This topic will be useful not only to Orthodox believers, but also to those who want to change their lives for the better. Let's talk about what idle talk is, what harm people get from it. Do you know why sometimes from communicating with people it becomes uncomfortable whether the mood is spoiled or not satisfied? Idleness - this is the cause of many problems, both mental and material, physical, moral.
What is this word?
In Orthodoxy, the Church Slavonic language is used mainly in services , the Gospel, psalms are also read in it. That is why you can hear unfamiliar words, such as idle talk, for example. Let's see what this word means.
Idleness is the utterance of empty words that do not carry any useful information, gossip, retelling of someone else's life, gossip, idle talk. It would seem that one word, but it means an extensive set of actions, and negative ones.
Modern priests say that idle broadcasts on television can be attributed to idleness (for example, Dom-2, Comedy Club, Smehopanorama, and so on). On the radio you can often hear the speaker’s speech, in the words of which there is no useful information. As for football matches and other sports, where the commentator endlessly speaks not only about athletes, events on the playing field, then, unfortunately, this also applies to idle talk.
About Blessed Theodore
There is such a true story related to Blessed Theodora. When she died, then, like all the souls of the newly departed, she went to God through tribulation. What it is? Ordeals are a test of the soul, where demons expose all sins. There are 20 types of them. One of them, just the first ordeal, is idle talk. Almost all of us have this sin.
In general, such a trait as silence is ideal for a Christian. But there is a nuance. It can be either just a character trait or purposefulness so as not to sin by a bad or just an empty word. These are different goals, motives.
Back to the blessed Theodore. When she, together with the angels, approached the first ordeal, she heard a rumble, an endless chatter, a chilling soul, an annoying hearing. Demons jumped nearby, endlessly said something, laughed. One of them stood in front of Theodora, unfolded the sheet and began to read out her sins related to empty laughter, chatter, singing ditties and songs. It is from this real story that one can understand what idle talk is.
Do not chat with your neighbors!
It is often possible, walking through the yard, to hear the conversations of yard women and grandmothers, girls. What are they talking about? Yes, about anything, but not about useful things. Often the whole yard is aware of what is happening with one or another person. For example, your neighbor has family troubles. The whole yard already knows about this, and they say different things about it, writing the cause of the problem. Someone even begins to hate him, not knowing the essence of the matter.
You need to understand that other people's problems should not concern anyone. If there is a desire to help a person, then no one needs to talk about this. And it’s extremely bad to discuss with someone what he really has. Pass by the gossipers. It is better to silently help the sufferer than to talk about his affairs with his neighbors.
Often, priests give a sermon on the sin of idleness, relying on the words of Jesus Christ in the Gospel: "You will condemn your words." What is meant here? The sin of idleness is so disguised that a person does not see the line between “good” and “bad”, he does not see it in his words. Yes, he knows that swearing is bad, calling names badly, and lying too. But the fact that chatter is a sin is not guessed. Therefore, the holy fathers and ministers of the church teach to beware of unnecessary conversations.
Communication with relatives
But what about relatives? After all, you need to communicate. The church does not prohibit conversations. But you need to know the measure. Compare two points: “How is your health? Can you help with housework? ”And“ Hello, how are you? ” In the first case, the question is asked purposefully. They are interested in health in order to support, encourage, serve unselfishly. The second option, as a rule, does not carry a semantic load. They ask such a question purely out of politeness. What usually happens after a question about how you are doing? Empty talk about anything.
Of course, you need to talk with family people, find out how the day went, what is new, how you feel, and so on. Idleness is an occasion for empty conversations and gossip. But the usual dialogue about well-being, mood is not a sin. After all, the Lord himself ordered in the family to communicate with each other, to support in a word, to console. In communication, the family lives.
How to avoid?
It is clear that idle talk is a sin. How to avoid it? Of course, do not enter into conversations with people if this is not about some important things. The gospel teaches people to answer questions briefly and essentially.
Is the work of a teacher, teacher a sin of idleness? If the teacher speaks only on the case, tells true and instructive cases, then there is no sin. But the work of the commentator is not pious. We can say that television and radio are a cause for sin.
Unfortunately, almost all films are idle talk. Rarely can you hear something instructive, useful.
“Silence is gold” is a well-known wise saying. And she appeared for a reason. It must be followed so as not to sin.
Confession
It is clear that idle talk in Orthodoxy is regarded as a sin. Therefore, if you have sinned with any unprofitable word, you need to confess with the priest, ask the Lord for forgiveness. What exactly are the acts related to such a sin:
- talked with a friend for a long time about nothing;
- Discussed with the neighbors of one of the residents of the house;
- sang ditties and bad songs;
- laughed, discussing the absurdity of man;
- criticized someone behind him;
- complaining of bad weather, severe head, negligent official;
- talking rudely with someone.
You can list for a long time. In fact, priests recommend confessing to speak briefly about sins, and not to give an answer: "Sinned with idle talk." This is no longer a confession, but some kind of formal report.
Do you know when a person is really all right? When he is silent more, he does not like talk, gossip and gossip. In many Orthodox books there is a sermon on idle talk as the most common spiritual vice. It all depends on the person himself, his actions.