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.
