“If any man thinks himself to be
religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this
man’s religion is worthless” (James 1:25).
Hey gang, I am sure you are all
aware that 'bullying" has become a very serious problem, not only in our
schools today, but in just about every facet of life. A recent incident in the National Football
League brought out the depth of bullying in the ranks of the NFL. But, as an eighty year old grandpa, I can
attest that I saw, and experienced, bullying to some degree in just about every
step in my life time. And I have also
learned that the most damaging form of bullying is gossip.
Did you know that gossip thrives on
suspicion, mistrust, and the desire to put someone down. But it can also gain strength even in
honest misunderstanding. Let me clarify what experience has taught me
pertaining to gossip with a neat little story.
In my younger years I drove a truck in Lancaster, PA, and picked up bulk
milk at 54 Amish Farms.
When I arrived at the Deacon Amos Zook Farm I found a very irate Amos. He was very quick to tell me there was a blasphemous situation that was taking place in his home Church Body. It seems one of his parishioners was using electric lights to motivate his hens to lay more eggs. Electricity was one of those modern conveniences that was a no – no in old line Mennonite and Amish lives.
Although the members of Amos’s Body did not have telephones, it did not take it long to spread the dastardly act of rebellion throughout the whole community and the gossip wheels began to turn. But, after a brief investigation, it was learned that Brother Sam’s indiscretion was the result of a mis-understanding of what Deacon Amos had suggested that Brother Sam do to motivate his chickens.
It seems Brother Sam’s hens were just not motivated to lay eggs in the number that he expected, so he sought the advice of the deacon who suggested Sam try the vitamin and electrolyte mixture the town feed store sold. This he did. Now I was not privy to whether the hens did indeed lay more eggs, but I was made privy to the fact that there would be a meeting of the Sanhedrin that very day to address the electrolyte issue.
It then dawned on the deacon that he may have been the seed planter of this dastardly deed when he suggested that Sam purchase the vitamin and electrolyte mixture which the young chicken farmer took to mean ‘electric light’. The mystery was soon solved and the young man corrected the errors of his ways.
Unfortunately, not all gossip can be laid to rest with so much relief and touch of humor. A simple pull of a plug brought Brother Sam back into fellowship with Deacon Zook and his brothers. I believe that is what James was talking about in Chapter 3 when he wrote, “…yet he who does not bridle his tongue deceives his own heart”. Notice he does not stop there, he went on to give warn “the gossipers religion is worthless”.
So, my young buckaroos, if you have a season when your chickens are not laying and you lack wisdom as to what to do, don’t seek out Deacon Zook, but rather put your hands in the hands of the One who stills the waters and has an abundance of wisdom about chickens, having created them. “Let him ask of God who gives to all generously and without reproach and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). Oh, by the way, this is also the recommended problem solving route when you hit the clinkers in the road!
When I arrived at the Deacon Amos Zook Farm I found a very irate Amos. He was very quick to tell me there was a blasphemous situation that was taking place in his home Church Body. It seems one of his parishioners was using electric lights to motivate his hens to lay more eggs. Electricity was one of those modern conveniences that was a no – no in old line Mennonite and Amish lives.
Although the members of Amos’s Body did not have telephones, it did not take it long to spread the dastardly act of rebellion throughout the whole community and the gossip wheels began to turn. But, after a brief investigation, it was learned that Brother Sam’s indiscretion was the result of a mis-understanding of what Deacon Amos had suggested that Brother Sam do to motivate his chickens.
It seems Brother Sam’s hens were just not motivated to lay eggs in the number that he expected, so he sought the advice of the deacon who suggested Sam try the vitamin and electrolyte mixture the town feed store sold. This he did. Now I was not privy to whether the hens did indeed lay more eggs, but I was made privy to the fact that there would be a meeting of the Sanhedrin that very day to address the electrolyte issue.
It then dawned on the deacon that he may have been the seed planter of this dastardly deed when he suggested that Sam purchase the vitamin and electrolyte mixture which the young chicken farmer took to mean ‘electric light’. The mystery was soon solved and the young man corrected the errors of his ways.
Unfortunately, not all gossip can be laid to rest with so much relief and touch of humor. A simple pull of a plug brought Brother Sam back into fellowship with Deacon Zook and his brothers. I believe that is what James was talking about in Chapter 3 when he wrote, “…yet he who does not bridle his tongue deceives his own heart”. Notice he does not stop there, he went on to give warn “the gossipers religion is worthless”.
So, my young buckaroos, if you have a season when your chickens are not laying and you lack wisdom as to what to do, don’t seek out Deacon Zook, but rather put your hands in the hands of the One who stills the waters and has an abundance of wisdom about chickens, having created them. “Let him ask of God who gives to all generously and without reproach and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). Oh, by the way, this is also the recommended problem solving route when you hit the clinkers in the road!
Blessings,
Gramps
P.S. If you have been a long term
Gramps Morning Message reader, you may have heard parts of the story of the
unproductive egg layers but I thought it was worth running it through the mill
once more. Paul has a great deal to say
about gossip in Romans 1:26-32.
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