Pastor John Collins, Wyoming Love That Cross: Media and gossip

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