I saw that when sisters who are given to talk get together, Satan is generally present, for he finds employment. He stands by to excite the mind and make the most of the advantage he has gained. He knows that all this gossip, and tale-bearing, and revealing of secrets, and dissecting of character, separate the soul from God. It is death to spirituality and a calm religious influence. Sister U sins greatly with her tongue. She ought by her words to have an influence for good, but she frequently talks at random. Sometimes her words put a different construction upon things than they will bear. Sometimes there is exaggeration. Then there is misstatement. There is no intention to misstate, but the habit of much talking and talking upon things that are unprofitable has been so long cherished that she has become careless and reckless in her words, and frequently does not know what she is stating herself. This destroys any influence for good she might have. It is time there was an entire reform in this respect. Her society has not been prized as it would have been had she not indulged in this sinful talking. {2T 185.3} | |
Vidnesbyrd for menigheden bind 2 kapitel 29. 185. Fra side 185 i den engelske udgave. | tilbage |
Jeg så at der hvor snaksaglige søstre samles var Satan som regel til stede; for der kan han finde arbejde. Han står ved siden af for at opildne sindet og få det mest mulige ud af det han vinder. Han ved at al denne snak og sladder og afsløring af hemmeligheder og den slags udbredelse, adskiller sjælen fra Gud. Det er dødeligt for åndelighed og stille (186) religiøs påvirkning. Søster U synder meget med sin tunge. Hun burde ved sine ord give en god påvirkning, men hun taler ofte på må og få. Nogen gange hendes ord på en anden måde, uden at de kan bære. Nogen gange lugter det. Så er det sagt forkert. Det var ikke hensigten at fremstille det forkert, men vanen med at tale meget og tale om formålsløse ting er så gammel at hun er blevet ligeglad og hensynsløs med sine ord og ofte ved ikke hvad hun siger. Dette ødelægger enhver indflydelse af godt hun kunne give af. Det er på tide at der bliver en hel fornyelse i dette. Hendes selskab blev ikke værdsat som det kunne dersom hun ikke havde givet efter for denne syndige snak. |