Date: 02 Mar 2000
Time: 15:31:13
I know the bible talks about how important it is not to gossip. But what exactly is gossip? I mean where do you draw the line between just telling a story, or telling someone something they should know about someone else, and gossiping?
This is a good question and one that all Christians should be concerned about.
You are right when you say that the Bible says that it is very important not to gossip.
Here are some basic guidelines that have helped me to determine whether I or someone else is gossiping:
The dictionary defines gossip as: "one who chatters or repeats idle talk and rumors, especially about others private affairs."
We gossip when we talk about someone just to talk about him or her, to spread rumors or to make them look bad.
Gossip is very dangerous; I have seen it ruin whole churches and people’s lives.
A Christians should not even get involved in listening to gossip. God tells us to abstain from every appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22).
Tell them you are not interested, that what they are saying is gossip and that they need to stop.
Tell them that you are going to confirm what they are saying with the person about whom they are talking.
Ask them if they can wait to talk about this situation until the person about whom they are talking is present.
These usually stop a gossip in their tracks and their reaction is usually a good indication of whether they are gossiping or not.
When in doubt don’t do, if you are not sure that what you are talking about is gossip, don’t talk about it.
- Is this true? If not then it is a lie not to be repeated.
- Is this necessary? What good will this do?
- Will this help the person or situation?
- Is what I am repeating something I know first hand? If not, then it is a rumor and should not be repeated. If repeated this is gossip.
For example: You hear from a friend that "John" is going to break-up with "Beth" because she is too controlling. Since you haven’t heard this straight from "John’s" mouth it should not be repeated, if it is repeated it is gossip.
When we talk about someone out of genuine concern, I do not believe that that is gossip. This is when your motive is to help the person.
You can be concerned, ask for prayer for a friend etc. without going into detail. For example you can ask a friend to pray for "Beth" and "John" without saying why, God knows.
 | Ask the questions listed above |
| Pray for God to give you wisdom |
| Pray for God’s leading |
| Ask the Lord to reveal your motives. |
| Confess it to God! |
| Repent, stop doing it! |
| If you have hurt others by gossiping, go to them and ask for forgiveness! |
Called "talebearer": Proverbs. 11:13; Proverbs. 20:19
Called "talkers": Ezekiel. 36:3
Called "whisperers": Romans. 1:29
Called "whisperings": 2 Corinthians. 12:20
It is forbidden:
Leviticus 19:16; Psalm 50:20
Proverbs 11:13; 16:28; 17:9; 18:8; 20:19; 26:20-22
Ezekiel 22:9
It is the cause of friction: Proverbs 16:28
It is destructive: 1 Timothy 5:13
Warns against associating with people who gossip: Proverbs. 20:19
Joseph: Genesis 37:2
Israelites: 2 Samuel 3:23
Tobiah: Nehemiah 6
Gossip as sin: Psalm 59:12.
Malicious gossip, Psalm 64:3
Speech of righteous, of wicked, Proverbs 10:11.
Habitual talebearer, Proverbs 11:13
Lying lips, truthful speech, Proverbs 12:22.
Healing tongue, deceitful tongue, Proverbs 15:4.
Gossip alienates friendship, Proverbs 16:28; 17:9.
Sin of listening to gossip, Proverbs 17:4.
Gossip’s potential harm, Proverbs 25:18; Galatians 5:15.
Power of words, Isaiah 29:20–21.
Plotting people’s ruin, Habakkuk 2:10.
Words condemn or acquit, Matthew 12:37.
Gossip among vilest of sins, Romans 1:29–30
No excuse for gossip, Romans 2:1
Love prevents gossip, 1 Corinthians 13:6.
Spiritual solution to gossip, Galatians 6:1–5.
Words kindly spoken, Philippians 4:8
Conversation full of grace, Colossians 4:6.
Minding one’s own business, 1 Thessalonians 4:11.
Root cause of gossip, 2 Thessalonians 3:11
Gossip-free deacons, 1 Timothy 3:8
"Malicious gossips," 1 Timothy 3:11
House to house gossiping, 1 Timothy 5:13
Godless chatter, 1 Timothy 6:20; 2 Timothy 2:16.
Slander no one, Titus 3:2; James 4:11–12
Deceitful, unruly tongue, James 1:26
Guard tongue well, James 3:3–6.
Pride leads to gossip 3 John-9–10.