Gossip
Gossip:
Psa 19:14: Notice that God links the words of our mouth and the meditations of our heart.
Gossip defined: Idle or malicious talk about someone with a desire or intention to injure him or her in some fashion.
God places gossip in the most complete list of sins in the Bible and shows how it is interrelated with all these sins: (a) Rom 1:28-31: No wonder God hates it; (b) 2Ti 3:1-3 (slanderous); (c) Exo 20:12-16 (false testimony); (d) Pro 6:16-19 (false witness, dissension).
The issue for the believer is that gossip does not fit who we are. The idea that a person could be praying and talking to God, while at the same time destroying someone with gossip simply doesn’t work.
Why do people engage in gossip?
- Pride.
- It is a means by which they can express their anger or their bitterness toward someone without confronting them.
- People gossip to pull others down to their level… or
- To destroy someone else.
- Or perhaps simply because they have a careless tongue.
- It is the influence of other people.
Consequences in the life of the person who is the object of the gossip:
- Pain.
- Suffering.
- Hurt.
- Intense pain.
Some say they have the right to speak the truth. You may have a legal right to speak the truth, but you don’t have a Biblical right to say everything you know.
Consequences for the one who gossips:
- Mat 12:33,34.
- Mat 15:10,11.
- Gossip defiles the one who practices it.
- It reveals his/her lack of discipline.
- It shows he/she is ruled by sin.
- It drives godly people away from him/her.
- It destroys his/her fellowship with God.
Little minds discuss people. Average minds discuss events. Great minds discuss ideas.
Cautions:
- Pro 20:19.
- Do not associate with a gossip.
- Eph 4:29-30.
- It grieves the Holy Spirit when a person is gossiping.
How to cure gossip:
- Repentance.
- The gossiper may need to make restitution, but you must be careful because that can sometimes only increase the problem.
- Don’t associate with gossips.
- Pray for the person.