POISON

Webster’s dictionary defines poison as:

“a substance that through its chemical action usually kills, injures, or impairs an organism; something destructive or harmful; an object of aversion or abhorrence.” Rather than inscribing that description on products or substances that can cause these ill effects, most companies will use the skull and crossbones as an icon for the standard warning.

There’s a poison that doesn’t advertise its presence, yet it’s dangerous and harmful. It’s the kind that can seep into your workplace, neighborhood, or even your family or church. This insidious poison doesn’t come with a warning label. It enters through gossip, rumors, jealousy, bias, and other negative influences. Left unchecked, this venom festers and will eventually erode relationships and affect the essence of an organization, community, congregation, or family.

Bridge

Recently, a dear friend resigned from a job she loved and had held for several years because of the atmosphere one of her coworkers created. Someone planted a seed of contempt, which was never expelled. Therefore, its toxin spread through the workplace, contaminating attitudes, creating suspicion, instigating uncomfortable undercurrents, and, ultimately, causing distrust between my friend and her coworkers. Eventually, this infection tainted her relationship with the business owners, who once had been good friends.

After she resigned, several of her friends and family members stopped doing business with the organization, which caused it to lose revenue. All of this was due to one person who planted a poisonous seed, which was not uprooted but left to spread like crabgrass.

Blesson

You might remember the telephone game children played when they sat in a circle, and the first player whispered a phrase into the ear of the person next to them. The phrase was passed throughout the circle, with each player whispering it to the next person. When the final player repeated aloud what they’d heard, it was usually very different from the original phrase. Inaccuracies, misunderstandings, deliberate changes and falsehoods, and fickle recollections can convolute our communication.

When next we’re tempted to listen to gossip or repeat a whispered tale, we could all take advice from Moira Rose, a Schitts Creek television series character who said, “Gossip is the devil’s telephone. Best to just hang up!”

Substance

 “The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts.” (Proverbs 18:8, NIV)

“… they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.” (1 Timothy 5:13, ESV)

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29, NIV)

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