The Gospel of Gossip
Gossip is a commonly used tool by the overwhelming majority of Americans. According to a 2009 study by Dr. Nichola Emlor gossip makes up 80% of our conversations with guys outnumbering women 2 to 1 in engaging in conversation that would be considered gossip.
Gossip is normally the sharing of a rumor that has been told about another person. In that same study, 5% of those who shared gossip expressed a genuine concern as to the motive of sharing this information. Another study was done in May of this year, they concluded that the average person spends 52 minutes per day gossiping.
So let’s look at what has been the most commonly expressed reasons for sharing rumors through gossip:
- A Concern over behavior shared as a warning
- A fear over someone engaging in a relationship with a toxic person
Both of these examples would lead one to believe it is only right to share their concerns about another person to keep another safe. Yet according to the published data 5% of the people who engage in regular gossip had a genuine concern. This means 75% shared gossip and or rumors with no real concern for themselves or the person they were sharing it with.
Recently there were multiple Instagram accounts that were created by young adult Messianic believers to spill the tea. Spill the tea is a popular slang term derived from the 1970’s African American drag movement to tell gossip and our rumors.
The whole point of the accounts was to share dirt on other Messianic believers. Most of the posts included a phrase like “if this is true.....”
So we share information not knowing whether or not it was true
According to the American Psychological Association gossip and rumors have a direct link to the following health issues:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Guilt
- And other stress disorders
Gossip and rumors have been directly linked to suicide and violence in teens and young adults. Under the name of bullying.
Gossip is also known by the Hebrew phrase “Lashon Hara.” Or evil speech.
Turn with me to: -
2 Corinthians 12:20
20 For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.
Ephesians 4:29
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for
building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Exodus 23:1
1 “Do not spread false reports. Do not help a guilty person by being a malicious witness.
James 1:26
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues
deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.
James 4:11
11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.
Leviticus 19:16
16 “ ‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people. “ ‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the LORD.
Proverbs 10:18
18 Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool.
Proverbs 10:19
19 Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.
Proverbs 11:9
9 With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors, but through knowledge the righteous
escape.
Proverbs 11:13
13 A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.
Proverbs 16:28
28 A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.
Proverbs 17:9
9 Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
Proverbs 18:8
8 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.
Proverbs 18:21
21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 20:19
19 A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much. Proverbs 26:20
20 Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down. Psalm 34:13
13 keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Psalm 41:7
7 All my enemies whisper together against me; they imagine the worst for me, saying,
Psalm 141:3
3 Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.
Proverbs 18:6-7
6 The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating. 7 The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives.
Proverbs 26:20-22
20 Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down. 21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife. 22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.
Romans 1:29-32
29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
The word of God makes it clear that gossip, slander, rumors are never seen in a good light. Not even 5% of the time like the study shows.
TESTIMONY_________
I myself have been guilty of this too many times. Even when I go out of my way to make sure I don’t speak something that hasn’t been verified I often fail. I cannot imagine what damage I might have done to another child of God.
Ok, so how should we deal with gossip-
- Make a commitment that you aren’t going to participate - Don’t listen to others when they start
- Don’t judge others based upon gossip
- Think before you speak
- Stay away from people who constantly gossip
It’s time for us to start doing the real work of God..... we must work for restoration, healing, and help those who may struggle. Not shame them to death for their misstep. Remember the entire work of Yeshua was to have sinners repent and turn from their ways to follow him.
Rather than engaging in the Gospel of Gossip let us engage in the only true Gospel. The Gospel of redemption and restoration.