Tattling by S. A. Doud

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 16, 1866

Tattling.

By S. A. Doud

VERY often have the servants of God counseled us, and read to us the words of our Saviour in Matt. xviii, 15, respecting our duty to each other. Says he, “Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone.” Is this our way of treating a matter? When the enemy of our souls acts through his agents, the opposers of the truth, and reports are circulated about some brother or sister, to their injury, do we go first and alone to that one? Or do we rather go to some one else and inquire of them if these things are so? And keep on inquiring, till the whole church is affected, saying, the while, “I don’t believe one word of the matter;” yet keep it going till by chance it gets where it should have gone at first? Let us ask ourselves the question, Do I do my duty as Christ has bidden? He says to us, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” Let us all see to this. Let us, when we hear a report, go first and alone to the injured one, and no further. Never, oh, never! go to the world. Let us as a people fitting ourselves to meet our dear Redeemer, arise above all tattling, leaving all such things for those without the camp.

S. A. Doud.

Tuscola Co., Mich.