"Innocent" Gossip

Proverbs 17:9Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.

Children have a rhyme that says “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me” and even children know that the rhyme is not true. These words often provide a thin veil to hide deep pain and frustration. The simple truth is that words often hurt in much more lasting ways than sticks and stones.

As technology grows so does our ability to use words in hurtful ways. Now we have “cyber bullying” a way to put hurtful things out for all of the world to see then hide our hands behind cute internet names.

Proverbs 18: 8 The words of a whisperer or talebearer are as dainty morsels; they go down into the innermost parts of the body.

Still, common gossip, careless words said without real intent to hurt, often cause the most pain and we as mature Christians frequently fall right into the murk of gossip.

We are admonished in many scriptures about the dangers of careless words.
Proverbs 6:16-19 There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: 1.Haughty eyes, 2. a lying tongue, And 3. hands that shed innocent blood, 4. A heart that devises wicked plans, 5. Feet that run rapidly to evil, 6. A false witness who utters lies, And 7. one who spreads strife among brothers. (emphasis added)

Please note that the use of words is involved in three of these things hated by the Lord: a lying tongue, false witness and spreading strife.

The gossip often defends himself by saying “I was only telling the truth.” The question becomes whose truth and for what purpose. Clearly, if the “truth” spoken serves no purpose except to cause pain for the object of the gossip and generate excitement in the hearer, it is only strife. There are two hated things in this Proverb which involve lying and still the author adds the spreading of strife to the list. The gossip, whether spreading truth or lies is on this list!

Romans 1:28-3028 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

Sometimes a difficult thing for us to accept is our responsibility in setting an example for our children. The simple truth is that they most often do what we do, not what we say despite all of our protestations to the contrary. Children of gossips often have great comfort with spreading tales about others.

You might have your child pull up “What the Bible Says About Gossip-Christian Teen-Gossip” (christianteens.about.com/od/whatthebiblesaysabout/f/gossip.htm) and you both take the Gossip Quiz.
If your answers surprise you and you find yourself scoring as a gossip you might appologize to your child and make a commitment right there to change your ways and be the example you want to be!

Proverbs 21:23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from troubles.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!