A coward is defined as “a person who lacks courage in facing danger, difficulty, opposition, pain, etc.; a timid or easily intimidated person.”
Cowardice manifests itself in a variety of ways, as you know. I’m not going to list them. Fear is huge in many peoples’ lives but I don’t necessarily want to lump all fear in the same dump as being a coward.
I despise the use of “anonymous.” Letters to the editor are not printed if they are not signed by name. No blog I know of allows anonymous comments. I have received my fair share of anonymous letters and notes and until I learned that it was a coward who wrote them, they bothered me. Greatly. I mean, I would spend waste hours trying to figure out who wrote it dependent on the subject matter. I would lose sleep over it, wondering who didn’t like me? (That was one of my great big weaknesses…always wanting to be liked by everyone).
I have already told you what I think of people who write anonymous letters (see highlighted words above). I received an anonymous text from someone recently. It came from someone not in my contacts and when I texted back and asked, “This is who?” I received no response. Yeah…cowardice. The text was not about me (for once). It was sent to me about someone else at the urging of a third party. Talk about being complicit to unbiblical actions!! How do I know? I went to the person whom it was about and that person was able to tell me. Frankly, I deleted it as unwanted junk.
So I say this to all my readers: please, if you must pass along something take ownership. Cowards send anonymous tips, emails, texts, letters, or voice mail. If it important enough for you to pass on, it is important enough for you to put your John Henry to it. And oh yeah…try the Biblical approach. Go to the person of whom something is being said. I do believe the Bible speaks about gossip and passing along information, be it true or false. Try considering reading Ephesians 4: 25, 29, and 31.
There. I’ve said my piece. And I sign my name to it.
Well said, Bill. Anonymity is sometimes just a place to hide to get away with something. I realize there are some legitimate uses for it, but in the context you’re talking about, no way.
i’m not disallowing for the occasional time Lisa, as you point out. it is the obvious which irks me. I know you agree.
Amen, Bill! No anonymous comments allowed – ever!
Blessings!
You have my agreement on that Martha.
I couldn’t agree more. You got something to say, say it looking into the eyes of who it’s about…
I think God calls it, “Girding your loins”!
I agree Floyd. That is why I took what was said to the person it was said about. No rumors or gossip or hate allowed.
Well said, Bill! Dick has dealt with this type of thing before, and you are right, it is cowardly.
I’m sure Dick has (and you by proxy if nothing else). Any pastor has had to draw a line on anonymous junk.