Page 279 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

GOT HIM OUT - GRACE

Ti. 4:14-15). Slander is spreading ill founded, untrue about someone in an attempt to hurt that person is
things about others with the intent to injure them. wicked gossip. We must be extremely careful about
Admonishing one another is not gossip. Romans 15:14 passing along things that we hear. If there is any
says, “And I myself also am persuaded of you, my question whatsoever about the truthfulness of
brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all something, it is essential to verify it from someone who
knowledge, able also to admonish one another.” is in a position to know the matter.
Christians have an obligation to admonish one another Gossip is being a busybody (2 Th. 3:11; 1 Ti. 5:13; 1
to serve the Lord. This involves watching over one Pe. 4:15), which is meddling into the affairs of others
another and exhorting one another about things that when I have no legitimate reason to be involved. [See
would hinder our walk with Christ (He. 3:13; Backbiting, Busybody, Evil Speaking, Grudge,
10:24-25). This ministry should not be confused with Intermeddle, Murmur, Prate, Slander, Talebearer, Tattler,
gossip. In some churches, though, this is exactly what Whisperer.]
happens. If a mature church member attempts to GOT HIM OUT. Escaped (Ge. 39:12, 15).
admonish and correct other church members, he or she GOTTEN. The old form of the past participle of the
can be labeled as a gossip and a troublemaker and a verb get; got; obtained (Ge. 4:1).
busybody in other men’s affairs. Admonishing others
requires maturity and godliness (Ro. 15:14), but it is a GOVERNMENT. God has ordained civil government
legitimate duty of mature church members. It is not and requires that men obey those that are over them
something that is to be left strictly to the pastor. Titus (Ro. 13:1-2, 5-7). When there is no government, there is
2:3-5 describes how older women in the church are to anarchy because of the sin and selfishness of fallen man.
teach and admonish younger women. I have known of The role of government is to maintain peace and order
churches, though, in which older women have gotten in this wicked world, to punish evil and to reward
into trouble for attempting to exercise this ministry in a righteousness (Ro. 13:3-4; 1 Pe. 2:14; Job 29:17). While
godly and scriptural manner. They were told that it was God wants His people to obey civil government, there is
strictly up to the pastor to correct and disciple younger a limit, and that is when the government requires
women about their personal lives and homes, but that is disobedience to God (Ac. 4:19-20; 5:29; Da. 6:10). God
certainly not what the Bible says. There is a ministry of does not require obedience to man’s laws if in so
correction that is to be exercised by church members. I obeying the Christian is forced to disobey the Scriptures.
recall a situation in a church in which a young man was For example, if a government passes laws to restrict the
admonished by some mature church members to quit Great Commission, the churches are forced to break
his job at a wicked movie theater for the sake of his own man’s law in order to obey the Higher Law (Mt.
spiritual wellbeing and for the sake of other young 28:18-20). The following verses in the book of Proverbs
people in the church who were watching his example. deal with human government: Pr. 10:10, 11; 16:12;
When he refused to follow this counsel and quit the 19:6, 10, 12; 20:2, 8, 26, 28; 21:1; 22:11; 25:2-7, 15;
church in a huff, those who admonished him from the 28:2, 16; 29:2, 4, 12, 14; 31:3-5. Believers are exhorted
Word of God were branded by some as the to pray for government (1 Ti. 2:1-4). [See Bribe, Capital
troublemakers. In fact, they were exercising the Punishment, Insurrection, Power, Rebellion, Tribute.]
legitimate biblical ministry of admonition among church GRACE. (1) Favour (Ru. 2:2, 10). (2) The free,
members. This example illustrates that it is crucial to unmerited eternal salvation of God (Ep. 2:8-9). (3) A
make a distinction between the ministry of admonition spiritual gift and empowerment (Ac. 14:26).
and gossip. There are chiefly two ways grace is used in the New
What Gossip Is Testament—saving grace and serving grace:
Gossip is talebearing (Lev. 19:16; Pr. 11:13; 18:8; SAVING GRACE is the free salvation that was
20:19; 26:20-22) and backbiting (Ps. 15:3), which is purchased by Jesus Christ when He died in the place of
talking to others about the intimate details of people’s sinners (Ro. 3:24 - 4:6; 11:6; Ac. 15:11; 2 Co. 8:9; Ep.
lives for injurious purposes. 1:7; 2:8-9; 2 Th. 2:16; Tit. 2:11; 3:4-7; He. 2:9; 4:16).
Gossip is slander (Nu. 14:36,37; 2 Sa. 19:27; Pr. Salvation by grace means salvation is not attained or
10:18; Je. 9:4-6; Ro. 3:8), which is stating things about maintained by human or religious works; rather, it is the
people that are false with the intent to harm them. For free gift from God through faith in Christ’s blood. This is
something to be slanderous, it must involve deceit and the gospel of the grace of Christ (Ga. 1:6). It is salvation
falsehood and an injurious motive. To tell someone that by Christ alone, grace alone, faith alone. This is the
a certain pastor is divorced is not gossip if indeed that gospel preached by the apostles and revealed in the
information is true, but to say that a certain pastor is Word of God. Paul described the gospel in Romans 3:24
divorced when it is not true is gossip. To spread rumors - 4:6 as the gospel of salvation by grace alone through

Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity 279