SHE SAID WHAAAAAT? -- 3 Antidotes for the Poison of Gossip

Mike Hosey, An Elder

Gossip is like a poison that kills relationships. Although there are many kinds of gossip, its most basic form appears when people share either sensitive, untrue, or unconfirmed information with others who should not be privy to it. It is born from many other sins, or dark conditions of the heart. But unfortunately, we often depict it as a lesser sin. It is not uncommon to see gossip portrayed in a humorous light. Perhaps you've seen in films, television productions, or pictures the stereotypical depiction of gossipy old church ladies spreading rumors among the flock. We tend to love these mythical images, smile at their little sin, and see it as the lesser of many troubles.

But this is not how Paul saw it. Paul saw it as quite evil. In fact, he places it right next to sins like murder, hatefulness toward God, ruthlessness, faithlessness, and heartlessness (Romans 1:29-32).

This might be because gossip sours the fellowship that God desires for his people. That fellowship was illustrated in how the early church (Acts 2:42) loved each other, and meshed as a supernatural family. It is expressed by Paul in his letter to the Philippians (Philippians 2:1-2) where he implores that church to demonstrate such fellowship by being united in the same love, mind and spirit.

But gossip gets in the way of that spirit. It spreads strife, and it breaks up friends (Proverbs 16:28). Gossip is almost always born out of envy, or pride, or wrath. When people gossip, they are often either consciously or subconsciously trying to lift themselves up from a life of discontent, get at someone, or obtain some kind of glory for themselves. When people act on information they've received through gossip, people sometimes get hurt.

Here are a few ways to stop such an evil:

Don't Receive It! (Proverbs 26:20). If you receive information from others that you don't have a reason to know, then you throw wood on the gossip fire. But if you tell the gossiper to stop, then you take a log off the fire, and at least one tongue of flame ends at your firewall. Plus you have the added benefit of possibly causing the gossiper to question their own motives.

Remember the Golden Rule! (Luke 6:31). You would not want others to gossip about you. Put yourself in the place of the person who is the subject of gossip and have empathy for their plight. And consider that if someone is gossiping to you, they'll probably also gossip about you.

Strive for TRUE Spirituality! (James 1:26, Psalm 34:13, Luke 6:45). Our tongues are as much a part of our spirituality as anything else – sometimes more so. It is, after all, out of the heart that the mouth speaks!