![]() In all circumstances, as much as lies with us, we should not be a party to gossip, and we should confront those spreading evil speech. If an email containing gossip is sent to us, we should disregard the content and ask the sender to go to the one person being spoken against. So what should we do if we hear a rumor about someone else? If we are in conversation with a person and they begin to express words that put another brother or sister in a bad light, we have a responsibility to interrupt such speech and exhort them to speak directly with the person they are criticizing. And what is that? The etiquette of the table is that you don't tell stories about the brother who is sitting at the table with you-no matter what his denomination, or nationality, or background. And he won't let you eat unless you obey the etiquette of the table. But after you are seated at the Father's table, he expects to teach you table manners. You say, "But that's not grace." Well, grace gets you into the kingdom of God. If you want God to be good to you, you are going to have to be good to his children. "With what judgment you judge, you shall be judged." Find a little garden out back-a little spot somewhere-and when somebody comes around with an evil story, take it out and bury it and say, "Here lies in peace the story about my brother." God will take care of it. If you know something that would hinder or hurt the reputation of one of God's children, bury it forever. ![]() The talebearer has no place in God's favor. Tozer had these powerful words of advice about the sin of gossip: Never pass anything on about anybody else that will hurt him." Love covers a multitude of sins" ( 1 Peter 4:8). What does gossip and slander usually sound like? It usually begins with something like, "Did you hear about such and such …." The rest of it goes on to put an individual in a shameful or negative light. Love "thinks no evil" and "believes the best of others" ( 1 Corinthians 13). Spreading negative or shameful information about another person is contrary to walking in love. One doesn't have to be operating in malice to be guilty. One of the problems connected with gossip and slander is that they can seem innocent, and they often come to us subtly. No one wishes to be the subject of gossip and slander. Gossip and slander violate the Lord's own maxim: "Treat others the way you want to be treated." If anyone has suffered the agony of being gossiped about, they understand the force of those words. Because that second-hand information can be very misleading and inaccurate. To the best of my ability, I always evaluate people based on my first-hand experience with them, not on what someone else tells me about them. Often we do not even realize that what we're doing is engaging in gossip and slander.įor this reason, I have raised a standard in my life. I think most people who spread gossip are just like me-the thought never occurs to them about how deeply a person and their family could be hurt when someone attacks their character without their knowledge. I will admit that I have listened to gossip in the past. Talebearers usually avoid speaking directly to the one they are demeaning. ![]() One major component in both of these sins is that the person being torn down is out of the loop. Gossip and slander color people's perceptions of an individual unfairly and unjustly without their knowledge or consent. It's essentially character assassination-the act of smearing someone. What is slander, then? The Bible, especially in Proverbs, teaches that slander is accusatory speech that is injurious to a person's name and reputation. It can be motivated by good intentions, but it always contains negative personal information about another that puts them in a bad light. What exactly is gossip? Here's a good definition: "Gossip is second- or third-hand information that someone dumps on you without your prior consent, and without the consent of the person being gossiped about." Gossip can be true, partially true, or completely false. ![]() ![]() I want to raise awareness so that we will all better follow the Lord's teaching regarding our speech about, and actions toward, others. I would like to address this issue head on. As long as I've been a Christian, I have watched friends and their families undergo untold pain and hurt because of the incredible power of gossip and slander.Īfter speaking at a church years ago, a brother came up to me and said, "I heard that you had quit teaching in churches and took up potato farming." How and why such a rumor got started is anybody's guess! That rumor was fairly innocuous, but imagine the untold harm done by vicious judgments on the life and character of others. Bob Mumford once said, "The Christian army is the only one that shoots its wounded." Regrettably, I have observed his statement to be all too true. ![]()
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