How To Stop Gossiping: 8 Biblical Ways
SERIES ON GOSSIP: PART 3 OF 4
I will be the first to acknowledge that I’m completely guilty of gossiping about others.
I didn’t have to think twice because the impulse was so natural and pleasant. It gave me a form of connection with my fellow gossipers.
I enjoyed pointing fingers at others and it was a good way to avoid dealing with my own problems.
While gossip gave me a sense of excitement, the results it brought to my life were terrible; stunted spiritual growth, inability to express the gifts of the spirit and the people I gossipped about were advancing faster than I did.
It felt like my life was in one spot just rotating in circles.
So here’s the conclusion I made about this; gossip brings a halt to the progress of anyone involved in it.
Even though it is quite alluring to mock and make fun of others, we must learn how to stop gossiping.
Gossip is a subtle sin with terrible damages and it is the bane of spiritual stagnancy, hypocrisy, and deception in the lives of many people.
Want to know how to put an end to this lifestyle? Let’s dive in.
8 Biblical Ways to Stop Gossipping
1. Revelation of God
Revelation means to uncover, lift the curtain or make known something previously hidden. God reveals Himself to man through revelation in order for man to know and fellowship with Him.
Revelation of the person, character and knowledge of God will help you understand that gossip is not God’s nature.
So how can we know the person and character of God? It is through His word.
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16–17 ESV)
You can also know God through the example of our Lord Jesus Christ.
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14 ESV)
God desires us to grow and become like Christ in every area of our lives. Gossip is a characteristic of the flesh and God doesn’t want the devil to find expression in our lives.
Here’s what Jesus said about sinfulness being absent in him; “Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.” John 14:30 KJV
Since gossip is sinful and a form of uncleanliness, we have to stand blameless and spotless by allowing God to rule our lives.
2. Revelation of the Love of God
No matter how flawed people are, you must understand that God loves them and that’s why He sent his son, Jesus Christ to come die for their sins.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 KJV
You must also be aware that before our salvation, we were once enemies of God. We were wretched and deepened in sin but God’s love for us made us right with Him.
“But — When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.” Titus 3:4-5 NLT
3. You have the responsibility to love others
Since we have received God’s love as his children, we have the responsibility to share that love with others.
“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
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
4. Understand that God is the one true Judge
We are not in the place to judge others for their sins but we are to show them love because God alone is the perfect Judge.
“There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you to judge your neighbor.” James 4:12 ESV
“Brothers, do not complain about one another so that you will not be judged. Look, the judge stands at the door!” James 5:9 HCSB.
“I said to myself, “God will judge both the righteous and the wicked,” for there is a time [appointed] for every matter and for every deed.” Ecclesiastes 3:17 AMP
“But God is the Judge; He puts down one and exalts another” Psalm 75:7 NKJV
5. Understand gossip is a work of the flesh
Gossip is not a fruit of the spirit but a work of the flesh and it multiplies the expressions of sin. Like a cancerous disease, it spreads deeper and faster with time, and it doesn’t leave the victim the same.
Gossip does not yield righteousness.
The works of the flesh prevent us from living a life that pleases God. These actions move us farther away from holiness and toward sin & wickedness.
Like every other sinfulness, there is a judgment on the individual who is involved in this.
“I will destroy anyone who secretly slanders his neighbor; I cannot tolerate anyone with haughty eyes or an arrogant heart.” Psalm 101:5 CSB.
6. Repentance from the sin of gossip
Repentance is a change of life and heart regarding sin, in this case, the sinful act of gossip.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 KJV
“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV
If you are convinced about the scriptures above, if you’ve acknowledged your wrong and want to walk upright with the Lord, then say these prayers;
Thank you Lord for your unending kindness and mercy, despite the fact that I have rebelled against you. Please turn my heart to you and help me watch my mouth so I can only say words that glorify you. Help me conform more and more to the likeness of Christ and fill me with your love towards others. In Jesus' name, amen.
7. Pray for each other
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
2 Corinthians 1:11 says, “You are helping us by praying for us” (NLT). This means when you pray for people, you help them. When you don’t pray for people, you don’t help them.
Create a prayer list of the persons you believe you have offended, write their names in your Bible, pray for them, and then keep an eye on what transpires at work or in the church. It is impossible to pray for someone and not notice a difference in them.
I advise you to take them up in prayers daily and when you get the chance, ask the Lord to reveal their spiritual needs to you or you can inquire to know if they have a specific prayer request.
Then genuinely get yourself to raise up their needs in prayers. Every time you do that, you’re creating an opportunity from which you can stir up your spiritual gifts and impact fellow brethren in the ministry.
8. Be intentional about giving godly counsel
The mouth is designed to speak. Therefore, either one talks to God about men (intercession), talks to men about God (evangelism), or talks to men about men (gossip).
Now you have resolved in your heart to stop gossiping, the next thing you should do is begin to use your words in a manner that will edify others and advance God’s kingdom.
“Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that builds up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you” (Ephesians 4:29 GNT)
You can make a note of the persons you would like to encourage each week. Encourage them by speaking kindly to them, paying attention to them, and praying for them.
CONCLUSION
Our words have the power to shape our lives and the lives of those around us. To stop gossiping, we must be intentional about the words that we speak.
As Christians, we must be mindful of our words and how they could contradict the message we are supposed to be spreading. By using our words to uplift and motivate others, we can create a positive impact and better represent the teachings of God.
Let us strive to be better examples of Christ’s love by speaking life instead of death with our words.
Get ready for Part 4 on this series and it’s titled, How To Overcome Hurt and Offence Caused by Gossip.
Have you been edified by this series so far? Kindly share your thoughts below.
