Huwag kayong magpadaig sa masama, kundi daigin ninyo ng mabuti ang masama.

Mga Taga-Roma 12:21

Ang tsismis o gossip at paninirang-puri o slander ay parehong kasalanan. Hindi lang ito paglabag sa utos ng Diyos kundi nakakasira din ng magandang samahan — ng magkakaibigan, magkakapitbahay o maging sa pamilya (Proverbs 16:28; Proverbs 11:9). Kahit ayaw natin, may mga pagkakataon na kasali tayo sa usapang may temang tsismis. Pero paano naman kung tayo ang topic o biktima ng tsismis?

Sa Bible, biktima rin si David ng tsismis, na naging isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit tinugis siya ni King Saul at kanyang mga tauhan. In 1 Samuel 24:9–10, David respectfully confronted King Saul on why he listened to men when they said that he, David, is out to harm him. He showed a piece of King Saul’s robe, proof that he had the opportunity to hurt the king but he didn’t. Sa Psalm 109, mababasa nating ipinagkatiwala ni David ang kanyang sitwasyon sa Panginoon. He entrusted his reputation to the Lord and proved the rumors wrong by living righteously before God.

If we are in the same situation, na maging biktima ng tsismis, we may talk to the person who started the rumor. We can ask questions about how it came up and try to clarify details in a gentle manner. But we also have to consider that we cannot undo whatever damage it caused us or change people’s perception of us. What we can do is to trust that the Lord will vindicate us, as we entrust to Him our reputation. Lastly, we can ask God to help us forgive those who gossip about us and be careful not to do the same to other people. At all times, let’s avoid getting into conversations that promote gossip and slander.