
you also don't have to sit there

311
00:17:30,630 --> 00:17:34,030
and receive the quote, unquote
blessing of all this information

312
00:17:34,270 --> 00:17:36,670
and chisme that you don't
really care to receive. You know

313
00:17:36,670 --> 00:17:37,110
what I'm saying?

314
00:17:37,110 --> 00:17:39,290
Like, yeah, I'm just trying to
find a prayer.

315
00:17:40,570 --> 00:17:41,610
How can I pray for God?

316
00:17:42,730 --> 00:17:46,250
No, I agree, but see, I love
that you said that. So I had written

317
00:17:46,250 --> 00:17:49,690
down my own, and you pretty
much said a lot, like, remove yourself.

318
00:17:49,930 --> 00:17:52,250
You don't need to. If you
don't need to be in that situation,

319
00:17:52,250 --> 00:17:55,130
you can leave. You can
redirect the conversation. You could

320
00:17:55,130 --> 00:17:58,930
literally just say, yeah,
that's okay, and then just.

321
00:17:58,930 --> 00:17:59,450
Anyways.

322
00:17:59,450 --> 00:18:03,090
Anyways, talk about something
different. I do love what you said,

323
00:18:03,090 --> 00:18:07,110
and I think I'm. I'm prone to
not do this, which is just to be

324
00:18:07,110 --> 00:18:11,790
upfront of just like, almost
like a. A loving rebuke of just like,

325
00:18:11,950 --> 00:18:14,710
hey, I don't think that's
beneficial. Let's not talk about

326
00:18:14,710 --> 00:18:17,350
it. Like, I. I would. Like,
honestly, I just leave or I just

327
00:18:17,350 --> 00:18:20,750
change the subject, but I
think that is a healthy way to in

328
00:18:20,750 --> 00:18:24,230
love. Rebuke them. Like, hey,
I don't think this is healthy.

329
00:18:24,230 --> 00:18:24,990
For either of us.

330
00:18:24,990 --> 00:18:25,630
For either of us.

331
00:18:25,630 --> 00:18:25,990
Yeah.

332
00:18:25,990 --> 00:18:28,470
Let's stop this. Yeah, but
there was another one that I wrote

333
00:18:28,470 --> 00:18:31,450
down here, which is
interesting because it talks about

334
00:18:31,450 --> 00:18:34,370
it. It's just like, if it
really is that big of a concern,

335
00:18:35,490 --> 00:18:38,570
why not just pray instead of
making it a prayer request that we

336
00:18:38,570 --> 00:18:40,090
pass around? Like, would you
pray for that bird?

337
00:18:40,090 --> 00:18:42,410
You know, like, how long have
you spent in prayer?

338
00:18:42,410 --> 00:18:44,690
Let's just pray. You know what
I'm saying? Like, that's good.

339
00:18:44,690 --> 00:18:46,250
That's good, that's good. No,
that's great.

340
00:18:46,250 --> 00:18:46,730
Interesting.

341
00:18:46,730 --> 00:18:50,330
Yeah, I. So this morning I
was, you know, I was kind of nervous

342
00:18:50,330 --> 00:18:52,690
about this episode because
again, like, I never want us to come

343
00:18:52,690 --> 00:18:55,690
off as like self righteous or
anything like that because again,

344
00:18:55,690 --> 00:18:58,590
we've been pretty vulnerable
here. Like, we do find ourselves

345
00:18:58,590 --> 00:19:02,390
stuck in it. We're passive
bystanders to it. And I'm going through

346
00:19:02,390 --> 00:19:07,150
the gospels as our churches,
and I was at Luke 18 and it talks

347
00:19:07,150 --> 00:19:09,390
about the story of the
Pharisee and the tax collector. And

348
00:19:09,390 --> 00:19:12,710
everyone knows the story, or
most people do, of like there was

349
00:19:12,710 --> 00:19:15,110
a Pharisee and a tax collector
in a temple and they were praying

350
00:19:15,110 --> 00:19:18,350
and Jesus is like telling this
story. And Jesus is like. But only

351
00:19:18,350 --> 00:19:21,910
one of them went back
righteous and that was the tax collector

352
00:19:21,910 --> 00:19:23,990
because he was presenting
himself with like, mercy. He's like,

353
00:19:23,990 --> 00:19:28,170
God, like, have mercy on me, a
sinner. And the Pharisee was like,

354
00:19:28,170 --> 00:19:31,810
I'm slaying it. I'm doing
everything perfect. And just like

355
00:19:31,810 --> 00:19:35,810
the humility and like the
under, like the tax collector walked

356
00:19:35,810 --> 00:19:39,130
in mercy because he had
received great mercy, you know. But

357
00:19:39,210 --> 00:19:42,050
when I was reading it this
morning, the first sentence of the

358
00:19:42,050 --> 00:19:46,530
verse, it stuck out to me
because I'd never really fully processed

359
00:19:46,530 --> 00:19:50,810
it before. And so it's like in
verse nine, it says he also told

360
00:19:50,810 --> 00:19:53,890
this parable to some who
trusted in themselves that they were

361
00:19:53,890 --> 00:19:58,480
righteous and treated others
with contempt. And then he goes into.

362
00:19:58,630 --> 00:20:03,470
To the, the parable. And so
just that thought too of like, I

363
00:20:03,470 --> 00:20:07,950
would also just like, either
if you're in, like not necessarily

364
00:20:07,950 --> 00:20:10,750
the perpetrator or the victim,
but you're the bystander or you're

365
00:20:10,750 --> 00:20:14,310
any. In any one of those
seats, like analyze your heart. Like,

366
00:20:14,310 --> 00:20:16,670
if you're being gossiped
about, why does this bother me so

367
00:20:16,670 --> 00:20:21,270
much? Like, if you're
gossiping, why am I doing this? And

368
00:20:21,270 --> 00:20:26,320
if you're like being passive,
why am I okay receiving this? Like,

369
00:20:26,320 --> 00:20:29,080
I would just stop and analyze
your heart. And if there's a fragment

370
00:20:29,080 --> 00:20:33,480
of contempt, self
righteousness, or you Know, like,

371
00:20:33,480 --> 00:20:36,400
earthly wisdom in there. Like,
well, I just kind of want to have

372
00:20:36,400 --> 00:20:39,520
some. Like, I wrote this down
and I talked to Zur about it. I feel

373
00:20:39,520 --> 00:20:41,680
like sometimes, and not
everybody might be able to relate

374
00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:45,720
to this, but I feel like
sometimes in ministry we use getting

375
00:20:45,800 --> 00:20:49,440
insight on a person as a fancy
terminology for gossiping or slandering

376
00:20:49,440 --> 00:20:52,320
about that person. Because,
like, Hazer, you've ministered to

377
00:20:52,320 --> 00:20:55,280
Homie for a couple of years.
Like, can you tell me kind of like,

378
00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:58,700
some of the insight that I can
get on how I can minister to this

379
00:20:58,700 --> 00:21:01,740
person? And like, I'm not
saying that those conversations are

380
00:21:01,740 --> 00:21:05,420
bad. If your posture is truly,
like, the Lord has put it on my heart

381
00:21:05,420 --> 00:21:09,580
to ask Zur for wisdom, but if
it's in my own, like, I don't trust

382
00:21:09,580 --> 00:21:12,620
the spirit trying to find
something. I'm trying to find. Yeah,

383
00:21:12,620 --> 00:21:15,140
like, I'm trying to figure
out, like, this, like, their secret

384
00:21:15,140 --> 00:21:18,100
so I can know how to talk to
them. Or, like, I'm not trusting

385
00:21:18,100 --> 00:21:20,620
the spirit to guide the
conversation enough and I need to

386
00:21:20,620 --> 00:21:24,280
know what I'm going to say to
this person. And you're, like, asking

387
00:21:24,280 --> 00:21:28,640
for insight on that person.
Like, I just, I. I would just be

388
00:21:28,640 --> 00:21:32,040
like, honestly, I'm just
gonna. I'd rather not talk to their

389
00:21:32,520 --> 00:21:35,400
sibling or their, you know,
spouse or whoever. Like, I'm just

390
00:21:35,400 --> 00:21:38,280
gonna talk to that person and
let them be the source. Go to the

391
00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:40,840
source. Like, let them tell me
what they're currently struggling

392
00:21:40,840 --> 00:21:45,040
with. But I think another
question that Marty brought up too

393
00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:50,170
is just like, if it's an
ongoing struggle, like, if it's an

394
00:21:50,170 --> 00:21:54,170
ongoing struggle for you in a
certain capacity, or if it's an ongoing

395
00:21:54,170 --> 00:21:58,570
struggle for. For you
professionally or even personally

396
00:21:58,570 --> 00:22:02,130
or, you know, whatever the
case may be. If it's an ongoing struggle,

397
00:22:02,130 --> 00:22:06,010
like, how do you go about,
like, what does that conversation

398
00:22:06,010 --> 00:22:07,010
with God look like?

399
00:22:08,370 --> 00:22:11,370
I think that's a really good
point. Like, if specifically when

400
00:22:11,370 --> 00:22:15,020
you're saying, this is my
struggle, but then how does it affect

401
00:22:15,180 --> 00:22:19,100
my relationship with God? One
of the things that, I mean, I preached

402
00:22:19,100 --> 00:22:22,220
on it like two weeks ago when
we were in the passage about anger

403
00:22:22,220 --> 00:22:25,820
and lust and it's all about
the heart. But there's a passage

404
00:22:25,820 --> 00:22:28,460
where he just talks about,
like, offering your gift at the altar.

405
00:22:28,460 --> 00:22:32,780
Yes, leave it there. Go first,
be reconciled to your brother and

406
00:22:32,780 --> 00:22:36,100
then come in, offer your gift.
But I think that is an aspect. If

407
00:22:36,100 --> 00:22:41,260
you struggle with gossip,
meaning you're at odds with other

408
00:22:41,260 --> 00:22:46,620
people, you are such at odds
that you just constantly speak against

409
00:22:46,620 --> 00:22:52,540
them, or you're Spreading
false rumors. You know, like the.

410
00:22:52,780 --> 00:22:56,540
I think there is a biblical
mandate that you cannot just offer

411
00:22:56,540 --> 00:22:59,700
your thanksgiving to God, your
prayers to God, your offering to

412
00:22:59,700 --> 00:23:03,420
God while being at odds with
your brother or sister.

413
00:23:03,500 --> 00:23:03,900
Yeah.

414
00:23:03,900 --> 00:23:09,070
Like, it. No gift. Like,
offering no gift is better than offering

415
00:23:09,070 --> 00:23:12,910
a hypocritical gift. And so
therefore. Right. Go leave your gift

416
00:23:12,910 --> 00:23:17,830
at the altar. Don't just offer
up empty praise. Stop gossiping.

417
00:23:18,070 --> 00:23:20,550
Go get reconciled to that
person that you're gossiping about,

418
00:23:21,350 --> 00:23:25,270
and then come and offer your
gift. I think that's a. Yeah, I think

419
00:23:25,670 --> 00:23:27,270
before, like, it's hard.

420
00:23:27,270 --> 00:23:27,790
It is.

421
00:23:27,790 --> 00:23:28,390
You know what I'm saying?

422
00:23:28,390 --> 00:23:31,270
It's literally, like, so
convicted. Yeah, it's super hard.

423
00:23:31,640 --> 00:23:32,280
It is hard.

424
00:23:32,360 --> 00:23:38,360
And I, I think because it's so
sneaky, like, it's easy to, like,

425
00:23:38,360 --> 00:23:40,360
again, you're like, well, I
was just trying to, like, process

426
00:23:40,360 --> 00:23:43,200
my feelings about this person.
I was trying to, like, you know,

427
00:23:43,200 --> 00:23:46,000
trying legitimately to
understand why they're struggling

428
00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:49,480
with that sin or, like, why
they're doing that. Like, that's

429
00:23:49,480 --> 00:23:51,800
not right. Like, I'm just
trying to understand. I think that

430
00:23:51,800 --> 00:23:55,400
they're like, I'm not saying
that your heart isn't a malicious

431
00:23:55,400 --> 00:23:57,900
place whenever it comes up.
Like, that's not necessarily, necessarily.

432
00:23:57,900 --> 00:24:00,940
That might be your case, like,
in certain settings, but I think

433
00:24:00,940 --> 00:24:04,900
sometimes there is
legitimately just like, a, a desire

434
00:24:04,900 --> 00:24:07,780
to understand. And a lot of
times we fear what we don't understand,

435
00:24:08,100 --> 00:24:12,580
and so, or we fear that we're
crazy and, like, we want to be validated.

436
00:24:12,580 --> 00:24:15,020
And so that's why you're,
like, having all these conversations

437
00:24:15,020 --> 00:24:17,580
about, like, with all these
people, just because of the sake

438
00:24:17,580 --> 00:24:20,980
of, like, wanting to
understand, but you're just not necessarily

439
00:24:20,980 --> 00:24:23,620
considering the consequences
of gossip, you know, like, there,

440
00:24:23,620 --> 00:24:28,490
there are consequences to it,
you know, Like, I've, I, I, you know,

441
00:24:28,490 --> 00:24:32,770
friendships have dissolved.
Like, groups of friends, you know,

442
00:24:32,770 --> 00:24:38,090
have been affected. Like, you
know, I, I've carried a lot of hurt

443
00:24:38,090 --> 00:24:42,490
about it before, and then even
just, like, it's caused hurt because

444
00:24:42,490 --> 00:24:45,370
of my actions, you know? And
so I'm like, I, it's not without,

445
00:24:46,010 --> 00:24:48,810
like, it's not without
consequences. And I think it also,

446
00:24:50,010 --> 00:24:54,900
like, creates division and
puts a block in between my relationship

447
00:24:54,900 --> 00:24:57,300
with the Lord because I'm
like, like you said, like, how am

448
00:24:57,300 --> 00:25:02,420
I gonna, like, speak life like
honeycomb to the Lord and want with

449
00:25:02,420 --> 00:25:05,740
the same mouth that I'm
speaking division and contempt about,

450
00:25:05,740 --> 00:25:08,780
you know what I'm saying?
Like, those. You can't have both

451
00:25:08,780 --> 00:25:09,140
ways.

452
00:25:09,140 --> 00:25:12,180
Yeah, I mean, it's exactly
what the book of James says, you

453
00:25:12,180 --> 00:25:16,740
know, he talks about the
tongue is a wildfire. Right. With

454
00:25:16,740 --> 00:25:19,820
that same tongue, we offer
praise to God, and with the same

455
00:25:19,820 --> 00:25:23,840
tongue, we slander other
people. But the same, like, can fresh

456
00:25:23,840 --> 00:25:29,200
water and salt water come out
of the same. It can't. It shouldn't

457
00:25:29,200 --> 00:25:33,480
be. That is not what is
intended for us. And so life in Christ

458
00:25:33,480 --> 00:25:33,880
is.

459
00:25:34,120 --> 00:25:36,280
Yeah, no, I agree.

460
00:25:36,360 --> 00:25:38,000
It's what uplifts people.

461
00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:38,680
Yes, yes.

462
00:25:38,680 --> 00:25:40,040
Not what tears down I.

463
00:25:40,040 --> 00:25:42,720
There's a verse that me and
Marty were sharing about earlier,

464
00:25:42,720 --> 00:25:46,320
and it's in James 4:11, and it
says, brothers do not slander one

465
00:25:46,320 --> 00:25:49,120
another. Anyone who speaks,
speaks against his brother or judges

466
00:25:49,120 --> 00:25:52,360
him, speaks against the law
and judges it. When you judge the

467
00:25:52,360 --> 00:25:55,240
law, you are not keeping it,
but sitting in judgment on it.

468
00:25:55,240 --> 00:25:55,680
Yeah.

469
00:25:55,680 --> 00:25:59,840
And I think just again, like,
I. I think about, like, the unforgiving.

470
00:26:00,480 --> 00:26:03,280
What's his. What's his name?
The unforgiving servant.

471
00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:04,680
Yeah.

472
00:26:04,680 --> 00:26:10,920
Where he's. Like, his lack of
forgiveness towards a person is what

473
00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:13,520
caused him to be thrown into
jail at the end of the. At the end

474
00:26:13,520 --> 00:26:17,940
of the parable. And so I think
we. I don't know if you're. I think

475
00:26:17,940 --> 00:26:20,940
gossip a lot of times is
casting judgment. I'm not going to

476
00:26:20,940 --> 00:26:23,060
say that's always the case,
but a lot of times it is casting

477
00:26:23,060 --> 00:26:26,780
judgment. And so just like
that, that mouth that speaking judgment

478
00:26:27,020 --> 00:26:30,940
is not. Is. Does not take the
appearance of someone who has received

479
00:26:30,940 --> 00:26:34,540
great mercy. So I think
there's a humility and an understanding

480
00:26:34,700 --> 00:26:38,060
that we have that, you know,
given the same amount of circumstances,

481
00:26:38,060 --> 00:26:40,620
I might have done the same
thing. Like, you know, I might have

482
00:26:40,620 --> 00:26:44,030
also gotten caught up in a
gossipist conversation because of

483
00:26:44,030 --> 00:26:47,230
xyz. You know, like, I think
there's just, like, a level of empathy

484
00:26:47,470 --> 00:26:51,270
that needs to take place as
well as the desire to honor that

485
00:26:51,270 --> 00:26:55,750
person. Like, how can I honor
this person? And there's a. For example,

486
00:26:55,750 --> 00:27:01,110
there's a friend of mine that
had a conflict with someone that

487
00:27:01,110 --> 00:27:03,390
wasn't even in her circle, but
she had a conflict with someone and

488
00:27:03,390 --> 00:27:07,400
she was trying to process
with. With me and someone else. And

489
00:27:07,640 --> 00:27:12,280
the restraint that she had
whenever she was sharing fact versus

490
00:27:12,280 --> 00:27:16,960
her perception versus what she
felt. And she never name dropped.

491
00:27:16,960 --> 00:27:21,040
She never said their name. And
I just was, like, honestly admiring

492
00:27:21,040 --> 00:27:25,400
that because she spoke them
like she was very hurt, but she spoke

493
00:27:25,400 --> 00:27:28,280
about them with such honor.
Like, you wouldn't like. It was almost

494
00:27:28,280 --> 00:27:30,920
like she was talking about,
like, her friend. Like my deep friend.

495
00:27:31,240 --> 00:27:31,760
Yeah.

496
00:27:31,760 --> 00:27:34,720
This happened, and it really
hurt me. She was spoken about speaking

497
00:27:34,720 --> 00:27:37,680
about them with a lot of
honor. And she never name dropped.

498
00:27:37,680 --> 00:27:40,800
And so, like, you can.
Sometimes you can figure out who

499
00:27:40,800 --> 00:27:44,840
so and so is talking about,
but just don't, like, try, you know,

500
00:27:44,840 --> 00:27:48,920
allow. Allow the ambiguity of
who they might be at odds with, you

501
00:27:48,920 --> 00:27:52,200
know, like, just leave it.
It's not. It doesn't matter. And

502
00:27:52,360 --> 00:27:54,600
she never name dropped. She
was always trying to honor them.

503
00:27:54,600 --> 00:27:57,680
And just like, the way that
she spoke about them in spite of

504
00:27:57,680 --> 00:28:02,220
her hurt was with just like,
so much love and like, the desire.

505
00:28:02,220 --> 00:28:05,780
And so you can still process
your feelings and your emotions or

506
00:28:05,780 --> 00:28:09,860
like, your thoughts about a
person or their actions without dishonoring

507
00:28:09,860 --> 00:28:11,460
them or slandering them, you know?

508
00:28:11,460 --> 00:28:15,020
Yeah, no, I agree. Maybe just
to kind of shift the conversation

509
00:28:15,020 --> 00:28:17,980
because you talked about it
earlier. Kind of like the. The places.

510
00:28:17,980 --> 00:28:18,540
Yeah.

511
00:28:18,620 --> 00:28:22,860
Of gossip or like people in
gossip. Right. So there's a person

512
00:28:22,860 --> 00:28:27,180
who is gossiping. There's
maybe the person who's the bystander

513
00:28:27,180 --> 00:28:32,560
of receiving that gossip. But
then what about, like, you, if you're

514
00:28:32,560 --> 00:28:37,120
the one who's being gossiped
about. Yeah. Like, you said it earlier

515
00:28:37,120 --> 00:28:40,480
and I want to just repeat it
because you talked about, like, checking

516
00:28:40,480 --> 00:28:43,400
the source. Like, consider the
source. Like, is that a credible

517
00:28:43,640 --> 00:28:47,000
person? Like, do. Does their
opinion really matter? You know?

518
00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:51,920
Like, I don't know. For me,
it's just. I think that's a healthy

519
00:28:51,920 --> 00:28:56,570
place for me to be where it's
like, if they are gossiping about

520
00:28:56,570 --> 00:29:00,290
me, like, should I really feel
bad about it? Because they're. They're

521
00:29:00,290 --> 00:29:02,690
saying, like, maybe it'll make
me frustrated. But ultimately it's

522
00:29:02,690 --> 00:29:05,490
like, am I here to please man?
Or I'm here to please God, you know?

523
00:29:06,690 --> 00:29:08,210
You know, or.

524
00:29:08,850 --> 00:29:14,170
But it is. It's like they
don't really know me. And maybe I

525
00:29:14,170 --> 00:29:16,290
think it goes back to what you
were saying. Like, could I just believe

526
00:29:16,290 --> 00:29:19,290
the best about people? Like,
maybe they just don't really know

527
00:29:19,290 --> 00:29:24,310
me and they're just speaking
out of their. Sorry. Out of the booty,

528
00:29:24,310 --> 00:29:26,990
you know? Yeah, sorry, you got
to cut that up.

529
00:29:29,470 --> 00:29:33,830
I. I think that's a great,
great point. Yeah. Coping, I guess

530
00:29:33,830 --> 00:29:37,430
mechanisms are like how to.
How to process it when other people

531
00:29:37,430 --> 00:29:40,230
are, you know, gossip being
the subject of it.

532
00:29:40,230 --> 00:29:40,670
Yes.

533
00:29:40,670 --> 00:29:47,120
I personally, it. It. I don't
know. I feel like I've said this

534
00:29:47,120 --> 00:29:53,040
before, but whenever people
gossip about me, not always because

535
00:29:53,040 --> 00:29:55,520
I don't know, I'm not the
Lord, but many times it does get

536
00:29:55,520 --> 00:30:00,720
back to me. And I think. I
don't know why necessarily that is,

537
00:30:00,720 --> 00:30:05,200
but I know that the Lord has
used it for his glory because he's

538
00:30:05,200 --> 00:30:09,480
revealed so much of my sin
nature in it and sanctified my posture

539
00:30:09,480 --> 00:30:14,500
towards other people in it, my
suspicious tendencies, my, my distrust,

540
00:30:14,500 --> 00:30:18,420
my, you know, ease of
bitterness towards people and lack

541
00:30:18,420 --> 00:30:21,260
of forgiveness towards people.
Like, the Lord has worked on all

542
00:30:21,260 --> 00:30:25,060
of those terrible areas in my
heart and in my life through situations

543
00:30:25,060 --> 00:30:29,420
like that. And so I think
there's been times where I've been

544
00:30:29,420 --> 00:30:32,860
gossiped about that I'm like,
it literally does not matter to me

545
00:30:32,860 --> 00:30:36,980
because I'm like, whatever, I
don't even care. And in those specific

546
00:30:36,980 --> 00:30:39,140
settings, most of the time
it's about something that I'm like

547
00:30:40,020 --> 00:30:43,020
super secure about. So, like,
for example, there was once where

548
00:30:43,020 --> 00:30:48,740
I was gossiped about because I
was getting a specific job that someone

549
00:30:48,740 --> 00:30:53,820
else wanted and this person
made it very known that she didn't

550
00:30:53,820 --> 00:30:57,100
think I deserved it kind of
thing. And she had a lot of reasons

551
00:30:57,100 --> 00:30:59,260
and a lot of them were low
key, valid. And so I was like, yeah,

552
00:30:59,260 --> 00:31:03,980
totally makes sense. I am
super secure in my work ethic. Like,

553
00:31:03,980 --> 00:31:06,740
that is like something that
I'm super proud of. Like, I'm super

554
00:31:06,740 --> 00:31:10,040
secure in it. And so it like
literally was like water on my back.

555
00:31:10,040 --> 00:31:12,680
I was like, anyways, like, I,
you know, you're entitled to that,

556
00:31:12,680 --> 00:31:16,400
whatever. There's been other
times where people have gossiped

557
00:31:16,400 --> 00:31:21,040
about me in ways that were
areas of like, vulnerability and

558
00:31:21,040 --> 00:31:24,440
like, areas where I had
previously been hurt that it was

559
00:31:24,440 --> 00:31:29,240
super traumatizing. Like, and
I'm not using that word lightly,

560
00:31:29,240 --> 00:31:32,200
like it was traumatizing. And,
and I'm not saying that as like,

561
00:31:32,200 --> 00:31:35,040
oh, boohoo. No, like there
were instances in that where I made

562
00:31:35,040 --> 00:31:37,440
it worse because of my
actions, because of like my short

563
00:31:37,440 --> 00:31:42,020
fuse, because of my lack of
love and, and honesty towards people.

564
00:31:42,020 --> 00:31:45,460
And so like, I think I, I'm
not, you know, like, I'm not, I'm

565
00:31:45,460 --> 00:31:49,100
not a victim here, you know,
Like I, I think. But all that to

566
00:31:49,100 --> 00:31:53,260
say is, I think, find out,
like, why does it bother you? Is

567
00:31:53,260 --> 00:31:55,860
it something that you're
already insecure about? Is it something

568
00:31:55,860 --> 00:31:59,580
that perhaps you're carrying
hurt from, from a previous situation

569
00:31:59,580 --> 00:32:02,820
or previous friendship or
relationship? Like, why does this

570
00:32:02,820 --> 00:32:07,200
gossip bother you? And I think
the other thing that I would say

571
00:32:07,200 --> 00:32:15,080
is just like, find out what
your next step is. Like, what do

572
00:32:15,080 --> 00:32:18,920
you, if it's like, do you say
anything to that person? Yeah, like,

573
00:32:18,920 --> 00:32:22,160
or do you leave it and just
like, whatever, I'm just going to

574
00:32:22,160 --> 00:32:24,680
move on with my life. I don't
really know that person anyway, or

575
00:32:24,680 --> 00:32:26,880
do you say something to the
person, you know, like, what it.

576
00:32:26,880 --> 00:32:30,320
So I guess that would be my
situ. Like, my things that I've learned

577
00:32:30,400 --> 00:32:34,730
by my own mistakes. I think
just figure out why it bothers you,

578
00:32:34,890 --> 00:32:38,970
like, what hurt did it expose
or what, why didn't it bother you

579
00:32:38,970 --> 00:32:42,090
kind of thing. And then, like,
what is your next step like? And

580
00:32:42,250 --> 00:32:46,650
prayer needs to be the
foundation of both of those processes.

581
00:32:46,650 --> 00:32:49,250
You know, like. Like praying
to the Lord, asking the Lord, like,

582
00:32:49,250 --> 00:32:51,690
why does this bother me so
much? Why, you know, what is happening?

583
00:32:51,850 --> 00:32:54,490
Did I contribute to this?
Because sometimes people do things

584
00:32:54,490 --> 00:32:56,530
and they're like, I don't
understand why it bothered people

585
00:32:56,530 --> 00:32:59,070
so much. And I'm like, you
literally did something crazy. You

586
00:32:59,070 --> 00:33:03,230
know, like, so some, like,
just, you know, be empathetic. Like,

587
00:33:03,230 --> 00:33:07,270
I don't. I strongly believe
two things. Like, number one, I.

588
00:33:08,230 --> 00:33:11,590
I believe that we are not the
sum of our biggest mistakes. And

589
00:33:11,590 --> 00:33:15,670
so sometimes people just make
bad decisions or sometimes they let

590
00:33:15,670 --> 00:33:17,830
something slip that they
shouldn't have. You know, like, we

591
00:33:17,830 --> 00:33:19,790
are not the sum of their
mistakes. Like, have empathy towards

592
00:33:19,790 --> 00:33:23,310
that person. And the second
thing that I would say is, like,

593
00:33:23,310 --> 00:33:26,710
I. I believe that the Lord
truly does use all things for the

594
00:33:26,710 --> 00:33:30,850
purposes of his kingdom, and
he uses even the worst of my. Like,

595
00:33:30,850 --> 00:33:33,650
in all things. Not just this,
but, like, in all things. I've seen

596
00:33:33,650 --> 00:33:37,570
the Lord take the most
terrible things and sanctify and

597
00:33:37,570 --> 00:33:39,330
purify me in the midst of it.

598
00:33:39,330 --> 00:33:39,690
Yeah.

599
00:33:39,690 --> 00:33:43,090
And use me for his glory in
the midst of it. So that would be

600
00:33:43,090 --> 00:33:44,890
kind of my concepts.

601
00:33:44,890 --> 00:33:48,930
And honestly, I would like to,
like, kind of like my perspective

602
00:33:48,930 --> 00:33:52,530
of that which you just shared
specifically, like, you talked about,

603
00:33:54,510 --> 00:33:58,270
you know, checking your. Like,
is there any truth to this kind of

604
00:33:58,270 --> 00:34:02,670
thing? Like, because I think
for me, if somebody gossips about

605
00:34:02,670 --> 00:34:05,790
me, I think that is a healthy
place for me to be, is to say, like.

606
00:34:06,030 --> 00:34:08,630
Or at least that's the thought
that comes to my mind is like, man,

607
00:34:08,630 --> 00:34:12,190
is there, like, one. Do I
trust that person? Like, is what,

608
00:34:12,190 --> 00:34:14,710
you know, are they a
trustworthy person? Like, because

609
00:34:14,710 --> 00:34:19,150
if it was like, somebody I
really knew and valued, I'd wonder,

610
00:34:19,150 --> 00:34:25,430
like, they. Their. Their
gossiping, I guess, means more like,

611
00:34:25,830 --> 00:34:26,550
why are they.

612
00:34:26,630 --> 00:34:28,230
Are you living for the word of man?

613
00:34:29,350 --> 00:34:29,870
For sure.

614
00:34:29,870 --> 00:34:30,510
No. Yeah.

615
00:34:30,510 --> 00:34:33,550
But then on the other hand,
like, checking the. Like, for me,

616
00:34:33,550 --> 00:34:36,430
it's like, is there some truth
to what they're saying? Because then

617
00:34:36,430 --> 00:34:39,870
it's like, oh, maybe I do need
to check myself. Yeah, maybe I need

618
00:34:39,870 --> 00:34:43,790
to repent of something. But
then going back to the passage in

619
00:34:43,790 --> 00:34:49,350
Matthew, like, it does say if
your brother has something against

620
00:34:49,350 --> 00:34:52,350
you. And so just speaking to
that, like, yeah, there are times

621
00:34:52,350 --> 00:34:56,190
where maybe, and I'll be
honest, like, I don't do this because

622
00:34:56,190 --> 00:35:00,230
this is not like, I hate
conflict. I am, I will wait until

623
00:35:00,230 --> 00:35:06,550
I have to confront somebody
before I do it. But it's like there

624
00:35:06,550 --> 00:35:10,830
are times when reconciliation
is needed and so you actually have

625
00:35:10,830 --> 00:35:13,250
to go, yeah, and be
reconciled. Like, you actually have

626
00:35:13,250 --> 00:35:16,330
to take the steps of faith to
do that. So.

627
00:35:16,330 --> 00:35:19,890
Yeah, and I think, I think in
those instances too, not just like

628
00:35:19,890 --> 00:35:22,890
in the conversation about
like, you know, having that conversation

629
00:35:22,890 --> 00:35:26,130
or reconciling, but also like,
even in general, even if you don't

630
00:35:26,130 --> 00:35:30,650
feel prompted to like pursue a
conversation with someone, like,

631
00:35:30,970 --> 00:35:35,250
it is not my job to try and
figure out other people's motivations

632
00:35:35,250 --> 00:35:36,050
and intentions.

633
00:35:36,050 --> 00:35:36,410
Yeah.

634
00:35:36,410 --> 00:35:40,390
You know, like if, if some, if
something happened and I hear something

635
00:35:40,390 --> 00:35:43,030
about some, you know,
something that someone said about

636
00:35:43,030 --> 00:35:47,470
me, like, it's not my job to
figure out like why, why or like

637
00:35:47,630 --> 00:35:50,950
know where their heart posture
was at or like if you confront someone

638
00:35:50,950 --> 00:35:53,990
and they like, are like, I'm
sorry, you know, it is not my job

639
00:35:53,990 --> 00:35:57,390
to try and like, well, did
you, you know, let, like I'm like,

640
00:35:57,390 --> 00:35:59,590
oh yeah, I totally forgive
you. And then later on be like, well,

641
00:35:59,590 --> 00:36:02,030
did that person actually mean
that? Like, you know, it. That's

642
00:36:02,030 --> 00:36:07,170
not my role. Like, and I would
rather be someone who trusted too

643
00:36:07,170 --> 00:36:11,330
much than someone who is
always suspicious, always kept people

644
00:36:11,330 --> 00:36:14,610
at arm's length because of
previous hurts. Like punishing, forever

645
00:36:14,610 --> 00:36:18,690
punishing the next friend
because of what someone did 10 years

646
00:36:18,690 --> 00:36:21,970
ago. You know, like, I'd
rather trust too much and let my,

647
00:36:21,970 --> 00:36:27,570
and let the Lord's grace shine
in that than be cold and hard hearted

648
00:36:27,570 --> 00:36:30,090
towards people. And I tend to
fall in the hard hearted part because

649
00:36:30,090 --> 00:36:33,010
I am super like suspicious and
because of previous experiences,

650
00:36:33,010 --> 00:36:36,440
like I tend to, I do tend to
analyze and try and figure out people,

651
00:36:36,510 --> 00:36:38,910
people's intentions, but
that's not my job. And like that,

652
00:36:38,910 --> 00:36:43,190
that is up to the Lord to like
be my advocate and you know, if you,

653
00:36:43,190 --> 00:36:47,830
and if you don't, like. I
think there's also times where gossip

654
00:36:47,830 --> 00:36:50,590
is just gossip. Like it's not,
it's not that deep. Sometimes it

655
00:36:50,590 --> 00:36:54,910
truly is just like someone
making a fool of themselves or someone

656
00:36:54,990 --> 00:36:59,350
like, you know, just gossiping
for the sake of it being entertaining

657
00:36:59,350 --> 00:37:03,970
to them or whatever. Like
sometimes it's just not, they're

658
00:37:03,970 --> 00:37:06,930
not trying to necessarily tear
you down. You know what I mean? I

659
00:37:06,930 --> 00:37:09,610
don't know if I'm making any
sense. Like, I'm just like, it's

660
00:37:09,610 --> 00:37:12,570
not. It's not the end of the
world quote. Like, I guess.

661
00:37:12,570 --> 00:37:16,450
Yeah. Like, we. We don't have
to stake our whole. Like, oh, my.

662
00:37:16,530 --> 00:37:21,010
My day is ruined. I'm. My. My
whole identity is ruined because

663
00:37:21,010 --> 00:37:23,970
somebody, like, yeah, it
doesn't have to be that. I agree

664
00:37:23,970 --> 00:37:28,210
with that. But I. I do want to
touch on this because I think it's

665
00:37:28,210 --> 00:37:30,130
really helpful. Marty had
given us some verses.

666
00:37:30,130 --> 00:37:30,500
Yeah.

667
00:37:31,210 --> 00:37:33,690
If you could just pull them
up. I really love to just spend some

668
00:37:33,690 --> 00:37:37,130
time rooting it because I
think, like, I think there's something

669
00:37:37,130 --> 00:37:40,730
that I'm learning as we've
been memorizing Scripture. Like,

670
00:37:41,130 --> 00:37:43,490
the more you memorize
Scripture, the more you meditate

671
00:37:43,490 --> 00:37:46,970
on His Word, the more it comes
out. So that way, in those instances

672
00:37:47,050 --> 00:37:52,210
when you're tempted to gossip,
or in those instances where somebody

673
00:37:52,210 --> 00:37:55,530
is gossiping to you about
someone else, or in those instances

674
00:37:55,530 --> 00:37:58,720
where you find out that you're
being gossiped about, I think having

675
00:37:58,720 --> 00:38:01,760
the word of God, knowing what
the word of God says and letting

676
00:38:01,760 --> 00:38:04,040
that be the foundation is
really incredibly helpful.

677
00:38:04,120 --> 00:38:09,920
I agree. I agree. Yeah. So one
of them is a proverb, and it says,

678
00:38:09,920 --> 00:38:14,720
Proverbs 16, 27, 28. And it
says, a worthless man plots evil,

679
00:38:14,720 --> 00:38:19,040
and his speech is like
scorching fire. A dishonest man spreads

680
00:38:19,040 --> 00:38:23,680
strife, and a gossip separates
close friends. And that's a proverb.

681
00:38:23,680 --> 00:38:26,920
And that proverb that chapter
is specifically talking about, like,

682
00:38:26,920 --> 00:38:31,320
what the. What the sinners do,
basically, and then what the redeemed

683
00:38:31,320 --> 00:38:36,400
do, kind of thing like this
wisdom in this. And then Romans,

684
00:38:36,400 --> 00:38:40,680
chapter 1, verses 28, 32, it
says, Furthermore, just as they did

685
00:38:40,680 --> 00:38:43,839
not think it was worthwhile to
retain the knowledge of God, so God

686
00:38:43,839 --> 00:38:47,520
gave them over to their
depraved mind so that they do what

687
00:38:47,520 --> 00:38:50,520
ought not to be done. They
have become filled with every kind

688
00:38:50,520 --> 00:38:53,840
of wickedness, evil, greed,
and depravity. They are full of envy,

689
00:38:53,840 --> 00:38:58,450
murder, strife, deceit, and
malice. They are gossips, slanderers,

690
00:38:58,610 --> 00:39:01,770
God haters. Insolent,
arrogant, and boastful. They invent

691
00:39:01,770 --> 00:39:04,210
ways of doing evil. They
disobey their parents. They have

692
00:39:04,210 --> 00:39:07,370
no understanding, no fidelity,
no love, and no mercy. Although they

693
00:39:07,370 --> 00:39:11,290
know God's righteous decree to
those that do such things deserve

694
00:39:11,290 --> 00:39:14,130
death, they not only continue
to do those very things, but also

695
00:39:14,130 --> 00:39:17,050
approve those who practice of
them. Yeah, and this. Whenever I

696
00:39:17,050 --> 00:39:20,810
saw that, like, I read it a
couple of times, chapter one of Romans

697
00:39:20,810 --> 00:39:25,700
is like, it's. It's wild.
Like, you know, Romans is wild. Like,

698
00:39:25,700 --> 00:39:28,860
go back and read it. But
basically, like, the first verse

699
00:39:28,860 --> 00:39:32,300
of that is like, these are the
kind of people that they have become,

700
00:39:32,460 --> 00:39:35,980
and God gave them over to that
depraved mind because they built

701
00:39:35,980 --> 00:39:38,620
that on themselves. And if you
look at the part where it talks about

702
00:39:38,620 --> 00:39:42,580
gossips and slanders, it says
they are gossips, slanderers, God

703
00:39:42,580 --> 00:39:47,580
haters. Like, that sin
building, that sin is right next

704
00:39:47,580 --> 00:39:50,580
to being a God hater. And so
I'm like, clearly it's something

705
00:39:50,580 --> 00:39:54,160
that's like, not necessarily.
Like, God isn't asking us to do this.

706
00:39:54,160 --> 00:39:57,920
Like, he's literally putting
it with God hating, you know, so

707
00:39:57,920 --> 00:40:01,640
that was crazy. Whenever I
read that, we already read James

708
00:40:01,640 --> 00:40:07,360
4, 11, but also James 2, it
says James 212 and 13. It says, so

709
00:40:07,360 --> 00:40:10,680
speak and so act as those who
are to be judged under the law of

710
00:40:10,680 --> 00:40:13,400
liberty. For judgment is
without mercy to one who has shown

711
00:40:13,400 --> 00:40:17,120
no mercy. Mercy triumphs over
judgment. And so just like being

712
00:40:17,120 --> 00:40:19,760
merciful in our speech, again,
like having the posture of someone

713
00:40:19,760 --> 00:40:24,770
who has received mercy,
because then my heart is to give

714
00:40:24,770 --> 00:40:29,970
mercy, because I have been
given honor by the Lord, where I

715
00:40:29,970 --> 00:40:33,210
have heaped nothing on myself
except dishonor, and he has chosen

716
00:40:33,210 --> 00:40:36,530
to give me mercy and honor by
that. So, like, how can I do that

717
00:40:37,329 --> 00:40:42,410
in the same set? And then we
talked about Galatians 5, but I'm

718
00:40:42,410 --> 00:40:45,010
gonna. It's 10 verses, but
it's really good, so stay with us.

719
00:40:45,570 --> 00:40:49,540
16:26. Then it says, and this
is about walking with the Spirit,

720
00:40:49,620 --> 00:40:53,020
walking in step with the
Spirit, says, but I say, walk by

721
00:40:53,020 --> 00:40:55,780
the Spirit. And you will not
gratify the desires of the flesh.

722
00:40:55,860 --> 00:40:59,020
For the desires of the flesh
are against the Spirit, and the desires

723
00:40:59,020 --> 00:41:02,100
of the Spirit are against the
flesh. For these are opposed to each

724
00:41:02,100 --> 00:41:05,420
other to keep you from doing
the things that you want to do. But

725
00:41:05,420 --> 00:41:08,580
if you are led by the Spirit,
you are not under the law. Now, the

726
00:41:08,580 --> 00:41:11,820
works of the flesh are
evident. Sexual immorality, impurity,

727
00:41:11,820 --> 00:41:16,930
sensuality, idolatry, sorcery,
enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of

728
00:41:16,930 --> 00:41:22,290
anger, rivalries, dissensions,
divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies,

729
00:41:22,290 --> 00:41:25,290
and these things, the like. I
warn you, as I warned you before,

730
00:41:25,290 --> 00:41:28,330
that those who do such things
will not inherit the kingdom of God,

731
00:41:28,410 --> 00:41:33,730
but the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,

732
00:41:33,730 --> 00:41:37,170
goodness and faithfulness,
gentleness, self control. Against

733
00:41:37,170 --> 00:41:40,490
such things there is no law.
And those who belong to Christ Jesus

734
00:41:40,490 --> 00:41:43,730
have crucified the flesh with
its passions and desires. If we live

735
00:41:43,730 --> 00:41:46,530
by the Spirit, let us also
step, keep in step. With the Spirit,

736
00:41:46,530 --> 00:41:50,450
let us not become conceited,
provoking one another, envying to

737
00:41:50,450 --> 00:41:55,530
one another. And then there's
another verse that I. It's in, it's

738
00:41:55,530 --> 00:41:58,250
earlier in James. Did I
already read James? I've been reading

739
00:41:58,250 --> 00:42:02,210
a lot of James, but there's a.
There's a verse in James 3 that says,

740
00:42:02,210 --> 00:42:05,890
who is wise and understanding
among you by his good conduct, by

741
00:42:05,890 --> 00:42:08,970
his good conduct, let him show
the works in the meekness of wisdom.

742
00:42:08,970 --> 00:42:12,150
But if you have bitter
jealousy and selfish ambition in

743
00:42:12,150 --> 00:42:16,350
your hearts, do not boast and
be false to the truth. This is not

744
00:42:16,350 --> 00:42:19,950
the wisdom that comes from
above, but it is earthly, unspiritual,

745
00:42:19,950 --> 00:42:23,590
demonic. For where jealousy
and selfish ambition exist, there

746
00:42:23,590 --> 00:42:27,070
will be disorder in every vile
practice. That the wisdom from above

747
00:42:27,150 --> 00:42:32,550
is first pure, then peaceable,
gentle, open to reason, full of mercy

748
00:42:32,550 --> 00:42:36,750
and good fruits, impartial and
sincere, and a harvest of righteousness

749
00:42:36,750 --> 00:42:38,910
is sown in peace by those who
make peace.

750
00:42:39,220 --> 00:42:39,660
That's good.

751
00:42:39,660 --> 00:42:43,220
And that one was, like,
particularly impactful to me because

752
00:42:43,220 --> 00:42:46,420
just thinking about, like,
bitter jealousy and selfish ambition

753
00:42:47,460 --> 00:42:50,620
kind of being like the core of
certain, of certain, like, ways that

754
00:42:50,620 --> 00:42:54,300
people boast and are false to
the truth. But also it's talking

755
00:42:54,300 --> 00:42:57,380
about how, like, this is not
the wisdom that comes from above,

756
00:42:57,380 --> 00:43:01,980
but it is earthly, unspiritual
and demonic. And so, like, I don't

757
00:43:01,980 --> 00:43:05,590
want to. I don't want the
wisdom that I speak or any of the

758
00:43:05,590 --> 00:43:09,590
things that I say to be, to
come to be unspiritual, earthly and

759
00:43:09,590 --> 00:43:13,430
demonic. You know, I want
those things to be pure, peaceable,

760
00:43:13,430 --> 00:43:16,390
gentle, open to reason, full
of mercy. And so I feel like when

761
00:43:16,390 --> 00:43:22,150
it comes to gossip, like, it
breeds division, it poisons the mind

762
00:43:22,150 --> 00:43:25,150
of people towards another
person based on a very personal,

763
00:43:25,310 --> 00:43:29,270
potentially personal
experience. And it isn't honoring

764
00:43:29,270 --> 00:43:31,750
to that person. And therefore,
if it's not honoring to that person,

765
00:43:31,750 --> 00:43:34,030
do you think it's honoring to
the Father? You know what I'm saying?

766
00:43:34,030 --> 00:43:37,320
Like, so I. That I think
that's ultimate. And like, again,

767
00:43:37,320 --> 00:43:40,440
like, these are all things
that I've learned not just in, like,

768
00:43:40,520 --> 00:43:44,800
in situations where it's just
like, it's all encompassing. Like,

769
00:43:44,800 --> 00:43:48,240
I've. I've learned these
things by trial and freaking error.

770
00:43:48,240 --> 00:43:50,480
So, like, I'm telling you
guys, that's not for the sake of

771
00:43:50,480 --> 00:43:53,680
like, being immune or have
some diplomatic immunity to experiencing

772
00:43:53,680 --> 00:43:57,160
it or doing it because, like,
it's the reality. Like, you're going

773
00:43:57,160 --> 00:44:00,360
to find yourself in these
types of scenarios. And I just, I've

774
00:44:00,360 --> 00:44:04,290
just learned how, how much
Truly, like, how many consequences

775
00:44:04,290 --> 00:44:05,010
it can have.

776
00:44:05,090 --> 00:44:09,450
Yeah. And I love that you're
saying that, because I think at the

777
00:44:09,450 --> 00:44:12,570
end of the day, when you're
just talking about, like, just to

778
00:44:12,570 --> 00:44:16,930
kind of sum up everything that
you just read, it's like the person

779
00:44:17,090 --> 00:44:21,250
who gossips, ultimately, their
desire and what they're doing is

780
00:44:21,330 --> 00:44:22,210
to tear down.

781
00:44:22,210 --> 00:44:22,690
Yeah.

782
00:44:23,010 --> 00:44:25,890
But that which is of the
spirit and not of the flesh is that

783
00:44:25,890 --> 00:44:33,260
which builds up, that which is
loving and joyful and kind and gentle.

784
00:44:33,260 --> 00:44:37,500
Like, this is the fruit of the
spirit. Like, how we talk about people,

785
00:44:37,500 --> 00:44:41,060
how we encourage people, how
we speak about people when they're

786
00:44:41,060 --> 00:44:45,660
not there, when they're not
present. Right. Like, to uplift them

787
00:44:45,660 --> 00:44:50,060
is godly, to gossip and to
tear them down is what you're saying.

788
00:44:50,220 --> 00:44:55,460
Earthly, demonic. It is
ungodly. So if that's just an encouragement

789
00:44:55,460 --> 00:45:00,900
to anybody who's listening,
like, check yourself. Is the words.

790
00:45:00,900 --> 00:45:05,620
Are the words that are coming
out of your mouth uplifting, Are

791
00:45:05,620 --> 00:45:10,460
they encouraging? Are they
pointing them to Jesus? Are they.

792
00:45:10,700 --> 00:45:13,940
You know, like, that is what
we should just put on display is

793
00:45:13,940 --> 00:45:14,780
the fruit of the spirit.

794
00:45:14,780 --> 00:45:18,820
Yeah. No, I agree. And I think
my other word to that is, like, there's

795
00:45:18,820 --> 00:45:22,610
some people that are listening
to this that they're like, yeah,

796
00:45:22,690 --> 00:45:25,690
I hope that I'm gonna share
this with so and so, because they

797
00:45:25,690 --> 00:45:29,970
need to hear this. Or, like.
Or I've been the victim of that,

798
00:45:29,970 --> 00:45:33,570
of whatever they're talking
about. Like, I. The. Whoever is.

799
00:45:33,570 --> 00:45:36,130
Whoever did that to me, I'm
gonna. I hope that they hear this,

800
00:45:36,130 --> 00:45:40,050
or I hope they're listening to
this. Check yourself. You know, like,

801
00:45:40,050 --> 00:45:43,890
that's my word. Like, just
check yourself. Like, check. Ask

802
00:45:43,890 --> 00:45:46,850
the Lord to. I think that's,
like, one of the most beautiful prayers

803
00:45:47,150 --> 00:45:50,950
in the Psalms where David is
like, reveal in me. Like, reveal,

804
00:45:50,950 --> 00:45:55,870
Lord. Like, look in my heart
and reveal in me any ways, any unrighteous

805
00:45:55,870 --> 00:45:58,510
ways that I have sinned
against you. Like, reveal to me God.

806
00:45:58,590 --> 00:46:03,790
And the Lord is kind. He will
do that to you. And so I want to,

807
00:46:03,790 --> 00:46:06,790
like, if you find in yourself
that you're having the posture, even

808
00:46:06,790 --> 00:46:09,910
in listening to this, about,
like, feeling like you're immune

809
00:46:09,910 --> 00:46:12,670
from this or you haven't
necessarily committed that, there

810
00:46:12,670 --> 00:46:14,830
might be some of you guys out
there that you just straight up,

811
00:46:14,830 --> 00:46:17,030
don't struggle with gossip,
praise God. Like, praise the Lord.

812
00:46:17,030 --> 00:46:20,760
Like, that is a grace. That is
the grace of God. But I also want

813
00:46:20,760 --> 00:46:24,440
you to ensure that that is the
case, because if it's not, then you

814
00:46:24,440 --> 00:46:28,440
might just be like, you might
unfortunately have some self Righteousness

815
00:46:28,440 --> 00:46:31,440
or something like that. Yeah,
some facade or something that you

816
00:46:31,440 --> 00:46:34,199
just like you're hard hearted
and you're not able to fully understand

817
00:46:34,200 --> 00:46:37,400
it. And you know, take it from
us, like, we've experienced it. We've,

818
00:46:37,400 --> 00:46:40,600
like, you know, we're here
like trying to share what we've learned

819
00:46:41,720 --> 00:46:44,980
in all three of these
categories of like, you know, being

820
00:46:44,980 --> 00:46:49,340
the one who gossips, who
gossips, being the passive bystander,

821
00:46:49,340 --> 00:46:51,980
being the one who has been
gossiped about. I think there, there

822
00:46:51,980 --> 00:46:56,300
it is unfortunately, a. It is
something that I'm sure most of us

823
00:46:56,300 --> 00:47:00,980
have experienced and in all
three settings. But like, there is

824
00:47:00,980 --> 00:47:04,900
grace and there is the Lord's
kindness to sanctify all the parties

825
00:47:04,900 --> 00:47:09,980
involved in it. And so I think
if I can leave you guys with anything,

826
00:47:10,870 --> 00:47:17,150
I would just say, like, just
let it be your heart's desire to

827
00:47:17,150 --> 00:47:22,470
honor, honor those around you.
Because when you're, when we're honoring

828
00:47:22,630 --> 00:47:25,470
those like, or honoring the
least of these, like we're honoring

829
00:47:25,470 --> 00:47:29,310
King Jesus. And, and I want
my, the way that I treat God's people

830
00:47:29,310 --> 00:47:33,550
or the people that are made in
the imago DEI to be how that, that

831
00:47:33,550 --> 00:47:36,510
I honor them even if I don't
agree with them or even if I have,

832
00:47:36,510 --> 00:47:40,380
you know, you know, whatever
issues towards them, like, I want

833
00:47:40,380 --> 00:47:43,900
to honor them in my speech
about them. So like, if practical

834
00:47:43,900 --> 00:47:47,340
steps, we already talked about
it. But just like I'd say keep your

835
00:47:47,340 --> 00:47:49,940
circle small. Like, don't. Not
everyone needs to hear everything.

836
00:47:50,660 --> 00:47:57,020
And yeah, just like you can,
you can process things, but invite

837
00:47:57,020 --> 00:47:59,500
the spirit into that
conversation to ensure that you're

838
00:47:59,500 --> 00:48:02,660
not moving more into slander,
that you're not name dropping for

839
00:48:02,660 --> 00:48:07,250
the sake of people knowing
things. Yeah, just, I, I just honor,

840
00:48:07,250 --> 00:48:11,650
honor the Lord. Keep your
hearts and your minds pure in these

841
00:48:11,650 --> 00:48:14,890
things. So that'd be my
thought. Any final thoughts?

842
00:48:15,290 --> 00:48:18,410
I think my one final thought
really is just to the person who,

843
00:48:19,450 --> 00:48:22,170
maybe they're coming to this
podcast and they're just thinking

844
00:48:22,170 --> 00:48:24,330
like, this is why I don't like
the church. They're just a bunch

845
00:48:24,330 --> 00:48:29,410
of gossipers, you know, And I
think my word of advice as my nose

846
00:48:29,410 --> 00:48:37,810
is dripping day, you could cut
that out or just keep it in.

847
00:48:37,810 --> 00:48:38,450
Yeah, that's fine.

848
00:48:38,450 --> 00:48:44,050
It's beautiful. You can see my
man. It's great. Darn allergies.

849
00:48:45,010 --> 00:48:45,450
Yeah.

850
00:48:45,450 --> 00:48:49,650
I think to the person who
looks to the church and says, this

851
00:48:49,650 --> 00:48:52,730
is why I don't go to church,
they're a bunch of gossipers. Or

852
00:48:52,730 --> 00:48:55,810
maybe they've even been a
recipient of that gossip, they've

853
00:48:55,970 --> 00:49:00,530
been hurt by the church. Like,
my just reminder is that, like, the

854
00:49:00,530 --> 00:49:06,770
church is full of people who
are broken, who have been redeemed

855
00:49:07,570 --> 00:49:15,890
by a Savior. We are saints.
Yes, but we sin still. And don't

856
00:49:15,890 --> 00:49:23,690
let the gossip of a few change
your perspective on Jesus. Jesus

857
00:49:23,690 --> 00:49:24,450
doesn't gossip.

858
00:49:24,570 --> 00:49:24,770
Yeah.

859
00:49:24,770 --> 00:49:28,890
Jesus uplifts. Jesus speaks
your identity the truth about you,

860
00:49:29,130 --> 00:49:30,410
not rumors about you.

861
00:49:30,410 --> 00:49:30,810
Yeah.

862
00:49:30,810 --> 00:49:36,290
And so just to point you back
to Jesus, he is the. The one that

863
00:49:36,290 --> 00:49:41,130
you can rely on when his
church is failing. So.

864
00:49:41,290 --> 00:49:45,530
Yeah. And if I can. Yeah, I
agree. And I'm glad you're saying

865
00:49:45,530 --> 00:49:49,090
that. I kind of want to read
as you were talking. I don't know

866
00:49:49,090 --> 00:49:52,990
what's been spoken about your
identity. I don't know what. Lies

867
00:49:53,070 --> 00:49:56,790
have been easy to believe
because a person who was hurt spoke

868
00:49:56,790 --> 00:50:00,110
them over. You sure? I know
that. I. There was a verse earlier

869
00:50:00,110 --> 00:50:03,350
that we read that talks about
fits of rage. And I fall into that

870
00:50:03,350 --> 00:50:08,270
category, honestly. And so
whenever hurt people hurt people.

871
00:50:08,270 --> 00:50:10,910
And in times of hurt, I've
spoken things that are not necessarily

872
00:50:10,910 --> 00:50:15,350
true of others because of my
own heart. And the Lord has continued

873
00:50:15,350 --> 00:50:18,230
in his kindness to give me
freedom from that and kindness in

874
00:50:18,230 --> 00:50:23,120
that. But I know what a word
of death can do to your identity

875
00:50:23,120 --> 00:50:26,160
and your belief in who you
are. So I just wanna read this verse

876
00:50:26,160 --> 00:50:30,880
that is so encouraging to me
and I hope it encourages you. 1 Peter

877
00:50:30,880 --> 00:50:35,640
2:9. You are a chosen race, a
royal priesthood, a holy nation,

878
00:50:35,800 --> 00:50:38,880
a people for his own
possession, that you may proclaim

879
00:50:38,880 --> 00:50:42,240
the excellencies of him who
called you out of darkness into his

880
00:50:42,240 --> 00:50:43,080
marvelous light.

881
00:50:43,160 --> 00:50:43,800
That's good.

882
00:50:43,960 --> 00:50:47,890
So cling to the word of God.
Cling to the truth about who you

883
00:50:47,890 --> 00:50:51,170
are as opposed to what has
been spoken about you or even what

884
00:50:51,170 --> 00:50:55,530
you've spoken about yourself
or about other people. There is grace,

885
00:50:55,530 --> 00:50:59,570
there is forgiveness, there is
redemption. And all are welcomed

886
00:50:59,570 --> 00:51:00,410
at the altar of God.

887
00:51:00,410 --> 00:51:01,690
Amen. Come on.

888
00:51:01,850 --> 00:51:04,570
Thank you guys for watching.
We hope that this encouraged and

889
00:51:04,570 --> 00:51:08,250
challenged you a little bit.
And we hope to see you next time.

890
00:51:08,490 --> 00:51:09,130
See you guys.

891
00:51:09,130 --> 00:51:09,690
Peace out.