That title is an attention
getter isn’t it. That’s why all the gossip shows and magazines are so
popular. Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, and of course the
star magazines are all about the latest celebrity gossip. Whose on
drugs, whose having affairs and getting divorced, that’s what fuels
this billion dollar industry. Digging up the dirt is bigger than ever
and very lucrative because the American culture loves it. Isn’t it
totally innocent? Whats the harm?, “inquiring minds want to know”
that’s all………… No, it’s also because it’s in our sin D.N.A. I
was talking with a couple of great people recently and the topic of
gossip came up. As we shared it came apparent that we had different
opinions about what would qualify as gossip. It was the type of
conversation that carried on to my thought life for the next couple of
days. Not in a bad way mind you, but in a thought provoking way. One
thought I had on the topic of gossip is it isn’t usually black and
white. A lot of the time it’s actually hard to detect, and so is the
motive behind it. Just
what is gossip? Well, if we go to our source the Bible we have a pretty
clear picture throughout the Old and New Testament. One thing the Bible
is very clear about in regards to gossip is, it’s sin. And since God
say’s it’s sin we certainly don’t want to participate. Gossip
is idle talk, with a suspicious motive, most always negative, spoken
about someone who is not a part of the conversation. Much of what a
gossiper says may be mere rumor, hearsay or sensationalized. Because
the gossiper is aware that gossip is a sin, he usually begins by saying
“I hate to say this but I’m so concerned about….” or “I know I
shouldn’t be saying this to you but I don’t know whom else to share
this with, ” or “Since you mentioned it….” This conversation is usually
whispered among a few “trusted” friends. This is why gossipers are also
called whisperers. Gossipers flatter us when they chose us to be their
confidantes. The way to defuse this fire is to ask if they have or
would say this to the person themselves, which if we are truly pure in
motive is what we should do. Bottom line, the Bible says to go to the
person if we have concerns. (Matt.18:15) The
Apostle Paul puts gossip in with such sins as envy, murder, strife,
deceit and malice (Rm.1:29-31). Proverbs 18: 8 says, “The words of a
gossip are like choice morsels, they go down to a man’s inmost parts”.
Apostle James say’s the tongue is a “fire, a world of evil, restless
evil, full of deadly poison”. By the way this is how a root of
bitterness defiles many. Gossip
has it’s many victims, which include not only those who are the brunt
of the gossip but the tellers and listeners as well. It is demonic by
nature for the Devil is the “accuser of the brethren”. He loves to
destroy through this hidden sin. It’s not just lives that are effected
but institutions as well. This is why the Bible say’s at the “Bema
Judgment of Christ” (where believers give an account of their lives)
every idle word will be judged. As
believers we should be protective of one another, not by protecting
gossip but by exposing it. As an overseer I really appreciate those
who are protective and caring enough to expose any gossip and so put
out the fire. Lives and families have been spared over the years
because someone has been “a light”. I hope this has shed a little
“light” on this subject for you, I know it has for me.
“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them” (Eph. 5:11).
You can find more writings by Pastor Steve Miller of New Song Christian Fellowship at: http://newsongspringfield.wordpress.com/New Song is a multi-generational church. Our desire is to help you
discover the exciting plan God has for your life. If you’re just
curious about God or church, or a believer looking for a church home,
there’s a place for you at New Song. Visit our website: http://newsongcf.com or stop by Sunday Morning at 10am we are located at 35425 Camp Creek Rd in Springfield, Oregon.
