Pastor John Collins, Love That Cross: Rumor has it.....
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.
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.
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
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.
LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, WYOMING EVANGELIST
