If I could find it at its root, I dig it up and burn it. It's destructive. It's hurtful. And the devil must dance a jig when people log on.
Every church has one. It's the place where all kinds of gossip and rumors are discussed, dissected and disseminated.
This week I've seen again the rotten fruit produced on the grapevine. I've watched how the grapevine has led some to sin against their brothers and sisters in Christ. I've been made aware of what happens when people fail to "defend, speak well of and explain everything in the kindest way" (from Luther's explanation of the 8th commandment).
In the Large Catechism, Luther sums up his teaching on the 8th commandment in this way: Now we have the sum and general understanding of this commandment: Let no one do any harm to his neighbor with the tongue, whether friend or foe. Do not speak evil of him, no matter whether it is true or false, unless it is done by commandment or for his reformation. Let everyone use his tongue and make it serve for the best of everyone else, to cover up his neighbor's sins or infirmities (1 Peter 4:8), excuse them, conceal and garnish them with his own reputation. The chief reason for this should be the one that Christ declares in the Gospel, where He includes all commandments about our neighbor, "whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them." (Matthew 7:12) From Concordia, pages 417-8, para. 285-6.
Beware the grapevine. It's fruit, more often than not, is a deadly poison. It's not a place where followers of Christ want to be found.
