Being a Near Occasion of sin for another's Gossip

[LostGirl2]

Hello all,

I have a friend who gossips a lot, to the point that I limit contact with him because of it (I think a lot of it comes from his need to vent). I met with him after a long while to give him a Christmas gift. He predictably gossiped during our conversation though I tried to keep the conversation on neutral topics and I tried to turn negative remarks into positive ones. I’m worried I committed a mortal sin, however, not because I gossiped myself, but because me meeting with him became an opportunity for him to sin.

Thoughts?

 

[Irishmom2]

I don’t think the sin is on you just for meeting with him. It is on him. In fact, you tried to help him by changing the subject, but he continued on. You did nothing wrong.

 

[Seagull]

Proverbs 6:16-19 King James Version (KJV)​

16 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

 

[Lee1]

I don’t think you’ve sinned but on the subject of words this passage might be remembered

Matthew 12:36
I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak

A dire warning to us all I think.

 

[TheLittleLady]

There is a difference between simply catching up on news about mutual friends and the sins of calumny or detraction.

So, was he telling things to you in an attempt to ruin the reputation of these other people? If so, that is the sinful stuff.

On the other hand “Oh, Jeff and Jennifer are engaged, Sally Sue is expecting a baby, and Tom got a new job” is simply sharing news about people and not sinful.