Gossip…

It’s funny.

The Bible talks about gossip and slander as significant sin issues.

Society is filled with people talking about people. Social media has exponentially allowed for the world wide conversation to escalate in epic proportion.

The definition of gossip is as follows…

1. casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, typically involving details that are not confirmed as being true.

2. a person who habitually reveals personal or sensational facts about others

3. rumor or report of an intimate nature

Slander is defined as…

1. the utterance of false charges or misrepresentations which defame and damage another’s reputation
2. a false and defamatory oral statement about a person

The irony about the topic of sin pertaining to conversation is that with so much talking going on seldom do we hear the preacher, teacher, TALK about this very issue.

This post isn’t to fault anyone, it’s simply a point to highlight because I cannot recall one message, aside from someone else writing on the subject in a blog that I read once upon a time.

Honestly speaking, having conversation about others, especially others that we’ve never actually had a conversation with in a negative light, a majority of the time, is fruitless, weak and unnecessary.

Personally, when I find myself talking about others, I ask myself if I’d say the same thing to the person’s face or in their presence. If I don’t feel as though I would say it to their face, I’d likely be guilty of gossip or slander and do my best to not say the thought or share the idea.

Let’s face it; gossip and slander are tools the accuser of the brethren uses against the saints, one to another. In a real sense, any time someone speaks gossip and slander, they are partnering with Satan. Frightening picture to behold, but it’s the reality.

Check out what the book of James has to say about the taming of the tongue…

² For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a ^]perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. ^]Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. ⁴ Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. ⁵ Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.

See how great a forest a little fire kindles! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of^]nature; and it is set on fire by hell. ⁷ For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. ⁸ But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. ¹¹ Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? ¹² Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. – James 3:2-12

If we’re honest with ourselves, we can admit guilt when it comes to both gossip and slander. Every single person on the planet is absolutely guilty of participating in these sins. No one is unique or guilt free.

So what do we do?

We pray. We pray to ask the Holy Spirit the power and self-control to not participate in such conversation. Ephesians 5:18-21 talks about what we are to speak to one another.

¹⁸ And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ submitting to one another in the fear ofGod.

Philippians also mentions the things in which we’re to think about as well…

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. ⁹ The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you

We pray that the Lord would give us the ability through His Spirit to tame the tongue, moment-by-moment, day-by-day. It’s possible through His leadership in Jesus’ name.

Come Lord Jesus come….