I’ve had a problem with eavesdropping on conversations between my parents. They’ve been going through some issues spiritually and out of concern, I’ve often gone out of my way to listen in through the wall.<\/p>\n
I will admit there have been other times I’ve done this out of curiosity even when I knew the conversation was private or about a sensitive subject.<\/p>\n
I’ve grappled with this because I’m not trying to gossip about what I hear, but at the same time if I know they wouldn’t want me to be listening, Am I sinning by doing so? I’m not talking about overhearing something due to proximity, but rather going out of my way to listen. Is this sinful? If it is, do I need to tell them that I’ve secretly done this? Would this be violating their privacy and the integrity of the conversation?<\/p>\n\t
Let’s look at this the other way around. How would you like it if your parents listened in on your conversations with your girlfriend? How would you feel if they went through your phone — not because they suspected that you were doing something wrong, but simply because they were curious?<\/p>\n
“Treat others the same way you want them to treat you<\/em>” (Luke 6:31).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Since you are not using what you are learning, I cannot clearly lay out a case that you are doing something wrong but I think we can say that the action is impolite.<\/p>\n
People tend to speak more frankly when they believe no one else is listening. They don’t take the time to consider their words and how they might be received. Thus, you are likely to hear things that will upset you. “Also, do not take seriously all words which are spoken, so that you will not hear your servant cursing you. For you also have realized that you likewise have many times cursed others<\/em>” (Ecclesiastes 7:20-21).<\/p>\n
Do you have to tell your parents you were listening to their private conversations? No, because you have created no harm since you kept what you heard to yourself. However, if your mother asks if you were listening in on their conversation, then you have to be honest.<\/p>\n
It is best, therefore, to stop listening in on conversations you were not invited to join. Curiosity is not a good reason for doing it.<\/p>\n\t
Response:<\/h2>\n
Thank you. I definitely was not being considerate or respectful by doing so, I will correct this.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Question: I’ve had a problem with eavesdropping on conversations between my parents. They’ve been going through some issues spiritually and out of concern, I’ve often gone out of my way to listen in through the wall. I will admit there have been other times I’ve done this out of curiosity even when I knew the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[20],"tags":[1326],"class_list":["post-43459","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-eavesdropping"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":34390,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-do-i-be-forgiven-for-eavesdropping\/","url_meta":{"origin":43459,"position":0},"title":"How do I be forgiven for eavesdropping?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 21, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I had a problem with eavesdropping. Do I need to tell the people I've been eavesdropping on that I've done it or is it enough that I asked God for forgiveness and stopped eavesdropping? I'm kind of confused, in general, about when we're required to tell someone about a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":92391,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/listening-to-children\/","url_meta":{"origin":43459,"position":1},"title":"Listening to Children","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 30, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Naomi Works In the last few years, God has blessed me with the opportunity to spend a lot of time with children of all ages in all kinds of settings (Bible studies, homeschool co-op classes, crafting sessions, everyday life, etc.). I can't even begin to express how many lessons\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":39438,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-it-good-to-talk-about-why-you-object-to-sins-when-others-react-in-hostility\/","url_meta":{"origin":43459,"position":2},"title":"Is it good to talk about why you object to sins when others react in hostility?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 25, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Mr. Hamilton, First and foremost,\u00a0thank you and the La Vista Church of Christ for the great Christian example you have set. I too am part of the churches of Christ (Romans 16:16). My question to you is how should I conduct online teachings? Just recently, I've started visiting sites\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":62344,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/i-didnt-give-permission-for-my-statements-to-be-used\/","url_meta":{"origin":43459,"position":3},"title":"I didn’t give permission for my statements to be used!","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 26, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I noticed you posted something written by Terry on your website. This was shared publicly by Terry from a private group and was a casual conversation. I would appreciate it being taken down since it was shared publicly without permission by Terry and also done without my permission. If\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":26160,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/ive-been-thinking-about-switching-congregations-but-dont-know-if-it-is-a-good-idea\/","url_meta":{"origin":43459,"position":4},"title":"I’ve been thinking about switching congregations but don’t know if it is a good idea","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 22, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hey, I have a question.\u00a0I\u2019ve been thinking of switching congregations. My reasons for wanting to leave are: My wife mentioned to me, she isn\u2019t learning there anymore. I haven't been learning there for the past year in a half, but I do a lot of studying on my own.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":21242,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-satan-behind-mental-illnesses\/","url_meta":{"origin":43459,"position":5},"title":"Is Satan behind mental illnesses?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 4, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Questions: Hello, I was flipping through the pages of a small book filled with handwritten verses loved ones made for me when I was in the psychiatric hospital. 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