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Exodus 23.1
Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the
wicked to be an unrighteous witness.
Leviticus 19.16
Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people:
neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am
the Lord.
Numbers 14.36-37
And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned,
and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up
a slander upon the land, Even those men that did bring up the evil
report upon the land, died by the plague before the Lord.
Psalm 15.1-3
Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy
holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteouseness,
and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his
tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach
against his neighbour.
Psalm 19.14
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be
acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.
Psalm 34.3
O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.
Psalm 50.20
Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest
thine own mother’s son
Psalm 101.5
Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off; him
that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.
Psalm 109.3
They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought
against me without a cause.
Proverbs 6.16-19
These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an
abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that
shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations,
feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that
speaketh lies, and *he that soweth discord among brethren.
Proverbs 10.18
He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a
slander, is a fool.
Proverbs 11. 13
A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful
spirit concealeth a matter.
Proverbs 12.17
He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false
witness deceit.
Proverbs 15.2-4
The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of
fools poureth out foolishness. The eyes of the Lord are in every
place, beholding the evil and the good. A wholesome tongue is a tree
of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
Proverbs 18.8
The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into
the innermost parts of the belly.
Proverbs 19.9
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh
lies shall perish.
Proverbs 20.19
He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore
meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
Proverbs 24.28
Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive
not with thy lips.
Proverbs 25.18
A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul,
and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
Proverbs 26.20-22
Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no
talebearer, the strife ceaseth. As coals are to burning coals, and
wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. The words of
a talbearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts
of the belly.
Jeremiah 9.4-9
Take ye heed every one of his neighbor, and trust ye not in any
brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbor
will walk with slanders. And they will deceive every one his
neighbor, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their
tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity. Thine
habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to
know me, saith the Lord. Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts,
Behold, I will melt them and try them; for how shall I do for the
daughter of my people? Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it
speaketh deceit. One speaketh peaceably to his neighbor with his
mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait. Shall I not visit them for
these things? Saith the Lord; shall not my soul be avenged on such a
nation as this?
Matthew 12.36-37
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak,
they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy
words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be
condemned.
Matthew 18.15-17
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell
him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee,
thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then
take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three
witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to
hear them, tell it unto the church: but if neglect to hear the
church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Luke 6.45
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth
that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his
heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the
heart his mouth speaketh.
John 7.24
Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous
judgment.
Romans 13.10
Love worketh no ill to his neighbor; therefore love is the
fulfilling of the law.
I Corinthians 3.3
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying,
and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
I Corinthians 13.4-5
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity
vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself
unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no
evil;
Ephesians 4.15, 25-32
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all
things, which is the head, even Christ:
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his
neighbor: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin
not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to
the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him
labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may
have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication
proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of
edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve
not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of
redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor,
and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye
kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as
God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
I Timothy 5.13,19
And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to
house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking
things which they ought not.
Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or
three witnesses.
James 3.5-6
Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things.
Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is
a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members,
that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of
nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
I Peter 2.12
Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas
they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works,
which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
I Peter 3.2, 8-10
To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing
all meekness unto all men.
Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another,
love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for
evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing
that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For
he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his
tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile
Definitions:
(1) gossip - rumor or talk of a personal, sensational, or
intimate nature (true or not true)
(2) slander - a false and malicious statement or report about
someone
(3) talebearer - one who spreads malicious stories or gossip;
blabbermouth
(4) blabbermouth - one who talks indiscreetly or incessantly
(5) railer - one who expresses objections or criticisms in
bitter, harsh, or abusive (threatening) language
When you assume that you know why a person did something and you
judge that person’s motives, you are gossiping.
Those who are walking according to the flesh insist on their own way
and tear down. Those who are walking in the Spirit will encourage
and build up.
Idleness breeds gossip. Usually those who are not working for the
Lord are speaking against those who are working for the Lord.
What gossip among "Christians" does:
(1) Drives people (especially our children) away
(2) Causes division
(3) Causes lack of respect
(4) Brings reproach to the cause of Christ
I put "Christians" in quotation marks because the word itself means
"Christ-like". Jesus would never gossip and he doesn't condone it in
the lives of those who profess his name. Let's not justify it by
giving it another name. Let's call it what it is and turn away from
it and refuse to be involved in it.
Many times we treat the one who is being gossiped about as though
they are the one who is in the wrong and the one who is doing the
gossiping is okay. We don’t want to be the object of gossip but are
we closing our eyes and ears and refusing to take part in it when it
is about someone else?
God considers gossip, slandering, talebearing, railing an
abomination; do we? We should.
Ask yourself these questions:
(1) Is it true? (We better be absolutely sure it is and not just
based on our interpretation or what we've heard.)
(2) Is it kind? (The answer to this question should end it all.)
(3) Is it necessary?
(4) Will it further the kingdom of God?
If you cannot answer “yes” to “ALL” 4 questions, you need to be
quiet.
I just want to say one more thing to those in leadership (i.e.
pastors, etc.). Not everyone in leadership is guilty of this and to
those who are not guilty, please simply take this as a warning. I'm
not trying to usurp any authority. I have seen this in action and it
is nothing more than *"sowing discord among the brethren". This is
something God hates. Those who are guilty, I hope you will see
yourselves and humble yourselves before God and your brother(s) with
whom you have judged "unrighteous judgment".
God has not given you the "authority" based on the position you are
in to partake in talking amongst yourselves about other brothers
with whom you might disagree. If you discuss anyone in any way
without even going to the person(s) you are discussing, you are
disobeying the Word of God. If you have been to the person(s), but
give out misinformation (or your own interpretation) concerning "the
situation", you are wrong in this also. It does not matter what you
have heard (when you lend an ear, you also usually spill out to
someone else); it does not matter what you think you know (surmising
is another form of gossip). If you have not been to the person(s)
about whom you are talking, you do not "know all about the
situation". You only know "hearsay". Hearsay would never hold up in
a court of law, but yet you justify your actions, which are based on
nothing more than hearsay. There is too much talking (on the phone,
minister's meetings, etc...) among those in "leadership" about other
brothers in Christ (Did you hear? Have you heard the latest? Do you
know what they're teaching/doing?......), not even knowing the
"truth of the situation" because not a one of you have been to the
brother(s) about whom you are talking. You are taking for granted
that what you are hearing and repeating is "gospel" because "Bro. So
and So said it and he's in that congregation." Go talk to the
brother(s) being talked about. Get the "real scoop", so to speak.
Your "office or position of leadership" does not excuse or justify
you participating in any form of gossip, whether "listening to
and/or talking".
Just remember the words of Jesus:
Matthew 12:36
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak,
they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy
words, thou shalt be justified, and by thy words, thou shalt be
condemned. |
