Gossip: The Hidden Enemy in The Church
SERIES ON GOSSIP: PART 2 OF 4
It’s easy to look at “other” types of sin and say how disgusting they are, but when gossip is mentioned, there are certain expressions on the faces of people. Most times you’ll hear questions like;
“Does talking about people really matter?”
“It’s just an insider info I got about someone else. I don’t think I did wrong by sharing it with another person”
“But I’m just stating the obvious facts, is anything wrong with that?”
It’s interesting to note that God placed the sin of gossip in the same category as other sins. I mean He didn’t give any special preference for the weight of one sin over the other.
The same instruction and rebuke about immorality and lust were the same given on the issue of careless speech like gossiping. Have nothing to do with it. Resist it. Let it not be mentioned amongst you. These were the most common instructions on this topic.
“And have nothing to do with sexual immorality, lust, or greed — for you are his holy ones and let no one be able to accuse you of them in any form. Guard your speech. Forsake obscenities and worthless insults; these are nonsensical words that bring disgrace and are unnecessary. Instead, let worship fill your heart and spill out in your words.” Ephesians 5:3-4 TPT
With that in mind, let’s have a clear definition and idea of what gossip is.
Gossip is a statement made with bad intentions about someone else. It’s usually made in such a way as to make the listener question or assume something about the character of a person.
These subtle insinuations can mislead others into thinking wrong thoughts, mockery and disdain toward the person being talked about. Gossip tears down another’s reputation in order to feel good about himself/herself.
Why You Should Not Gossip As a Believer
1. Gossip is a work of the flesh
Gossip is not a fruit of the spirit, it’s a work of the flesh. No wonder Saint Gregory the Great, who lived in the sixth century, called gossip the 8th deadliest sin.
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21 KJV
As children of God, we are to put in efforts so as to bear the fruits of the spirit.
2. Gossip brings division
If you look at the life of the apostles in the new testament you will see that they were always in one accord, this is the major reason the church was able to multiply and grow extremely fast.
“And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Acts 2:46-47 KJV
Paul strongly admonished the Christians in the Philippines to be united. “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” Philippians 2:2 KJV
3. Gossip breaks fellowship
Gossip gives a negative image or ideology about someone, it tears down a person’s reputation. Therefore, when someone has been viciously gossiped about by a group of friends and the individual comes forward to provide a word of prophecy while surrounded by brethren, the group of friends will disregard it because they already have a preconceived notion about the person giving the prophecy.
Time and again God’s word instructs us to stand in unity;
“Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.” Ephesians 4:3-6 NLT
4. The person who gossips cannot stand being gossiped
It is impossible to ignore the golden rule of treating people how you would like to be treated. It was derived directly from Jesus’ own words.
“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12 NLT
5. Gossip is not a sign of love
The ultimate commandment we have been given is as Christians is love.
“Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37, 39-40 NLT
Let’s give a real-life example of how gossip isn’t a sign of love. Read this story and conversation below;
In this case, Jacqueline discovered this conversation happened and that hurt her feelings greatly. She felt humiliated and vowed never to step foot in a church again.
Here’s how the counselor should have acted in love toward Jacqueline;
- The counselor should have understood that Jacqueline needed genuine help and that’s why she opened up.
- The counselor should have ensured Jacqueline goes through the Christian Bible Study classes and workers training so she realizes her true identity in Christ with a renewed mind for service.
- Avoid sharing people’s private secrets with others who aren’t spiritually mature.
“Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8 NLT
6. Gossip leads to the expression of other sins
I might have agreed that it’s okay if gossip remained gossip, but you see, the thing about the flesh is that it grows into deeper and more horrible things. Jealousy, envy, witchcraft, backbiting, slander, and other evils have gossip as their identical twin.
This illustration gives just a quick glimpse of what this subtle sin could eventually become. When gossip comes in, a connection is shattered and various kinds of issues become possible.
7. Gossip is a sign of carnality and spiritual immaturity
“For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” (1Cor. 3:3 KJV)
“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.” (1Cor. 3:1 KJV)
It is God’s desire that we grow into maturity as his children, He desires us to become like Christ.
“…until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children…”
Ephesians 4:13-14 NLT
8. Satan is the accuser of the brethren, anyone who gossips accuses
The name “Satan” is derived from a verb in Hebrew that means “to accuse,” “to slander,” or “to be an adversary.” Therefore, the phrase “accuser” refers to Satan’s activities as the enemy of the human race, accusing people of sin. However, Jesus Christ is our advocate, making requests of God for the sake of people who believe in Him.
“Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, “It has come at last — salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth — the one who accuses them before our God day and night.” Revelation 12:10 NLT
When we really start to understand that we are the family of God… why would we stab our own brothers and sisters in the heart again and again with our tongues? We must not partner with the enemy in helping him tear down lives.
9. Gossip is a sign of prayerlessness
We never pray for folks we gossip about, and we never gossip about the folk for whom we pray! For prayer is a great deterrent. -- Leonard Ravenhill
The lack of prayer is the most hidden evidence of our independence from God and our perverted heart’s proof of self-sufficiency. Every time we spread rumors about someone, it demonstrates that we have placed our own judgment ahead of God’s. Pray for them rather than pass judgment or spread rumors, and watch the hatred fade.
What good does it do to speak in tongues on Sunday if you have been using your tongue during the week to curse and gossip? — Leonard Ravenhill
10. Gossip is a mediocre lifestyle
Multiple times in the scriptures, the man who gossip is described as a fool.
“Hiding hatred makes you a liar; slandering others makes you a fool. Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut. The words of the godly are like sterling silver; the heart of a fool is worthless.” Proverbs 10:18-20 NLT
“Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” Proverbs 1:7 NLT
“Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies!” Psalms 34:12-13 NLT
Let’s choose to portray wisdom with our words and stay away from foolish small talk, letting our speech reflect the wisdom of the Lord and not that with a mediocre way of living.
11. You have been instructed to live a life of love
“Owe nothing to anyone — except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law.” Romans 13:8 NLT
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails…” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV
“If we love our brothers and sisters who are believers, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead.” 1 John 3:14 NLT
12. God’s judgment upon gossipers
Most of the people hurt by gossip are those who are still babes in Christ and God’s judgment is upon anyone who will cause his children to fall from their Christian faith.
“But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck.” Mark 9:42 NLT
The warning that those who take pleasure in defaming their neighbors must hear is that they put themselves in jeopardy of God’s wrath. They will undoubtedly receive punishment from the Lord for their sinful actions. God says about such people:
“Your mouth is filled with wickedness, and your tongue is full of lies. You sit around and slander your brother — your own mother’s son. While you did all this, I remained silent, and you thought I didn’t care. But now I will rebuke you, listing all my charges against you. Repent, all of you who forget me, or I will tear you apart, and no one will help you.” Psalms 50:19-22 NLT
CONCLUSION
It’s very interesting to see that one of the oldest books of the Bible started with a premonition warning about this habit;
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful”. Psalms 1:1 KJV
No wonder the Psalmist made this prayer: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalms 19:14 NLT
Before you say anything to someone, ask yourself; will these words edify the hearer? Will it make the person think negatively about someone else? Will Jesus be proud of the words I’m about to say about the other person?
Were you convicted with the words shared here and want to know how to get rid of this subtle sin? Read the next article on the series, titled; How to Stop Gossipping.
