Christians should be careful in choosing words and never pass bad rumors about one person from one of their friends to another, especially if they see that there is no unity of opinion among them.
It is cruel to insinuate something and nonsense about something, as if you knew a lot about a friend or acquaintance, and the rest know nothing about him. All kinds of clues spread quickly and create more unfavorable impressions than if you simply, frankly and without exaggeration, tell the facts.
Great harm is caused by a lack of wisdom and discretion when choosing topics for conversation. So it is necessary to talk about the spiritual and the Divine, but everything happens exactly the opposite. If communication with Christian friends is primarily about mental and spiritual improvement, then no one will have to repent later and everyone will have only pleasant memories of such a conversation.
But if precious time is spent in frivolous and empty conversations, in the analysis of the life and character of other people, then a friendly conversation will be a source of evil and its influence will be like a deadly smell of death.
We must know that when we listen to the reproach against our brother without objection, we join in this reproach.
The psalmist responds: “He who walks immaculately and does the truth and speaks the truth in his heart; He who does not slander his tongue does no harm to his sincere, and does not accept reproaches against his neighbor ”(Psalm 14: 1-3).
We must strive to think well about all people, especially our brothers, unless circumstances compel us to think differently.
We should not hastily pick up bad rumors and take them with faith. Rumors are often the result of envy or misunderstanding, or they can be the result of exaggeration or partial concealment of the facts. Once you give way to jealous suspicions and envy, these feelings will start to spread like weeds.
If a brother strays from the direct path, it is time to demonstrate his genuine interest in his spiritual well-being. Approach him kindly, pray with him and for him, remembering that unlimited price that Christ paid for his redemption. In this way, you can save the soul from death and cover many sins.
A glance, a word and even the intonation of the voice can be perfidious and dig, like a sharp arrow, in a sensitive heart, causing incurable injuries. In this way, a shadow of doubt or a reproach can be cast on the one through whom God would do a good deed.
That person's authority is undermined, and the benefits that he brings to God's work are greatly reduced. We can take as an example the following: among some animal species, this phenomenon is observed: if one of them is wounded and falls, his relatives immediately attack him and break him to pieces. The same spirit of cruelty lives in the hearts of many people who call themselves Christians. They are jealous of the Pharisees and are ready to stone those who are actually less guilty than they are.
In daily life there are those who point out the mistakes of others, hoping to distract the attention of their own or be known as big fans of God and the Church.
So we must recognize that the time spent criticizing the motives and actions of the servants of Christ must be better spent in prayer. If those looking for flaws knew the truth about the people they supposedly found them in, then often their opinion would have completely changed.
It would be much better if everyone, instead of criticizing and condemning others, said: I need to make my own salvation. I must remove all evil from my life and become a new creation in Christ. I need to overcome any deficiencies. And, instead of destroying the brothers who fight against evil, I can strengthen them with words of encouragement.
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