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Drawing Boundaries in a World of Labba-Labba
Privacy is a cornerstone of human dignity, yet many people, while guarding their own secrets, fail to extend the same respect to others. In Jamaican Patois, labba-labba captures the concept of idle gossip, a harmful habit that often violates this dignity. For Christians, respecting privacy is integral to loving one’s neighbour, yet gossip erodes trust, exploiting personal details for entertainment or judgment rather than honouring another's boundaries.
The Bible cautions against gossip, as in Proverbs 11:13: "a gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret." To respect privacy means recognizing that not everything we’re curious about is ours to know. When we engage in labba-labba, we reduce others to topics, disregarding their feelings and trust. But at the same time, make us persons that are to be treated with caution since we cannot be trusted. This can lead to lives of loneliness on our part.
Christ’s example teaches us to practice humility and empathy, allowing people to open up on their terms rather than prying. Genuine interest supports others without intruding, while guarding privacy builds an environment of respect. As Christians, we can model this by choosing silence over gossip, becoming trustworthy protectors of each other's dignity. In doing so, we create a culture where respect and love are the true measures of interest. Think in teams of the positive side of the proverb where we read "a trustworthy person keeps a secret."
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