Rumourmills

Rumour, noun

1. A story or statement in general circulation without confirmation or certainty about the facts
2. Gossip, hearsay

Hearing rumours is really discouraging. Especially to the person who has become the subject of the rumour(s). All it takes is for one person to misunderstand or take a facet of the information they hear too seriously for the situation to become inflamed and for the rumour mill to crank up. Fair enough being concerned for that person, but to show genuine concern for one another we talk to each other and ask how each other are going. Even asking more specific questions in an effort to get the person to open up and vent more about what is going on. Genuine concern isn’t shown in telling others you have concern for someone.

For the ultimate consequence of rumours think about one of Shakespeare greatest tragedies, Othello. Here, Othello’s supposed friend told one apparently insignificant lie relating to the fidelity of Othello’s lover, Desdemona. This lie became an obsession for Othello until he couldn’t live with the thought of Desdemona being with another man. So he smothered her and killed her before he could find the truth that she was indeed faithful.

In June’s Southern Cross Media publication Ainsley Poulos writes about how these destructive behaviours can take effect in our churches. It’s not very hard either. It can be as simple as passing on factual information that is no business of ours. Just because it is factual doesn’t mean the subject of that information wanted everyone to know.

Poulos does give methods of saving each other from gossip. The most effective would be to stop it before it starts. Which means don’t be a party to gossip. If it sounds like gossip it probably is and it should be suggested that they speak to the person concerned. We all should be able to give feedback in the right way and to accept it once given. A bit of tough love perhaps?