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« King Jesus, His Gospel, and Us: Recap of N.T. Wright's January Series Message | Main | Grappling with Dark Spiritual Forces [Excerpt by Klyne Snodgrass] »

January 26, 2012

Comments

I suppose it partly depends on whether you have a good reason to tell your co-workers about your boss messing up or if you're just doing it to make him look bad. If your boss messing is going to mean that have to do a lot more work to correct for his mistake, I think they need to know about it. And if we look at Jesus as our example, he didn't pull his punches. He called some people snakes. He publically spoke of the the sin of the religious leaders of his day. Granted, there are things we shouldn't say, even if they are true, but there are also times when we need to just say it like it is.

Timothy, good insights into the prudence needed when talking about a boss's mistakes. I see your point about how it's necessary to share info on mistakes that will affect others' lives.

It strikes me that a red flag would be, are we taking joy in talking about their mistake? As you may know, the Germans give us a great word for taking pleasure in another's misfortune - schadenfreude http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schadenfreude .

Thanks for sharing! -Adam

We are not able to grow without knowing of our mistakes. So we need that some one showed them to us. It is not always we are able to see them ourself. And it is not easy for us when others show them us (our selfishness and proud are piqued). If we say about business, then we may discuss all together about what is rong with us to do something better. If we say about personal life or behaviour of some one from spiritual point of view, then we have to expose the deeds of darkness (Eph. 5:11). Of course, we have to have right spirit in that (see Gal. 6:1) and do this in right model (Mth. 18:15-18). Doing this we save the soul of that person from death (James 5:20).

To me, it seems reasonable to share information that could or would hurt another's reputation only if we are certain that the individual about whom we are sharing is committing an offence that is against the law, and especially if that offence is damaging to someone who cannot defend themselves, such as in the case of reporting child abuse, elder abuse, or spousal abuse. Otherwise, if we have a problem with someone, I believe it is best to speak to that individual in person and do our very best to speak the truth in love when doing so.

I agree - it's important to share negative information if it impacts others. But often we gossip about others because we're angry or annoyed at them. We feel completely innocent and justified in revealing their flaws to others, but the real reason we do it is to damage the person's reputation.

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