Tattling: The Sin of Talebearing
By J. Lamont
Tattling, or talebearing, is a sin indulged in more, perhaps, by church-members than any other one thing forbidden in the Bible. It is so easy to tell to a particular friend, what one has heard, and then repeat what he says to another, and so on, ad infinitum. This is done without once stopping to think whether it is right or wrong, what its effect may be, or what a flood of iniquity may thus be let loose. But he would not tell it to any one except his special friends, not outside the church anyhow. Now this is the very thing forbidden. Lev. 19:16: “Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people.” The remainder of the verse places talebearing on a level with perjury: “Neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbor.” It must then be a great sin. The tattler, in order to carry on his nefarious work, must continually break at least two of God’s ten commandments, the eighth and ninth. The story is colored just a little. The very words are repeated, perhaps, yet with a tone and emphasis so different that an entirely different idea is conveyed from that given when the words were first used. Thus it becomes a falsehood; and just so far as it robs any one of his good name, fame, and reputation, it is theft. Is it not murder, also, as it produces incurable wounds? Prov. 26:22. Does it not create and keep alive more divisions and difficulties in churches and communities than any other one cause? Let us imagine every tattler holding his tongue. Oh, what a peaceful time! Angry passions would cool down, old difficulties become extinct, dying as a fire for want of fuel. “Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out; so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.” Prov. 26:20. Now a little help for those who will not help themselves. Let their friends look their displeasure whenever they begin to untie the inexhaustible budget. It will have a salutary effect. Try it. “The north wind driveth away rain; so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.” Prov. 25:23. If it does not produce a radical cure, it will prevent a good many serious attacks. We say again, Try it. J. LAMONT.