How many times when we are having our conversations with our friends, we talk about someone who is not present… Or talk about something that is supposed to be confidential…How many times we take the liberty to say things that might not be true…Or we might just know part of the story and assume the remaining and probably spread these stories that are not true.. One word to describe all this-GOSSIPThe bible warns us not to be indulged in gossip.
Ps 34:13 “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deciet"
Eph 4:29 “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear”
Let our speech or conversations be such that it should edify and encourage one another. When we gossip, not only do we sin but also get others involved in it. Gossip can also be slanderous and can ruin many people’s lives. We got to be so careful of what we speak and what we say. The reason why gossip prevails so much is that we don’t view it as great as Big sin (if I might put it that way) as murder or adultery. That’s why we don’t guard our heart and mind constantly when we are talking to someone. We if were to mediate on Scripture always and constantly think truth in our heart, I think we would be a lot more careful about what we say.
So why do we gossip? The reason is simple, we like to do it, or we like to hear news and things happening in people’s lives. Some times, it could also be that we like to be the news bearer of every single event that is going on around. Most of the times we entertain gossip because it tickles our ears. I like Proverbs 18:8 which says “ The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.” Its because we permit such conversations, and don’t take it as a serious sin, that it is such a wide spread disease.
People’s lives have been ruined because of slander and gossip. So as Christians how are we to live our lives. One of my favorite passages from the Bible is Col 3. Will end the post with some verses from it.
3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
So why do we gossip? The reason is simple, we like to do it, or we like to hear news and things happening in people’s lives. Some times, it could also be that we like to be the news bearer of every single event that is going on around. Most of the times we entertain gossip because it tickles our ears. I like Proverbs 18:8 which says “ The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.” Its because we permit such conversations, and don’t take it as a serious sin, that it is such a wide spread disease.
People’s lives have been ruined because of slander and gossip. So as Christians how are we to live our lives. One of my favorite passages from the Bible is Col 3. Will end the post with some verses from it.
3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
2 comments:
Gossip is so neglected in the churches today and practically everyone thinks it is OKAY to discuss somebody else's life. How often will we muster the courage to talk to the person concerned, rather than gossip??
Tongues that are slippery need to be reined and tongues that are addicted to gossip need to taste the bitterness that come into the lives that have been destroyed by it!!!
May God give us fearful hearts and view GOSSIP as a serious sin and speak only to build one another up and not tear people apart by LOOSE TALK.....
Thanks for writing on this topic. I appreciate it!!!
What went thru my mind while writing this topic was the same thing, that how many times do we rebuke one another when we gossip(at that time, so that it can be cut at the bud stage).. It is a serious sin...And definitely shud not be neglected...
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