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May 05, 2025 06:00am

Water Cooler Gossip and Gospel Truth

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“Did you hear…”

The talk around the water cooler. A lot of people these days may not understand that saying since they don’t use water coolers in a lot of offices anymore. Instead, we’re guzzling our recommended 1,000 gallons of water a day from our Stanley cups and Hydro jugs.

The water cooler was the place that everyone drifted to throughout the day. While you were sipping out of your little Dixie cup, you’d share a little piece of information to pass the time.

“Did you hear…”

Water cooler talk became synonymous with gossip.

And instead of being some common ground, conversations for unity among the workforce team, it quickly became the meeting place for the source of division.

Paul warns the church in Rome to watch out for such loose lips.

“And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. 18 Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people. 19 But everyone knows that you are obedient to the Lord. This makes me very happy. I want you to be wise in doing right and to stay innocent of any wrong. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.” – Romans 16:17-20

Believe it or not, there were people who were traveling and sharing their own ideas about who God was and what He said. They offered variations of the gospel to “tickle the ears” of those that would listen. They might have parts of it correct, but there would always be something that was different, something that caused them to question the truth of the gospel they knew. They wanted to stir up division within the church, and Paul urged them to use discernment.

Sound familiar? It hasn’t changed much in a couple of thousand years, has it? People are still sharing a twisted version of the gospel to fit or justify their own desires. They want to say they believe in God, but God to them isn’t the God of the Bible.

Here’s how to know if what someone says is true or not: Can it be confirmed in Scripture in context?

Test it. See if it is true. Something to remember before we share that post, that thing we heard, or something we read.