Pastor John Collins, Love That Cross, Wyoming: What we say reflects the Christian in us.
In the midst of another election, we watch politicians sling slander and throw out comments to the public meant to cue outrage. Do we take offense? Do we continue to allow them the liberty and license of continuing to get a reaction from us? Now, turn that thought into what God sees from us, people who are supposed to be Christian.
What we say and how we say it gets us into trouble with each other
and in the eyes of God. Gossip, being a busy body
with being in others’
business, carrying tales
to others, talking about others even in passing turns
into sin. With God, a sin is a sin. Gossip
and being a busybody
is the same as murder in the eyes of God. We often don’t realize that we get
a thrill out of being
the center of attention because we “know” something that someone else doesn’t.
Evangelist Pastor
John Collins preaches on gossip and slander
and being a busybody
in many of his sermons. It’s time for us
to recognize
that what we should be talking about and how we should
be speaking should reflect the Christian
in us. Talking about others hurts
others, it causes them to stumble and
have emotional
pain. That is not Christ-like.
Pastor John Collins is an evangelist that began a revival of
renewal of faith in Wyoming two years ago.
He is biblically correct. He does
not pull punches
and he does not preach what people want to hear, he preaches what we NEED to
hear. We have all fallen far from the
glory of the Cross and the salvation that is from God through His Son Jesus
Christ. Pastor
John Collins puts it bluntly and clearly so that we can understand it and
uses Scripture to show us
exactly what he is referring to. God
doesn’t want us to continue
on in our sin
and our habits that pull us away from Him. He wants us back, as many as
possible, to believe in Him, to trust in Him, and to get to know Him the way
that we should. That is the message of
revival that Pastor John
Collins is spreading. It’s time for us to find God again, to get
back to the Cross.
Pastor John Collins says it like this:
“I heard it through the grapevine,
word on the street is, rumor
has it, have you heard,
what’s the latest, give me the scoop, the skinny, the
411, the juicy news, the dirt,
good old fashioned gossip…the
conversations
we all live for, right? There are
magazines, TV shows, reality shows, locker rooms, bedrooms, living rooms,
kitchens, cafeterias, basements, bathrooms, internet sites, cell phones all
devoted to spreading
the news of the actions of others, whether famous or not. We do it ourselves. We are a world that thrives on gossip.
“And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from
house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying
things which they ought not.” 1 Timothy 5:13
There are many people that make their careers on photos and
stories about the dirt on others. We lap
it up like pigs. We spew it out like
geysers. We love it, we live it, we
don’t even notice when we are doing it.
Most people couldn’t tell you exactly what gossip is. They are just asking about Bob and Sue,
right? Wondering if they are doing okay
and ignoring that thrill that comes from finding out Sue just filed for divorce
because she caught Bob cheating on her with Beth.
“But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase
to more ungodliness.” 2 Timothy 2:16
Wyoming’s Pastor John Collins asks: Are our own lives so boring that we must entertain ourselves with the pain and humiliation of others?
Do we really need to know who is
doing what and why? Is it any of our
business? Isn’t there something we could
be doing that is productive and good?
Isn’t there a wholesome way we could converse with each other? Is it really any of our business to discuss
the sex lives of others? Is it proper to
discuss our own sex lives with others?
Is there nothing that is sacred anymore?
Is there nothing we will not expose about someone just because we can?
“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is
good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” Ephesians 4:29
Gossip is the same as murder in the eyes of the Lord. It harms people, it destroys reputations and
it is just an awful way to spend your time.
It is a part of society today and it is shameful and wrong. Think of your conversations, consider your
words and know that idle speech is of the devil. We should all cast away our joy in gossip and
learn to bridle our tongues. Be careful
of what you say and what you readily listen to.
You don’t have to be polite and listen to gossip. You can easily say, “I prefer not to hear
that.” Life can be easily simplified by
not engaging in idle talk.
“But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full
of deadly poison.” James 3:8
Your tone of voice is an indication of the true intent
behind your words. Someone may say something that is true and yet the way in
which it is said and the words that are chosen are either combative and
malicious, calm and soothing, frank and impartial, or ingratiating and
patronizing. Each of us should always be careful of intentions and try to avoid
causing others to stumble in this life.
Our emotions determine our actions. When we are angry at
someone and have no forgiveness in our hearts for a situation or person then
our speech about anything concerning that situation or person will be hateful
and bitter. When we are jealous of someone then our speech about them will be
spiteful and cutting. When we are hurt we can lash out and try to hurt in
return and say awful things that cannot be taken back but just becomes the next
set of words and the next situation that must be repented of and forgiven. Life
is exhausting if you do not manage to gain the perspective that permits you to
desire to seek righteousness and obtain that goal.
“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are
detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent
blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into
evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in
the community.” Proverbs 6: 16-19.
Evangelist Pastor John Collins reminds us that righteousness is doing the right thing all of the time and not just when it suits you.
Jesus
was righteous and His life taught that you can become righteous and you can do
the right thing. You do this by choosing to learn how God sees things and by
trusting that God will take care of the justice of this world. Humans are
prideful and stubborn and always want to think that they are the wronged party,
the misunderstood and the victimized. Humans just have that wrong.
Jesus came and showed us that life isn’t fair, life is
tough, and people are judgmental and can be hateful. Jesus came and showed us
that forgiveness is right, kindness is good and that God does value His
children. Jesus showed us that our words have the power to hurt, heal,
encourage, deflate, inspire and so many other wonderful and terrible things.
You need to be willing to give your soul a chance at salvation and to that you
need to be willing to obey the Lord, hear the Lord and submit to the Lord. You
cannot do that if you are always right, always defensive or offensive,
prideful, stubborn, unforgiving, hateful, bitter or unwilling to bend.
“Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.” James 3:5-6
LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, WYOMING EVANGELIST
